Education and Outreach
Outreach programme, HM Tower of London
The Royal Armouries approach to education is underpinned by a recognition that learning happens at all stages of life and different learning styles are appropriate for different groups. Particular attention is given to offering a service that is accessible and inclusive, able to respond to learners with special needs and keen to adapt to interest those from ‘hard to reach’ backgrounds, for example, learners aged under 16, visitors with disabilities, adults from low-income socio-economic groups and members of the black and minority communities.
The education team is developing and promoting a widespread, socially relevant programme of outreach activity that conveys the Royal Armouries mission of ‘protection and safety’. In particular the programme will be aimed at schools and groups in London boroughs with high levels of deprivation, and where organised visits are low.
The current outreach programme for 2008 is based on two specific themes:
- Community Conflicts Programme/Special Projects
- Special Needs/Early Years Programme
The Royal Armouries team at the Tower will happily provide additional information on all these projects, and demonstrate how any investment in the above programmes will enable them to enrich the lives of literally thousands of young people.
NTK – No To Knives
NTK, or ‘No To Knives’, is a national peer-to-peer initiative designed to encourage Britain’s young people not to carry knives and to see this as a positive lifestyle choice. Launched in October 2007 it was set up with three main objectives:
- To attract 1,000,000 pledges from young people not to carry knives via www.ntk.org.uk
- To provide practical courses in weapons awareness at a local level in London, Yorkshire and Hampshire
- To provide a forum for constructive debate on the knife issue and promote knowledge-sharing and best practice amongst community groups and other stakeholders
Initial response to the NTK campaign has been fantastic, both from the media and from the public. NTK is a not-for-profit campaign that relies solely on the funding of partners to ensure success.