A grassroots project in Greater Manchester has won national recognition for its powerful work addressing knife crime.
Jeannine Burke and Be Part of Change C.I.C (BPOC) were named winners of the Voluntary and Community Impact Award at the 2025 Inspire Justice Awards, hosted by Skills for Justice.
Founded in memory of her son Ty’relle, Jeannine has transformed personal tragedy into positive change. Through trauma-informed workshops, BPOC raises awareness of the realities of knife crime, builds resilience, and helps prevent violence before it starts.
To date, the initiative has reached more than 1,000 young people across Greater Manchester, empowering them to make safer choices and fostering empathy through real-life storytelling. Despite emotional and systemic challenges, Jeannine has built trusted partnerships with schools, youth services, local authorities and justice organisations in the ongoing fight against youth violence.
The impact has resulted in young people feeling more confident about resisting peer pressure, more aware of the consequences of carrying knives, and more hopeful about their futures. Communities benefit from reduced risks of violence, while justice and safeguarding services have gained a critical ally in prevention and early intervention.
Most recently, Jeannine partnered with the WCHG Youth Team and The Wythenshawe Way to deliver a Youth Connect event. Combining a knife amnesty with workshops and community support, the event offered both immediate harm reduction and longer-term solutions, strengthening local safety and resilience.
Accepting her award at a ceremony in Westminster, Jeannine said:
“This award recognises the strength of young people who are choosing a different path. Our workshops are about giving them the tools, knowledge and support to believe in themselves and in their futures.”
Samantha Maunder, Neighbourhood Youth Manager at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said:
“We put Jeannine forward for this award because her work is nothing short of transformational. Through Be Part of Change, she’s turned unimaginable personal loss into a powerful force for good—reaching over a thousand young people with honesty, empathy, and hope. Her trauma-informed approach doesn’t just raise awareness; it builds trust, resilience, and real change in our communities. Partnering with Jeannine has been a privilege, and seeing her recognised nationally is a moment of pride for all of us who believe in safer futures for our young people.”
Supported by Police Oracle, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, HM Prisons and Probation Service, Community and SFJ Awards, Skills for Justice’s Inspire Justice Awards recognises and honours the hard work carried out daily by thousands of justice sector staff across the UK.
To find out more visit: https://skillsforjustice.org.uk/inspire-justice-awards