A parent who launched an anti-knife crime charity after his 17-year-old son was fatally stabbed has told schools in Farnham: let me speak to your students.
Martin Cosser had an audience in tears as the told residents of The Chantrys the story of how Charlie’s Promise was born.
The Milford campaigner set up the charity whilst his son, Charlie, was on life-support after being stabbed after a house party in a rural West Sussex in July 2023.
Tragically, the sensitive, caring and football-mad boy they nicknamed ‘Cheeks’ for his smile didn’t pull through, and he needlessly died in a Brighton hospital ward because of three seconds of pure evil.
Since then, Martin has constantly relived the harrowing experience to people around the South East in a warning – especially to youngsters – about the very real danger of knife crime.
And on Tuesday (October 29) in Chantrys Community Centre, he told the same awful story. Sniffles were quickly heard as the events of July 22, 2023 and the following days were recalled in a stark warning that was definitely heeded by people in the room.
He said: “I promised Charlie that no-one would forget him and I want everyone to know why my little boy died.
“So that’s why I talk to people about Charlie and the fight against knife crime.
“Three mentions were made of a knife at the party Charlie went to. If just one person there told their parent or mentioned it to a responsible adult then I might not be here tonight talking to you and Charlie would still be here.”
Charlie’s Promise has the mantra that no parent should suffer the loss of a child, while its mission statement is stark: they are dedicated to helping the fight against knife crime by raising awareness of the dangers and immeasurable impacts of both carrying and using a knife. The charity aims to:
Educate and mentor so young people feel empowered to make the right decisions.
Work with professional bodies to provide help to the family and friends of a child lost through crime.
Provide emotional, practical and financial support to victims to help them navigate their way through their grief and inevitable trauma.
“I don’t do these talks for notoriety,” added Martin.
“I will spend the rest of my life educating young people about the dangers and impact of knife crime and that’s what I’m doing here tonight.”
The talk included some alarming statistics that prove – despite initiatives like amnesties and being ‘tough on crime’ – that knife crime has been steadily on the rise both recently and long-term.
There has been a 4.8 per cent increase in knife crimes reported over the year up to March 2024, while it’s leapt an alarming 80 per cent over the decade.
Some 233 people died from knife or blade-related crimes over the 12 months up to the end of March. Of that figure 78 of those victims – including Charlie – were aged under 25, while ten were 16 or less.
The saying goes that prevention is always better than the cure, so warning youngsters about the dangers of knife crime as early as possible is paramount.
Martin has even given talks to primary schools, with a “forward thinking” headteacher insisting it’s better to get the message out as early as possible.
Mr Cosser told the audience that he will go wherever he needs to tell the story with recent engagements including a talk at King Edwards School in Witley and a “really positive meeting” with the High Sheriff of Surrey, Shahid Azeem, and Farnham mayor Cllr Brodie Mauluka.
He receives frequent requests to speak at schools and has a full diary, but he’s yet to hear from either Weydon or Heath End with Chantrys residents keen on him to visit both. Even more disappointing is the response he’s received from Charlie’s old school.
“I’ve not reached out to schools because they’ve always reached out to me,” said Martin after being asked if he had enquired to Heath End and Weydon about giving a talk.
“The only school I did ask was Charlie’s old school, Rodborough, and they were no, no no.
“I want to go to these two schools (Heath End and Weydon) so if you’ve got a contact in these or other local schools then please reach out, because I want to tell this story to as many people as possible.”
The talk organised by Sarah Benton of The Chantrys Community Association was followed by a question and answer session. You would think genteel and Georgian Farnham, with its affluency and leafy areas, would never be the scene of a fatal knife crime but the Cossers felt that way about Cranleigh, Surrey and West Sussex before Charlie’s needless death.
“I’m sure there is no knife crime on The Chantrys but then you also think there’s no knife crime where he lived,” said Sarah.
“I got in touch with Martin and asked if would come as I think it’s one of those ‘stop, sit down and listen’ events. Sure enough, when he started talking all the kids in this room were transfixed. They listened to every word.”
Martin said: “We ignorantly thought gangs only really worked in inner cities and places like London and Birmingham and yes, it’s higher in places like those, but if it can happen to Charlie then it can happen to anyone and I think it’s getting worse.
“Whatever has been done isn’t working. I briefly met the Prime Minister the other week and told him he’s got to do something and he said back to me ‘I know’.
The talk definitely made an impact on the people in the room with one teenager telling Martin that he would change his ways after listening to the hour-long presentation.
And that’s one of the reasons Martin does these talks – if just one young person decides to stop carrying a knife because of the story they’ve heard, then it’s an hour well spent, as it could potentially save a life.
“The lad came up and said I’ve had really bad anger problems and felt the whole world is against me,” said Martin to the Herald, referring to the teen who spoke to Mr Cosser straight after the talk.
“But he came along tonight, and realised he had to listen and talk about it. He asked for a badge and a bracelet.
“One lad at another one of my talks came up to me, said he carried a knife, but wouldn’t any more after hearing our story. It’s worth doing.”
And his message was also shared by Cllr Brodie, who directly spoke to every teen in the room.
He said: “To the young people in here tonight: please promise yourself not to carry a knife, or any kind of weapon. Just walk away.
“If you’re in trouble, just walk away, don’t use anything, it’s just not worth it.”
For more information visit www.charliespromise.org or look for Charlies Promise on Facebook or Instagram.