It has been 10 years since Alison Cope lost her only son Joshua Ribera when he was stabbed outside a nightclub in Selly Oak. He was just 18. Josh was known and loved by thousands as rapper Depzman, and Alison was overwhelmed by the outpouring of messages she received from across the world, from people whose lives he had touched.

Some mums might have crumbled under such devastating grief, but Alison rose up and began sharing her son’s story in schools and prisons in a bid to become a 'lightbulb moment' for others considering carrying a weapon. Initially, she was delivering one session a month to young people.

Today, 10 years on, she is running 20 workshops a week. Her warmth, strength, energy and passion is truly inspirational as she has spent the last decade striving to empower thousands of young people and help them feel safe on the streets.

Read more: Mother of murdered Joshua Ribera recalls his last poignant words to her: ‘I love you mum’

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"I think how have I lived 10 years without him? Then my mind goes back to that day and everything that happened after," said Alison, whose work as an anti-violence campaigner is in demand across the UK. "How is he never coming back and how have I got to this point? I think one hour leads to two hours and two hours leads to a day and here we are 10 years later.

"On one hand, I'm incredibly proud of what I've achieved but the underlying break in my heart has never ever gone away, it's never eased, I've just learnt to stand strong with that break in my heart. I will prioritise my grief for my little boy this week and then move forward for other people's children."

Joshua tragically died on September 21, 2013. On the eve of the tenth anniversary since his death, we talked to Alison on the Brummie Mummies Podcast about her work in schools and how parents can help to keep their children safe:

For Alison, education, action and reassurance for children and young people is key. Everything she does comes from a place of love, a huge love for her son.

"The young man who killed Joshua had no previous convictions and I believe that if he had been educated in school, he might have realised that that choice to carry a knife was a choice that would not only destroy Josh but would also destroy himself," she said. "That's why I firmly believe that the work around prevention is so important.

"Bleed kits and knife bins are reactive, there's a role for them but I want to see less young people leave the house with a weapon because they are scared and feel they need to protect themselves. The biggest issue we have is the perception of safety. I have never heard an entire class say they feel safe.

"A lot of young people are scared and they think a lot more people carry a knife than actually do. A total stranger attack is actually very, very rare. The number one reason for carrying a weapon is fear.

"Ask your child what percentage of others do you think carry a knife? If they say 50, 40, 60 percent you know they're scared of the world and all we need to offer them is reassurance. Speak to school, the police, the council and youth organisations to make sure they don't leave the house scared. Just be brave enough to ask for help. Fight for your child."

The Joshua Ribera Achievement Awards

Alison set up the Joshua Ribera Awards to recognise the huge achievements being made by young people who, having faced difficult backgrounds, had lost their place at mainstream school but had managed to turn their lives around and reach their goals. The next one takes place on February 3, 2024.

"There's very few things since losing Josh that brings me genuine happiness but this really does," she said. "I felt like these young people were being written off too quickly. We need to support them, celebrate them and show them that hard work does pay off. It's a reflection of my son - fun and energetic. It's about letting them know we all make mistakes and that mistake doesn't define your future."

Find out more and get in touch with Alison via her website here. And listen to our full chat with Alison on the podcast here

Alison's advice to parents who are concerned their child may be carrying a weapon

• Try not to panic, take a deep breath and step back
• Reach out for support and guidance from school, the police and youth services
• Don't sit at home worrying, be brave enough to ask for help
• The key is to have a conversation about it
• As long as you are doing your best as a parent, you don't look back with regret

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