The Impact
At Birmingham Says No, we are driven by the belief that we can end knife crime and violence in our community. And every day, we are making progress toward that goal. But we don't do it alone. It's because of the support and dedication of our volunteers, donors, and community partners that we are able to make a real impact. Hear from some of the people we have touched with our work, and see firsthand the difference we are making together.
Hear from our people
I have known Rachel and Dee for many years and I always appreciate their help and their support for the young children and the community. Since I have been out of prison I have done some voluntary work with them supporting the youths. My time spent with them was incredibly useful, they were so warm and caring and never judge me. You can see the care their have for children and young people in our community, it is amazing 👏 and I hope to do more work with them ❤️
- Abednego
Birmingham Says No has helped me so much to build my confidence. They have s supported me in so many ways. I appreciate everything they do. The online support they gave to everyone all the way through Covid was just amazing and the female entrepreneurs event was so motivational. These guys have genuinely made such a huge difference in my life and so many other people's lives too. Thank you Rachel and Dee.
- Lisa (29)
Due to domestic violence i cant give my name, but i would like to thank birmingham says no for being there for me and my children during covid, bringing me food parcels and baby milk and nappies when i had to flee with nothing but the clothes on our backs. They didn't just help and then abandon us, they include my children in any activity days or fun days they have and have supported me with counselling too - without bsn i honestly dont think i would be here today 🥰
NK
I'm not a youth but i reached out to bsn to see if i could help them by talking about my story. I have a checkered past ive been in and out of prison but i want to turn things around. Dee & Rachel didn't fob me off they spent time getting to know me and my situation and they helped me find housing, did me a food shop and helped put me in touch with a support network that has helped me so much i can honestly say i will never return to prison, i now see my life is worth so much more and this is because they were able to look past my past and dealt with me as the person i am today 🙏
BR(53)
"Enriching Lives"
Rachel, Dee and Birmingham Says No. My children and I have attended anti-knife crime and violence workshops online and in the community, attended talks with influential mentors, live music and poetry nights, taken part and supported charity football matches, dined in Mellows fantastic restaurant, had fun at Birmingham Bake Off to name but a few events organised by them to educate our children in a safe environment and give them great opportunities that probably wouldn't ordinarily have arisen. We will always be grateful and available to help spread the Birmingham Says No message. We feel so very lucky and privileged to have been involved in a charity that means so much and does so much for our community and enriches the lives of our children.
- Thanks so much Jo, Joseph(15) Sara (12) and Liam (9) 💕xxx
"They have given me and my family so much support"
I lost my son to knife crime in 2019, I was like, a lot of people can see what's going on, but it doesn't affect me. But in July 2019, it came to my door. The individual who murdered my son already had convictions.
When I went to speak with the then home secretary, Pretty Patel, at New Scotland Yard, I was shocked to hear that there was not a mandatory minimum sentence for carrying a knife. So the was my eureka moment - l set up a petition to have a minimum sentence in line with gun crime.
This is how I met the wonderful Rachel & Dee as they jumped on the petition to support it. It was flying and reached up to 73,000 signatures, then Boris Johnson called a general election, and it all came crashing down 😢
I have never met Dee & and Rachel, but they have given me and my family so much support. From just talking on Instagram, and this was at the beginning of their journey too, they still took their time to help us, a grieving family in need.
#longliveLeo
"Changed my life"
My name is Will, I’m 21 from Birmingham and have been supported by BSN in various ways from the start! I performed at their first ever event in Victoria Square, aged just 17 being given an opportunity and an insight into how knife crime effects the masses. This changed my life and helped me to push through my transition from the life I lived to the life I live. Since then, I’ve faced homelessness and received support from BSN signposting me to organisations who can support me. I’ve also had help finding my first official Youth work role from Dee of BSN and tonnes of support since that. In addition, I recently took part in a programme which BSN was involved in which has allowed me to receive 2 grants totalling £6k to begin my business and know how I can scale and pitch my ideas 💡
- Will
Birmingham Says No has helped me in many ways, personal and professional. They are always at the end of the phone or a message away if i ever need anyone to speak to.
The bleed control training I completed with them has also helped me to feel comfortable in situations I sadly may find myself in and having lost 5 of my close friends to knife related murders in just the last 2 years its very likely that could happen one day. Thank you Birmingham Says No for everything!
- Hana(16)
Amazing people attended most knife crime events the 1st 1 being in town it was eye opening I lost my nephew 2 knife crime in 2010 my whole world fell apart we attended the knife crime event an the amount ov people who had lost people 2 knife crime who attended was unbelievable these ladies who I had never met b4 became friends wiv me I often msg them an they offer beautiful words there both amazing I will always support them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
- Amanda (52)
Birmingham says no gave me my first videography gig at one of their events, it gave me the work experience I required to start doing freelance videography across the country and i will always take pride in how they supported me and all the other young people in brum over the years.
- Nonso Ogidih (22)
You guys honestly have made such a difference to my life and built my confidence. If it weren’t for u guys I wouldn't be the confident person I am now and have met so many people. You turned my dreams and goals into a reality. U have pushed me to be the best version of myself and have pushed me to go for things. Thank u guys for everything u do for me and everyone else in the community xxx
- Anon
"Forever Grateful"
Rachel Warren has helped me grow into the woman I am today from primary school to an adult. Throughout secondary school I had multiple problems with a group of girls who were bullying me for a long time. This then resulted in me being jumped, the school finally took this serious and was trying to exclude me for their wrong doing. At this time it was exam period, the school had told me I could not complete my exams. Later on we had a meeting with my parents, the head and my head of year. Rachel came to this meeting and supported me endlessly throughout the whole process, she had the exclusion taken off my record and I would have been able to complete my exams if we didn’t go into lockdown. From primary school Rachel has always been the one person everybody loved she is an amazing woman and is willing to help anybody in any way she can. And for that I’m forever grateful to her 💜
Khloe (19)
Marie
“ I wanted to say a few things about this amazing charity Birmingham Says No. I have had the pleasure of knowing Rachel and Dee who run this charity for a very long time. I have watched Rachel and Dee with the help of others in their team do some amazing work for our young people. I think the time, care and dedication that they give is incredible. This charity has gone from strength to strength because of the hard work that they've put in and the opportunities that they have made available to our young people is outstanding . Because of this amazing charity our young people have had the chance to take part in some great experiences and to know their worth and that the world is their oyster. Thank you Birmingham Says No. Keep up the great work you do."
Toni-Marie, (18)
"I’ve worked with and been supported by BSN on a couple different occasions.
From volunteering with them during their first girls event to them kindly supporting and delivering a bleed control training session to a medical society i was leading at the time in college. which was extremely beneficial to my fellow students who went on to apply to medicine on their personal statements. Having contact with BSN has been a pleasure and such a lovely, building experience too, Rachel and Dee i can say are such hardworking, well organised, loving ladies who have a real passion for the cause! i’d recommend them any day, they always show me nothing but kindness every time we cross paths, keep doing what you do and i pray your baskets are never empty❤️❤️"
David Marshall
“My name is David Marshall and I’ve known Rachel since I was in secondary school. Over the years she has supported me more times than I could ever count. I have had a complicated past and I can say at every hurdle, Rachel has been on the other side supporting me and reassuring me that I’m not alone in times of need. BSN gave me a voice to be heard when I needed to talk and I can confidently say if it wasn’t for the love and support I received I would’ve been in a worse position. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay Rachel for being a key part in changing my life, but she’s inspired me to help others the same way she helped me so I’ll continue the work I’m doing to improve on that.”
Lee, (16)
Honestly so grateful to u and my mum is always saying how grateful she is for u guys for helping me!