Harvey Willgoose: Bleed kits welcomed at 30 Sheffield schools in fight against knife crime

A bleed kit is a bright red emergency bag designed to save lives and control catastrophic bleeding, containing a tourniquet, gauze, a chest seal and visual guides.

And now, one has been welcomed on site at Hinde House Academy, Shiregreen, as part of a campaign in memory of murdered Sheffield teenager Harvey Willgoose.

The bleed kit was installed during a ceremony on Monday, November 17, attended by Harvey’s mother, Caroline, and knife crime activist Courtney ‘The Knife Man’ Barrett.

It comes in the same week a 17-year-old boy was arrested after a knife was reportedly seen during a fight at The Sheffield College on November 18.

Caroline told The Star: “We’re going to go one at a time until there’s one in every school in Sheffield, and then every school in South Yorkshire.

“It’s especially relevant after the incident at Sheffield College. I had so many calls from parents about that. There are many children who are still affected by what happened to Harvey who will have relived it hearing about this yesterday.

“It was a really good event on Monday and the kids were amazing. I think some schools think saying they have a bleed kit or a knife arch means admitting they have a problem but that’s not true.

“You cannot take risks with children’s safety. It’s paramount.

“Things have changed and we have to accept it.”

Courtney, a London activist and founder of Binning Knives Saves Lives campaign, told The Star: “I’ve brought the campaign to Sheffield after hearing about Harvey Willgoose’s case.

“After some investigating I realised there were basically no bleed kits in Sheffield’s schools which I found really concerning.

“I feel some schools see it as a bad image to have bleed kits on site, but I’ve never had somewhere bite my hand off like Sheffield has. Many schools here are really concerned about knife crime.

“Hinde House were amazing and supportive, and the kids, who really led the day, were switched on and welcoming.”

Courtney says the 30 kits, which each cost £110 a piece, have been paid for out of his own pocket, donations to his campaign, and support by both the Saving Lives With Bleed Kits CIC in Evesham and The Daniel Baird Foundation Charity.

A full list of the 30 schools to accept the kits will be published soon.

Sheffield College, on Granville Road, is on the same street as All Saints Catholic High School, where in February year year Harvey Willgoose, 15, was murdered by a fellow pupil in a fatal stabbing.

Mohammed Umar Khan, also 15, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years in October for Harvey's murder.

In the months since his death, the Willgoose family have campaigned extensively with groups like Anthony Olaseinde’s Always An Alternative and now Binning Knives Saves Lives to oppose knife crime.

Principal of Hinde House Academy Daniel Cross said in a statement: “We’re deeply committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our students, and we remain dedicated to being at the forefront of enhancing safety measures wherever possible.

“Serious injuries are extremely rare, but can occur in various situations, and by equipping our school with a kit and training, we aim to be prepared for any incidents that may occur.

“We are amazed at the strength and resilience of the Willgoose family and are proud to be the first school in Sheffield to adopt this remarkable initiative.”

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