A REDDITCH anti-knife crime campaigner will launch a new youth community centre next week.
Pete Martin, director of Redditch Self Defence, has championed activities for young people during his work, and hopes to bring support to those in need.
The new gym and youth centre will offer self-defence classes, adult recreational boxing, children’s self-defence and boxing, martial arts classes, one-to-one sessions in all disciplines, anti-knife crime support, victim support, free teens classes, domestic abuse support and SEN one-to-one sessions.
Pete added: “Our new Youth Centre will provide training and positive activities for young people in Redditch.
“We are not just a gym – we provide support in many different ways.
“Funding from Mayor Salman Akbar helped us set up and we open for business on April 15. Redditch is a great place to live and most of the young people that live here are great too.”
Redditch Self Defence was formed by Pete who has been a self defence instructor since 1989.
He has been at the forefront of anti-knife crime campaigns in the town, and has recently been installing bleed kits throughout the community.
The kits are endorsed by West Midland Ambulance Service, and are used by the public in the case of a stabbing.
The Control The Bleed kit locations are also stored in a national database and accessed by 999 phone operators.
Any caller will be told which kit is nearest their location for fastest collection to provide vital aid by preventing blood loss.
Rachel Maclean MP has praised the ‘inspiring and lifesaving’ work of Pete, and visited him at the new centre.
She said: “I’ve worked with Pete for a number of years now and I’ve seen first-hand the work he has done to tackle knife crime in our town.
“Pete’s new facilities will enable him to continue his inspiring and lifesaving work, helping to ensure Redditch remains a safe place to live.”
Visit redditchselfdefence.co.uk for more information.
