A new outdoor gym made from melted-down knives taken off the streets has been built in Ruskin Park.
Launched today, the equipment was made by anti-knife crime organisation Steel Warriors, with support from their partner, the Co-op.
Together they hope to build nineteen more using knives handed in, seized, or found during weapons sweeps.
The equipment provides as “calisthenics” workout – using your own body weight to do exercises building strength and flexibility.
Ben Wintour, co-founder of Steel Warriors, thanked the Co-op for its support and said:”The gyms are designed to generate awareness of the rising issue of knife crime whilst offering young people a safe place to develop more physical and mental confidence to walk the streets unarmed.
“We hope that this 20-gym plan will make a tangible difference to the rising problem.”
Co-op chief membership officer, Matt Atkinson said: “Creating and protecting community spaces where people meet, exercise, play, learn and laugh together is so important for our mental and physical wellbeing.
“Without these spaces people become isolated and less active and our young people are less safe on the streets.
“We feel strongly that as a business we have to try and do something to support our communities, to help them work together to improve where they live and keep their young people safe.
“We don’t have all the answers but by co-operating with others and building partnerships like this one with Steel Warriors, which has produced this fantastic outdoor gym made from knives taken off the streets, has to help.”
The Co-op has also stopped selling single pack knives in its stores, and has instead decided to donate outstanding stock to the charity to use for its metalwork.