Knife crime highlighted at work experience event

Students have praised an "intense" project about knife crime and its consequences.

Pupils at Wixams Academy, near Bedford, took part in a Taste of the Workplace, Blue Lights Project, organised by Bedford Giving.

One pupil, Kacper, said it showed him what "kind of person I want to be - someone who stays calm and focused when things get tough".

And Dorotea said she saw how "one decision can change a life forever".

The event for year nine pupils, aged between 13 and 14, started with a "hard-hitting" dramatisation by police cadets in real time of a knife attack, showing how the different emergency services would respond.

The roleplay included paramedics saving the victim's life, the suspect being detained, scenes of crime officers taking evidence form the scene, police officers setting up a cordon and taking statements from witnesses.

Kacper said: "It was serious and sometimes quite intense to hear about, but I think it's really important we understand it.

"I found it really powerful to learn about how ambulance crews respond to knife-related injuries and how every second counts when they're saving lives.

"This experience made me think not just about what to do in emergencies, but also about the kind of person I want to be - someone who stays calm and focused when things get tough."

Dorotea said: "We've learned some really important lessons - lessons that could help us save lives.

"We've also talked about the consequences of our actions - especially serious ones, like carrying knives.

"We've seen how one decision can change a life forever, and not just for the person carrying the knife, but for their families and communities too."

She is now thinking of a career in the NHS.

Dillon said it was "one of the most memorable and useful things I've done".

"Some of us are now thinking about careers we hadn't considered before - like becoming a paramedic, or even going into forensic science."

Geethika said the emergency services made it clear "that it's not just about action - it's about helping people in their worst moments and staying calm no matter what's going on".

"We learned that you don't have to be the loudest or the strongest to make a difference," she added.

Ellie said she was taught "about the many different roles that help keep us safe".

"We've learned how much these roles matter—and how we could be part of something that saves lives and supports people every day."

Nadine said: "We found it interesting how every job required different skills - from staying calm under pressure, to showing compassion to families going through really difficult times.

"One thing that really stood out was how much teamwork goes into these emergencies.

"No one works alone - everyone has a part to play."

Patrick Downes, assistant head teacher at the school, said: "The sessions offered a rare and valuable insight into the challenges faced by emergency responders, while equipping them [the pupils] with critical life skills and raising awareness of the consequences of crime, as well as introducing them into all the varied roles within the police and NHS".

Another session will take place at Daubeney Academy, Kempston, from 27 June, with different companies including Skanska, M&J Roofing, Bpha and Anglian Water.

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