Under the pioneering proposals, [Charlton Athletic] football coaches will visit schools and estates across Greenwich, Bexley and Kent to talk to children and educate them about the dangers of knives and guns.
And the club's home match against Reading on Saturday, August 23rd (12.45pm), which is being broadcast live on Sky, is being dedicated to raising awareness of the issue.
The Football League and Football Association have given Charlton permission for Addicks players to wear a special logo, proclaiming that 'street violence ruins lives', on their shirts during the Championship fixture.
The announcement follows more than six weeks of discussions with a variety of organisations, including the local authorities, the government and the police, concerning the launch of the initiative, which is being jointly instigated by the football club and its community trust.
"I don't think there is anyone who doesn't believe that something needs to be done to highlight the current dangers posed by street weapons," said Jason Morgan, chief executive of the Charlton Community Trust.
"The great thing is that, here at Charlton, we are in a position to do something about it. We already go into schools, and we deliver programmes into 80 estates per week where we can reach the most at risk and vulnerable young people.
"The power of football is extraordinary, and youngsters respond far more to someone in a tracksuit than the traditional delivery approaches. It is our intention to get education resource packs to every child in Greenwich, Bexley and Kent."
Charlton were the first football club to dedicate an annual event to combating racism through its Red, White and Black day - a programme similar to those now carried out by every football club in the country.
The Addicks' community operation was also the first to pilot a project warning children of the dangers of playing near railway lines, a hugely successful initiative that went on to be implemented nationwide.
"We have a history of developing projects that we can deliver, that are sustainable, and that get results," said Charlton commercial director Steve Sutherland.
Source: cafc.co.uk
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