Eastenders star Brooke Kinsella launches Facebook anti-knife campaign, Count Me In, at Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham (From Haringey Independent)

Eastenders star Brooke Kinsella launches Facebook anti-knife campaign, Count Me In, at Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham

2:06pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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A TOTTENHAM school became the focal point of a Government anti-knife campaign spearheaded by ex-Eastenders actress Brooke Kinsella and other families who have lost loved ones to street violence.

The star, whose 16-year-old brother was murdered in Islington, urged young people at Gladesmore Community School, in Crowland Road, to pledge their support to the Facebook Count Me In campaign, backed by Prime Minister Gordon.

The school, in Crowland Road, was handpicked to launch the initiative, having set up an award-winning anti-violence campaign of its own called Value Life, now in its seventh year, which will be marked this year with a film created by pupils.

It also has been directly touched by tragedy when former pupils Annaka Pinto, 17, and Abdulkarim Boudiaf, 18, whose younger brother attends the secondary school, had their young lives cut short in shootings.

Speaking to students, Miss Kinsella said: "This is a positive campaign focussing on all the good young people out there who are against violence.

"We are asking you to tell two other young people to sign up and who knows where this campaign could go. I'm aiming for the record books but my main dream for the vision of this campaign is for no other young person to lose their lives before they have a chance to live it."

Standing alongside her was other founding members of charity Families United, including Richard Taylor, father of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, and Margaret and Barry Mizen, whose son Jimmy was stabbed to death at a bakery in 2008.

Despite the campaign's positive ethos, many of the young people were left wondering if Count Me In would really tackle the problem, or even if it would reach the minority of young people who cause trouble.

Headteacher Tony Hartney CBE said: "When there's a fight, quite often, young people will gather around and make a difference. This is where you can make a difference, by turning away and making it clear you want nothing to with it. The desire is to be in the majority, so taking a stand can make a difference.

He also urged his students to be streetwise and to "walk away", or to encourage their friends to walk away from dangerous situations.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker MP, who was due to attend the launch, said: "As a result of Government action, knife-related crime and murders are on the decrease. But we are not complacent – we know that more needs to be done to eradicate knife crime in this country. Government alone cannot solve this problem, which is why we are calling on young people to join the campaign to help us end knife crime."

To join the campaign, visit http://www.facebook.com/countmein. If you do not use Facebook, sign up at http://www.familiesutd.com/countmein/

Watch Gladesmore's 2008 Value Life rally