Dear Readers,
I am Kelly Brown, a mother whose world was forever altered by the heartwrenching loss of my beloved son, Rhamero Latteece West, to the senseless crime of knife violence when he was just 16 years old. In the wake of this tragedy, I made a choice—to transform my pain into strength and take a stand against the scourge of knife crime.
The journey has been both arduous and empowering, marked by a commitment to raising awareness and effecting positive change. As a testament to my dedication, I marched through the streets of Greater Manchester, determined to shine a light on the devastating consequences of knife crime. Out of this determination emerged Mero’s World Foundation, a charitable endeavour founded in memory of my precious son.
One significant milestone on this journey was the installation of bleed cabinets throughout Greater Manchester. These cabinets, a vital lifeline in critical moments, have been strategically placed to curb the impact of knife-related injuries until emergency services arrive. The first bleed cabinet was unveiled on February 12th, 2022, garnering national attention on BBC and ITV. Since then, an additional forty-five cabinets have been installed, each a beacon of hope in preventing other families from enduring the same anguish that has marked my own.
In my unwavering commitment to education and prevention, I conduct talks and demonstrations in schools, PRUs, colleges and other educational institutions. My aim is to foster awareness of the destructive effects of knife crime, share strategies for prevention and contribute to making our world a safer place for the growth of our children.
Furthermore, I have established a youth hub in Fallowfield, my home area, providing a safe haven for children to socialise and partake in constructive activities. This hub not only nurtures their growth but also exemplifies the potential for positive change. We have been funding from the National lottery to run the youth hub for one day a week but we want to expand it be able to provide more evenings and school holiday activities for the children providing we get more funding to allow this to happen.
In my journey, I have lent support to grieving families impacted by knife crime, participated in documentaries, and collaborated with initiatives like the violence reduction unit. The campaign video, 'Speaking out could save a life,' stands as a testament to our collective efforts.
Events organised to raise funds, including the poignant angel walk through Fallowfield, have brought bereaved families together. Notably, Mero’s World Foundation has received accolades, winning awards for creating safer neighbourhoods and the Pride of Manchester and The Manchester BBC Bravery Award Personally, I have also been honoured with The Legend of Industry Award which i will receive in September 2024.
This is not just a story of loss but one of resilience, determination and the capacity to turn grief into a force for change. I invite you to join me on this journey, as we work towards a world where no parent experiences the pain of losing a child to knife crime.
With heartfelt gratitude. Kelly Brown
| August 2021 - February 2022 | Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: | |
| Donations and legacies | £1,024 |
| Charitable activities | £0 |
| Other tradingactivities | £0 |
| Investments | £0 |
| Other tradingactivities | £0 |
| Total | £1,024 |
| EXPENDITURE ON: | |
| Raisingfunds | £0 |
| Charitable activities | £1,024 |
| Other | |
| Total | £1,024 |
| Netgains on investments | £0 |
| Net income | £0 |
| Restricted Funds | Endowment Funds | Total Funds |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ |
| £2,475 | £0 | £3,499 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £2,475 | £0 | £3,499 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £2,475 | £0 | £0 |
| £2,475 | £0 | £0 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £0 | £0 | £0 |
Prior Period Funds £ £567 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £567