Stab victim's parents launch charity project to help troubled teens
The family of stab victim James Brindley have launched a new charity in his honour after his death last year.
The 26-year-old was stabbed to death in June 2017 while walking home from seeing friends in Aldridge.
WATCH: James Brindley's family launch initiative to help teenagers
His killer, 17-year-old Ammar Kahrod, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the random attack.
Now, his parents Mark and Beverley, and daughter Charlotte have launched a new initiative to help teenagers who may turn to crime.
The James Brindley Full Circle Programme will start alongside The James Brindley Foundation and will deliver a 12-week initiative, with one on one counselling for troubled teens, working with community group DMR services.
The scheme will work with youngsters who are feared to be involved in gang activity and violence and will work to educate them on the consequences of violent crime.
It also aims to open discussions with teenagers on a wide range of issues from anti-social behaviour, gang culture and child exploitation.
The programme was launched at an event at Walsall Town Hall yesterday that saw representatives from the local authority and police force backing the plans, with speeches from Aldridge MP Wendy Morton and Walsall Mayor Marco Longhi, among others.
Mark Brindley said: "I'm very proud of the fact that people have taken the time to read the programme and come here and support it and what's really good to see is that everybody of positions of influence are all thinking in the same way.
"We're all addressing this problem that is across society - we just need to spread the word and it'll be a success, I'm very sure of that."
He added: “It’s been a very difficult thing to do, but we’ve done it for James and for society at large.
“Just managing to get through that speech, has given us a sense of elevation and motivation to carry on, because that was very difficult to do, it’s incredibly emotional.
“Everyday is a new day and we now have this focus.
“It’s keeping us busy, it’s keeping us focused on the future and how we can make a difference and not giving us the time to spiral into the despair and hopelessness that we have been in.
“We have reached a moment where the fog has lifted, the fog of despair and we’re starting to look to the future again and with our focus on James we seem to have the strength to do that.
“James was all about good humour and caring for people, he wanted to go and work for charities around the world because he saw stuff on the internet that really upset him and he wanted to make a difference.
“This would be something he would be right behind and lending all his weigh to, there’s no doubt about that, and that’s what’s so wonderful and helpful to us as part of our healing process.
“It’s like a painkiller, the pain is there all the time while you’re awake, but this focus on James and doing good is like a big paracetamol.
“It’s all positive and we’re moving in the right direction.
“We’re echoing work that we believe James would have gone on and done had he still been alive.”
West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent, and commander for Walsall, Andy Parsons, said: “Out of the tragic death of James, we are seeing a programme that I believe has the ability to give people the opportunity to make better decisions that will prevent the tragic loss of life that we saw with James’ murder.
“I think people are even more aware of the issue and the need to do more, I don’t think people are becoming de-sensitised, I think they want to do more, and this presents an opportunity to funnel that effort in a really positive way.
“I will ensure that the officers I have are committed to working with partner agencies, the local authority and the community so that we generate the support and resource that we need to genuinely get out there and change people’s lives.”
