Owen's World fights knife crime: awareness and action in Swindon

Owen's World fights knife crime: awareness and action in Swindon

The Owen’s World Foundation, founded by the family and friends of Owen Dunn, continues to raise awareness in the fight against knife crime. This initiative was launched after Owen was brutally stabbed in December 2022 at the age of 18. Recently, the foundation took part in various events to address important issues surrounding knife violence. Our report on the Foundation's current activities highlights some key moments from this week.

From May 19 to 25, 2025, Owen’s World participated in numerous events. A highlight was the visit on May 21st to New College Swindon, where the foundation spoke to students about knife crime. AJ Parker-Trigg, a hemostasis kit trainer, led engaging sessions on the impact of knife violence and engaged students in discussions about relevant statistics. This growing awareness is noticeable and is supported by free training on the use of hemostasis kits, also offered by the foundation. These kits, which contain tourniquets and bandages, are intended to give the public the tools to act quickly in emergencies, BBC reports.

Education and prevention

Joanne Davis, the CEO of Owen’s World, emphasizes the importance of training to show the public how to use the kits effectively. “Using the kits can be intimidating,” Davis points out, adding that knowledge of first aid is crucial because you can quickly bleed to death. The foundation works closely with the police as well as local communities and parents to raise awareness of knife crime.

Another major development this week was Owen’s World’s participation in an awareness event at the UK Parliament on May 24th. There they had the opportunity to work with similar organizations. The foundation is also supporting a petition from the Max Dixon Foundation, which is campaigning for longer sentences for perpetrators of knife crime. The incident in which Max Dixon and his friend Mason Rist were stabbed to death in January 2024 highlights the need for criminal justice reform, especially since one of the murderers received no additional prison sentence for another crime.

Future events and initiatives

Owen’s World is not only active at current events, it is also planning further initiatives. A day of fun is being organized at Seven Fields in Penhill on July 26th and a knife crime summit is scheduled for September 19th at the Moonrakers on Cricklade Road. These events aim to promote community engagement and attract additional supporters.

The Foundation also demonstrates that justice is a priority by convicting two teenagers who murdered Owen Dunn. 18-year-old Tyler Hunt received a minimum sentence of 19 years, while a 15-year-old was sentenced to a minimum sentence of 12 years. These rulings are a small step toward a safer community, but the challenges remain great. The most successful approaches to tackling knife crime must remain vibrant and directly tailored to the needs of different age groups and communities, analysis from Knives 4 Lives suggests.