TEENAGERS will be taught about the devastating effects of knife crime as part of a crackdown on stabbings.

Weapon awareness charity Only Cowards Carry is expanding its hard-hitting workshops thanks to funding from Rochford Housing.

Year ten pupils at King Edmund School, in Vaughan Close, Rochford - aged between 14 and 15 - will hear real-life stories from victims and perpetrators.

The one-hour interactive sessions will involve role play and teach teenagers about knife crime laws.

Pupils will hear shocking statistics in an attempt to deter them from carrying blades - with more than 78 of people who carry a weapon getting stabbed themselves.

Chris Silvey, resident involvement officer at Rochford Housing, said: “These workshops are a valuable way to help educate young people about the dangers of knife crime and the potential impacts of carrying a knife on not only their own lives, but those of their families and friends.”

Only Cowards Carry has already reached 50,000 schoolchildren since it was set up four years ago by Caroline Shearer.

Her 17-year-old son Jay Whiston was stabbed to death at a party in Colchester in 2012.

The school project comes as knife crime nationally has risen in the past year, with police recording over 28,000 offences - a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

Mrs Shearer said: “This funding from Rochford Housing is incredibly important as it helps us reach more children to talk about this important issue. One workshop can make the difference between life and death and prevent a parent suffering the way I have.

“We believe these workshops are something that all schools need as even if we can persuade one young person to stop carrying a knife, it means one more life we’re saving.”

The knife crime workshops are funded by Rochford Housing’s Maureen’s Gift fund - which was set up in 2011 in memory of community champion Maureen Vince to provide funding for local projects that benefit residents and their neighbourhoods.