Jennifer Appleton

Islington Council

Jennifer Appleton runs the Islington support group Love and Loss after the death of her son, Stefan, in 2015. Appleton is a passionate campaigner, always stepping up and speaking out against knife crime, and calling the government to account. Whilst attending a ‘No More Red’ rally outside Arsenal Stadium, she said:

Poverty plays a massive part, and it needs to be addressed.

A lot of people are struggling now. People are struggling at home, they haven’t got any food, and the government is not addressing that. It took a footballer [Marcus Rashford] to address that.

Knife crime can start as young as 10. Older [kids] hang around the schools. They know which ones are in care – they know whose parents don’t have much money, and they target them.

Knife crime’s still happening, so every little bit that gets the youth to do something like football can help them. Youth clubs have closed, they’ve closed everything. Everything’s about money.

How many years have gone by since Stefan died? Seven. People have been doing stuff, but what’s changed? Without money in the bank, without putting money into the youth clubs and into supporting families, nothing will improve.

Appleton has ensured that the Love and Loss group provides a safe and welcoming space for bereaved families to come together and offer peer support. The Love and Loss group has also produced an anti-knife crime film which has been shared nationwide to spread awareness. Appleton is compassionate and determined to keep young people safe and prevent more families from experiencing the same tragic loss that she faced.