Brief

THE JODIE CHESNEY FOUNDATION

BRIEF

Jodie Chesney was a kind and giving person who was brutally murdered on the 1st March 2019 in an unprovoked attack in Havering, Essex.

Due to the horrific nature of Jodie’s murder and subsequent deaths around the country relating to knife crime, the Jodie Chesney Foundation (JCF) was set up

in Jodie’s name with the help of a team of very experienced people who have worked for many years in the field of youth services.

Knife crime is such that it does not discriminate between age, social background, ethnicity, gender etc. It is not always gang or youth related and in Jodie’s case, it was the murderers that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Jodie was killed whilst simply sitting in a park with friends and she was…

“In the right place at the right time” DCI Dave Whellams

Although instances of knife crime are regularly reported in the media, individual instances are often quickly forgotten because knife crimes are becoming the ‘norm’. Sadly, it is only when the consequences of such crimes are at their worse, such as that of Jodie’s, that public awareness is maintained of the issue.

Nationally, knife crime is growing and to the year ending 2019, an estimated 47,000 offences were reported in England and Wales with London recording the highest rate of 169 offences per 100,000 population in 2018/19, a slight increase on a rate of 167 in 2017/18.

In addition, in the year ending March 2018, there were 285 homicides (currently recorded) using a sharp instrument, including knives and broken bottles, this accounting for 39% of all homicides – a rise from the 212 recorded in the year ending March 2017.

Jodie Chesney Foundation

The Jodie Chesney Foundation was registered with the Charity Commission in September 2019 and as such is a relatively new entity. However, the young age of the organisation disguises both the considerable amount of dedication and youth experience that it has.

Although various public and voluntary sector organisations are working to reduce knife crime through educational, recreational, and supportive activities, very few have the same drivers to.

Its objectives are:

  • to promote the prevention of crime and the saving of lives, including (but not limited to) providing education to parents and young people concerning issues of knife crime and the impact of those affected by it.
  • to promote good citizenship and greater public participation in the prevention and solution of crime with a view to the preservation of public order.
  • to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of those individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life; and
  • to help young people develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.

In delivering the above, the Foundation will develop and provide prevention, intervention, education and support strategies and services to parents, carers, teachers, and young people (including those that may not wish to engage in mainstream support).

By delivering the above, the Foundation will be: –

  • promoting the reduction and long-term eradication of fatal violence by knives
  • helping to support and relieve victims of the effects of violence within the community.

In order to deliver the above, the Foundation will be seeking sustained financial support so that it can employ Community and Support staff who will able to work flexibly across several areas and in partnership with other like-minded public and voluntary sector organisations.

‘Adding Value’ to existing work in this area will be at the forefront of its service delivery ethos.

YOUR SUPPORT CAN AND WILL COUNT!

Like many voluntary sector charities, the work of JCF is not funded by any public sector funding stream and consequently, any monies raised must be obtained from voluntary donations (personal and commercial) and/or through applications to Grant Maintained Trusts.

In respect of these latter organisations, it is sometimes the case that any grants received are ‘restricted’ to a particular use or project and therefore cannot be used to fund the general running costs of the organisation costs.

In addition, it is not uncommon for decisions in respect of large project grant applications, which are complicated and time consuming to prepare, to take up to 6 months before a decision is known so a steady flow of voluntary donations and successes in applications for smaller grant applications are essential so as to keep an organisation functioning on a day to day basis.

With the above in mind, any support, large or small, one off or regular, would be greatly appreciated as we truly believe that we can make a difference to the culture of knife crime in this country.

Due to COVID19 we have been restricted in completing any fundraising for the charity and are in the process of starting that again as well as starting joint work with Barking and Dagenham Council on a Lost hours Media project.  Once we secure funding, it will support us to supply part time detached youth workers to work with young people on the street at the hours needed to reduce youth violence and knife crime.

Contact Details

If you require information regarding the work of The Jodie Chesney Foundation or wish to support its work, either visit our website at www.jodiechesneyfoundation.org or email us at office@jodiechesneyfoundation.org.

“Jodie’s death has completely devastated her family, friends and the local community. She will be greatly missed” Peter Chesney – Father

Jodie Chesney Foundation – Charity Commission No.1185430

Please help us in our fight against knife crime, please donate through our website