A STOURBRIDGE woman is hoping the community will unite this weekend at an event aimed at tackling knife crime.

Organised after a spate of fatal stabbings over the last 18 months, the 'I Support Tackling Knife Crime' event will be held at Stourbridge Rugby Club on Sunday May 6 from midday and will raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Farah Ahmed, volunteer project manager for charity Opening Boundaries, has worked with West Midlands Police to put on the event at Stourton Park which will be held at the end of the rugby club's season.

She said: “I am keen to demonstrate what we as a community can achieve when we come together using the power of sport which in turn helps to drive social change and allows us to live in a safer and more inclusive society.

"Rugby is a great way to bring people from the community together to say ‘no’ to any form of violence.

"I want to use sport as a positive diversionary which can engage with people of all races, genders and classes."

Robin Edward, chairman at Stourbridge Rugby Club, said: "Events in and around Stourbridge have touched us all and we are keen to support charities that address the problems we all face.

"If we can do something in sport that will make a difference for the common good we are willing to give it a go. The local rugby community is known for its generosity and this year we have decided to host this event as our main effort to raise funds for a cause we believe in. We hope that our associate bodies and local fraternity will also commit to support this initiative.”

Detective Superintendent Ian Parnell, of West Midlands Police, added: "The work of Opening Boundaries and Stourbridge Rugby Club is key in offering diversionary activities for young people to focus on.”

The family-friendly fundraiser will feature a series of round robin games under the RFU Rugby 10s format, plus a bouncy castle, facepainting, henna tattoos, mascots, dance performances, tombola, crafts and a performance by Hollie Victoria - winner of BBC’s Strictly Dance fever in 2006.

There will also be an ice cream van plus a variety of food and refreshments laid on by Street Food Affair.

Entry is free although volunteers will be collecting donations for Birmingham Children’s Hospital at the gate and throughout the event which is also being backed by Greenfield Primary School in Stourbridge and Daisy Chain Day Nursery in Norton.

Ahead of the day there will also be a pre-event warm up event taking place at Greenfield Primary School on Friday May 4 at 5.30pm which will see a team from Stourbridge Rugby Club taking on the Stourbridge Jets in a friendly game of netball.

Volunteers from the Friends of Greenfield will provide food and refreshments and everyone is welcome.

For more details of the event check out www.openingboundaries.org/news-rugby

Any businesses wishing to donate prizes towards a raffle at the event can contact Farah on 07528 482254 or email farahahmed@hotmail.co.uk.