Life-Saving Bleed Kit Donated to Local Shard End Florist as Part of Citywide Safety Drive
A new bleed control kit has been donated to a local florist in Shard End after it was stolen.
The kits offer vital emergency equipment in an area that has experienced the devastating consequences of knife crime.
The installation is part of a wider regional initiative funded by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who has provided the resources for hundreds of bleed control kits to be distributed across Birmingham. The kits are designed to be used in the critical minutes following a serious injury where immediate action can mean the difference between life and death.
Each pack contains essential medical equipment to help control severe bleeding while waiting for paramedics. With ambulance response times averaging around seven minutes, and fatal blood loss potentially occurring in as little as three, having access to these kits in public places is a life-saving intervention.
The project is being delivered in partnership with Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, West Midlands Police and the Daniel Baird Foundation. Together, they have identified key locations for kit installation, focusing on areas with higher risk and need.
In a gesture of community support, Birmingham City Council Community Safety Team will also be donating a bleed kit to Bobby’s Florist in Shard End. The shop had its kit stolen during a recent break-in, and the Council is committed to ensuring that vital safety resources remain accessible to local businesses and residents.
Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said:
"Installing bleed control kits in areas like Shard End is a powerful and practical response to the devastating impact of knife crime. These kits are more than medical supplies—they are a lifeline and a visible symbol of our commitment to protecting our communities. I’m particularly proud that we are able to support local businesses like Bobby’s Florist, who play an important role in our neighbourhoods, by replacing their stolen kit. This is community safety in action—collaborative, compassionate, and focused on saving lives."
The initiative continues to be championed through monthly Local Community Safety Partnership meetings, where agencies work together to reduce serious violence, tackle anti-social behaviour, and strengthen public safety.
Bleed control kits are a reassuring presence in our public spaces and represent a proactive step toward creating safer communities for everyone.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “I am really impressed by Bobby-Ray and his outstanding initiative and commendable dedication to our community. At just 16 years old, he has shown remarkable leadership and compassion by raising funds to provide five bleed control kits for Yardley. His actions are a testament to the positive impact young people can have in preventing harm and saving lives.
“Bobby-Ray's efforts align with my commitment to prevent and tackle knife crime and to ensure the safety of our residents. Last year, I distributed 420 bleed control kits across the West Midlands, and it is heartening to see young people like Bobby-Ray taking up this vital cause. Together, we can make a positive and significant difference, in our collective commitment, to prevent and tackle violence in all its forms.”
