Over 100 guests attended an event at London's City Hall to mark the milestone of the knife crime awareness initiative and heard from some of the young people, who have been educated by NASSA on the dangers of knife crime, county lines activity and gang culture.
CABNAB was started in 2008 by NASSA basketball player Anthony Okereafor, after two of his friends were stabbed to death in East London parks within weeks of each other. Okereafor had been playing basketball with NASSA during each incident and realised it could have been him.
CABNAB talks and workshops were developed in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and are now delivered in all of NASSA’s club and schools programmes, and as of this year, 100,000 people have benefitted from the programme.
The City Hall event was attended by local dignitaries, including NASSA Patron Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, and members of the business community.
It also welcomed NASSA players and parents, past and present, including record-breaking Great Britain basketball international Teddy Okereafor.
“It really is amazing to see so many people here from all walks of life who have supported and who continue to support NASSA.
“While we are celebrating 15 years of CABNAB, the help and advice it has given so many young people, we must never forget those young people in East London who have lost their lives as a result of knife crime in that time.
“We have to continue our work to reach as many local young people as possible and educate them on the dangers of carrying a knife.”
“CABNAB does incredible work providing much-needed support and guidance to help young people in East London reach their full potential. Basketball England would like to offer its thanks and congratulations on 15 years of crucial work in the community.”
.
.
.
