Arsenal FC has introduced a ‘No More Red’ initiative in collaboration with Adidas to continue its support for keeping people safe from knife crime and youth violence.
The collaboration sees the sports brand boost Arsenal’s ‘long-standing’ work against knife crime in the UK, as last year, figures reached the highest number of teenage murders in a year in London since records began – most of which involved knife attacks.
The Premier League side has vowed to replace the team’s red home shirt with a fully white kit in the Emirates FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest.
Idris Elba, Founder of Don’t Stab Your Future and Mentor as part of No More Red, commented: “From the time young people leave school, until the time they’re at home with family, there is often a void, a dangerous spike of nothing to do, where nothing can easily turn to something dangerous.
“If there continues to be no options for this after-school period, we will always see gangs form. Let’s create options for these young people.”
The campaign looks to provide more ‘safe and positive’ spaces for young people, as well as recognise people who are making a positive difference in their community. The aforementioned white kit will not be made available to buy, but will be awarded to such individuals for their work.
Furthermore, Adidas has stated that it will also be investing in creating and refurbishing safe spaces to play football, creating a No More Red mentorship scheme, providing access to its talent network, quality spaces, positive role models and opportunities for young people.
In the new shirt being recognised as a symbol of the community, Ian Wright MBE, added: “Every young person deserves the opportunity to express themselves. The opportunity to exist within a safe environment. The opportunity to live free from fear of violence.
“We can never accept loss of life through youth violence as ‘normal’ in our city and it’s so important that we all work together to create a better environment for young people. By giving young people more places to play sport, more support, and access to individuals who can inspire them, together we can help make a difference to young people in London.”
Arsenal in the Community has over 35 years’ experience in helping people from inner city areas, and the new collaboration looks to provide new ways to boost the support and awareness even further.