Silent Voices: Community Response Initiative

Project Overview

Silent Voices: Community Response Initiative builds directly on the impact of the documentary Silent, which tells the stories of three Brixton mothers whose lives were changed forever by knife crime — one who lost her son, one whose son committed a murder, and one whose son survived an attack.

The film has already moved audiences at its premiere at the Ritzy Cinema and during follow-up screenings across London. We now want to take this work further by combining powerful storytelling with tangible community action.

Our goal is simple but urgent: to transform awareness into action by supporting families affected by violence, providing safe spaces for young people, and rebuilding community connections through healing, prevention, and hope.

What the project will deliver

Community Screenings and Conversations

We will host local screenings of Silent at both the Ritzy Cinema Brixton and Coldharbour Blue Cinema, followed by facilitated discussions, Q&A panels with families, and audience reflection workshops titled “What Will You Do?”.

These events will connect residents with local services, support groups, and mentoring opportunities, ensuring that the emotional impact of the film leads to real-world change.

Next Level Stop & Play Programme

Delivered from the Angel Town Hub in Brixton, this Saturday youth provision will run under the banner of the #StopTheEvolvingDoors campaign.

It will provide weekend structure for young people through a Homework & Learning Club and creative workshops in art, cooking, music, and sport.

The aim is to divert youth from negative cycles and provide consistent, positive role models and mentors.

Community Response Toolkit

We will design and distribute a simple, accessible resource guide for families affected by violence — offering immediate next steps, available services, and emotional support.

Counselling and Mentoring Support

The project will fund professional counselling for families in crisis and offer peer-to-peer mentoring through our partner projects Next Level Games and Make It Stop.

Who will benefit

Families in Brixton and Lambeth who have been directly impacted by youth violence.

Young people aged 12–25 who are at risk or seeking guidance and creative outlets.

Community members who attend the screenings and want to take part in building safer neighbourhoods.

Why this matters

Knife crime continues to affect Lambeth families, leaving lasting emotional and social wounds. Silent Voices addresses this by bridging storytelling and action — using the film to spark empathy, then offering pathways for healing and prevention.

Funding from the THINC Fund (£25,000) will enable us to cover venue hire, event facilitation, workshop delivery, counselling, design and printing of the toolkit, and training for mentors and volunteers.

https://haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk/en-GB/ideas/silent-voices-community-response-initiative