Seized knives transformed into park gym equipment

Knives seized by the Metropolitan Police have been melted down and transformed into gym equipment for a new outdoor facility in north London, funded with support from Sport Relief.

The free public outdoor gym at Pymmes Park in Upper Edmonton, Enfield, opened in May and is the fifth site in the capital run by Steel Warriors.

The charity, which was founded in 2017, has a mission to "rethink how we tackle knife crime" and create "a nation where young lives are built on steel, not destroyed by it".

Over the past decade, the Metropolitan Police has typically seized or recovered around a tonne of knives and other bladed weapons from London's streets each month.

While the gyms are open to everyone, the charity focuses on youth intervention programmes and supporting vulnerable young people.

Steel Warriors coach Simone told BBC London: "I've seen so many young people come and tell me their stories of what they were doing beforehand and where they are now, and how they have changed their lives.

"Being a part of that story has been amazing and I can't wait to change more lives at the new gym."

The Pymmes Park gym joins existing Steel Warriors sites in Ruskin Park (Lambeth), Finsbury Park (Haringey), Langdon Park (Tower Hamlets) and the Carpenters Estate (Newham).

The charity receives direct funding from Sport Relief, whose latest charity campaign began on Monday with Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott setting off on a 388-mile (624km) cycle ride from Wembley Stadium to Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Free calisthenics sessions also take place at each Steel Warriors gym, with a qualified coach on hand to help.

Calisthenics is a form of training that uses a person's own body weight to build strength, endurance, flexibility and co-ordination.

Demi, who has worked for Steel Warriors for six years and coaches calisthenics, said: "The support that Sport Relief gives on a large scale is absolutely game-changing.

"To have the backing of such an organisation is monumental. Previously, five or six years ago, no-one even knew what calisthenics was. Now you have Sport Relief supporting it and the impact of that is incredible."

Andrew, 23, told BBC London: "It helped change my life because it got me out of my comfort zone. When I was younger I was stuck in my bedroom on video games.

"But when I came out here and started doing pull-ups, one pull-up became three pull-ups, three became five.

"You start learning about yourself. You realise you can do more than what you're used to and your dreams start to become more believable."

As well as support from Sport Relief, funding for the Pymmes Park gym has come from Enfield Council and the Meridian Water Community Chest Fund.

Steel Warriors coaches run two community classes and a teen class each week at Pymmes Park, and hope to start one specifically for women and girls soon.

A spokesperson for Sport Relief said: "Donations to Sport Relief help build communities and can help people find belonging, support and a team that lifts them up when life feels toughest.

"Every pound turns sport into support, with donations powering confidence, wellbeing and real change for people facing the most difficult barriers."

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