Stars launch ‘Bread and Butter’

Former EastEnder and knife-crime activist Brooke Kinsella officially launched the Preventing Knife Crime teaching pack

Soap stars, sports stars and police leaders have gathered at the Lowry in Salford Quays to help Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) launch its new internet-based learning resource called 'Bread and Butter.'

The new website is for anyone who works with young people and offers free downloadable teaching packs containing videos, lesson plans and other learning materials. Current teaching topics are Preventing Knife Crime, Preventing Violent Extremism and Guns and Gangs, with more to be added in the coming months. All the teaching packs complement Key Stages 3 & 4 of the National Curriculum for 11-14 year olds and GMPA is the first police authority in the UK to launch such an initiative.

Former EastEnder and knife-crime activist Brooke Kinsella officially launched the Preventing Knife Crime teaching pack. She said: “I think it is absolutely brilliant that GMPA has devised this website. One of the biggest problems I hear from everyone is getting anti-knife crime programmes into schools. The fact there is a website where you can download free educational packs is amazing."

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police officially launched the 'Guns and Gangs' teaching pack describing the new e-resource as 'innovative' and an excellent piece of work for schools and youth groups to use. Paralympics gold medallist Sarah Storey spoke about the need to tackle stereotyping and discrimination in schools when launching the Preventing the Violent Extremism teaching pack, and former NBA star John Amaechi called 'Bread & Butter' an 'essential tool' for engaging young people to make a difference.

Councillor Paul Murphy, GMPA Chairman opened the event and explained that the creation of a one-stop shop to bring all GMPA teaching resources together was a cost effective solution for the mass distribution of free educational resources across Greater Manchester and added:

"Over 100 schools and youth groups have signed up to the Bread & Butter website since it went live at the beginning of the month and an estimated 10,700 young people will soon be using our teaching packs. We expect this number to continue to rise following great feedback and the support of such influential people. GMPA is proud of Bread & Butter - particularly as young people have played such a great part in developing the content."

The free teaching packs are now available to download by registering your details at www.gmpa.gov.uk/breadandbutter