Thames Valley Air Ambulance Joins Project One|80 to Combat Youth Recidivism

Project One|80, a groundbreaking online resource designed to tackle youth recidivism, has recently expanded its content offering through a collaboration with the Thames Valley Air Ambulance Service. This partnership brings a unique perspective to the project, shedding light on critical situations that can lead to life-altering consequences for young people, their families and broader communities. In an exclusive interview with Dr Asher Lewinsohn, a Critical Care Doctor, we gained invaluable insights that will significantly enhance the impact of Project One|80’s resources.

A frank perspective on the impact of knife crime

During an extensive conversation with Dr Asher Lewinsohn, we delved into the realities of his role and the experiences he regularly encounters in his work. The insights shared by Dr Lewinsohn provide Project One|80 with a level of detail and honesty that will undoubtedly benefit its resources. As part of the Critical Care team, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance plays a pivotal role in responding to life-or-death situations, often reaching secluded locations where traditional road vehicles may not be the most efficient mode of transport.

Beyond the hospital walls 

While we have previously featured testimonies from registrars in traditional hospital settings, Dr Lewinsohn’s explained that some cases require an immediacy of response at the scene, which he described as “bringing the hospital directly to the patient’s location to provide swift identification, diagnosis, and treatment”. This invaluable service is particularly crucial during major incidents where the potential for loss of life is imminent. Sadly, this includes a steadily increasing number of incidents resulting from young people carrying knives.

Confronting Knife Crime 

Shockingly, knives account for approximately 8% of the cases handled by the Critical Care team, a figure that has been steadily increasing in recent years. Carrying a knife is often driven by fear or a myth that ‘everyone is carrying’ rather than the intention to cause harm. Unfortunately, this fear-driven response frequently leads to devastating consequences, the impact of which reverberates across communities.

In light of his experiences, Dr Asher fully endorses Project One|80 and its emphasis on dispelling the myths and changing the behavioural drivers behind knife carrying. We sincerely thank him and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance Service for their ongoing dedication and also for sparing their valuable time to support his project. Three new practitioner videos and topic guides have been added to the Project One|80 resource kit, ensuring that Youth Justice Teams and the young people they support can access these invaluable materials to open up a dialogue that aims to bring much-needed change around this challenging topic.

To find out more, please get in touch with us at: chat@engagelime.com or here