An anti-knife crime initiative called ‘Ask for Nik’ has been nominated to present their ideas at an award show next week.
The project is led by students at Sheffield Park Academy and aims to help people when they feel threatened by asking shop owners ‘Is Nik working’.
Laura Booth, in charge of the Student Leadership Programme at Sheffield Park Academy, said: “I am so proud of these students and the desire they have to make a difference in our community.
“They have all come a long way and it is humbling to know more students want to join to make the project sustainable.”
The students will showcase a video of their journey at the Next Gen Leaders awards on 15 May in Leeds.
Booth added that they are working with Asda stores across Sheffield ‘who have trained all of their staff to support a young person if they come into the store’.
She said: “We have also made safety chains which have a flashlight and whistle along with somewhere to write a parent or guardian’s name and number so that they could be contacted in case of emergency.”
Enactus UK is the charity that runs the programme for Next Gen Leaders, and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
As well as running the awards next week, the charity is also involved in designing various resources for schools.
Andrew Bacon, Chief Executive of Enactus UK, said: “The purpose of the event is that it’s not just a competition, there’s lots of individual awards. So we try to recognise individuals and teachers and our supporting staff.”
The event will have between 30 to 40 judges from the area, including people from businesses, schools, universities and some charity organisations.
Bacon said: “We wanted to focus on supporting vulnerable young people, children and young people, in schools that didn’t really have a lot of enrichment activities.
“What we provide is an opportunity for student-led, passion-driven, project-based learning. And it is co-curricular.
“You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult before you’re given the right to do something good in the world. You are part of the solution to a lot of the issues in your local communities.”