Bleed Control Kits – A Community Step Forward after Knife Angel visit to Newton Aycliffe

📌 Bleed Control Kits – A Community Step Forward

MISSED A BEAT is proud to share a significant development in our commitment to public safety. Earlier this year, Mark was approached by Sgt Andy Boyd, who had been aware of our ambition to enhance community defibrillator cabinets by equipping them with Bleed Control Kits. These kits, which provide vital equipment to help manage severe bleeding emergencies, could have been used during multiple incidents across Aycliffe Industrial Park in 2024. Their inclusion represents another life-saving measure that will benefit our entire town.

Since Mark joined the leadership team behind the Knife Angel campaign in Newton Aycliffe, launched in December 2024, support for this initiative has grown rapidly. The impact has been nothing short of extraordinary.

📌 What is the Knife Angel?

The Knife Angel is a 27-foot (8-metre) steel sculpture, forged from over 100,000 surrendered blades, standing as a stark national monument against violence and aggression. This powerful symbol visited Newton Aycliffe on 31 May 2024, marking a turning point in local community engagement.

But this was far more than a sculpture in a public space. It became a catalyst for change—transforming personal grief into collective action, remembrance into education, and symbolism into real-world safety measures.

During its month-long visit, the campaign delivered:

• Educational workshops that reached over 2,000 local students, sparking meaningful dialogue on the consequences of violence

• Creative competitions in schools, including poster and photography contests, to engage young people in spreading awareness

• A knife amnesty, held from 31 May to 28 June, in which 54 weapons were surrendered at local police stations—each one added back into the Knife Angel’s very structure

📌 Local Support & Lasting Impact

One of the most heartening outcomes of this campaign has been the community's commitment to change. Tesco Newton Aycliffe, known for its exceptional support of charitable causes, led from the front by contributing critical funding not only for Bleed Control Kits but also for additional community defibrillators. Their involvement has set a high standard for corporate social responsibility.

We also extend our gratitude to GStamp, who not only supported the Bleed Control Kit initiative but ensured Hi-Vis jackets were provided to students visiting the Knife Angel—prioritising both safety and visibility during such an important campaign.

A number of local businesses have since stepped forward to sponsor Bleed Control Kits, helping us achieve a significant milestone:MISSED A BEAT has now sourced 35 Bleed Control Kits, and this number continues to rise thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

The devastation caused by knife crime cannot be overstated. Mark was honoured to meet Zoe McGill, whose son Jack tragically lost his life to knife violence in October 2021. Zoe has become a powerful advocate for change, producing an emotional and impactful awareness video aimed at preventing such tragedy from repeating.

We must also offer special recognition to Sgt Andy Boyd, who retired this week. His efforts to bring the Knife Angel to Newton Aycliffe and deliver engaging educational workshops have left a lasting legacy. His leadership of the campaign’s monthly planning meetings ensured that ideas flowed, concerns were addressed, and the team remained focused on its mission.

📌 A United Community Moving Forward

From symbolic art to practical action, the Knife Angel campaign has brought people together around a shared cause. Thanks to the passion and persistence of everyone involved—from funders and educators to families and frontline workers—MISSED A BEAT is proud to be part of a growing, united effort to protect lives.

And this is only the beginning.