Episode one of The Diff has launched to spotlight charities and not-for-profits working on the front line of the knife crime epidemic. In 2023 alone, more than 15 teenagers have died as a consequence of knife crime violence in London alone, says Third Sector. The first episode, part one of three this week, looks at the complex past of the UK’s knife crime epidemic, with a particular focus on London. The Diff hears from Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Foundation, and Nathaniel Peat, founder of the Safety Box CIC, about the context of the UK’s knife crime epidemic, and how their organisations are tackling it.
Third Sector says the new series highlights the vital work of small charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises, and explores the complex past of the UK’s knife crime epidemic, how to become part of the solution and the power of long-term rehabilitation.
Speaking also to experts and influential organisations including StreetDoctors and the Synergy Theatre Project in Brixton, The Diff explores why knife crime is a systemic and generational crisis, and how a failure to recognise this leads people to short-term solutions that won’t properly address the issue.
A core focal point is the importance of the voice of young people - if their voices are heard they can become part of the solution, yet a lack of investment in services remains a huge problem, added Third Sector.
Emily Burt, editor of Third Sector said: “If people are serious about tackling the systemic issues that exist in our society, there is so much we can learn from charities.
“This podcast series goes beyond the devastating headlines about knife crime and youth violence that we see almost every week in the media. It shines a light on the many complex factors that contribute to this crisis, and the ways we could create sustainable and lasting solutions – from the people and the organisations that work every day on the front line of this cause. With the tragic deaths of Elianne Andam and Alfie Lewis in the last six weeks alone, their vital work has never been more needed.”
Simon Kanter, creative director of Haymarket Business Media added: "With our mass audiences in the charity sector, Haymarket is acutely aware that the 165,000 registered small charities and 488,000 social enterprises in the UK are hugely important but underserved communities.
"When you think about everyone who contributes to these organisations - the fundraisers, the volunteers, the trustees and the donors - you are talking about millions of people. The Diff is a new way to reach them - to recognise how they make a difference and to celebrate the work they are doing".
"Having built Britain's largest B2B podcast network, this is the first new brand we have launched as an audio first product which is a truly exciting new development for us at Haymarket."
The Diff is hosted by radio presenter and film critic Rhianna Dhillon, who has presented for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, and appeared on BBC Radio 4's Front Row, Sky News, Sky News Sunrise and Channel 5 News. Episodes two and three will be available on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
Haymarket Media Group - the parent company of Third Sector and The Diff – says it launched its Impact agenda earlier this year, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and serving to shape a better future on a global scale via the content it produces to specialist audiences. With a focus on serving public interest at its forefront, The Diff is a prime example of this and aims to educate listeners via conversations that challenge and inspire in equal measure.
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