For Andrew Brown, stamping out knife crime has always been a priority.

So when the interim CEO at Croydon BME Forum found out his group had been awarded a $50,000 grant to do just that, he knew he had to make it count.

"People might see an article every week about someone being stabbed, but the issue goes much deeper than that," Mr Brown said.

"Croydon has been really badly affected over the last two years and now with this money, we're hoping to bring about a real change."

An 'umbrella' group, BME plans to spread the money across five Croydon-based organisations, each with its own plan of tackling the growing knife problem.

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But as the 45-year-old says, the hardest part about running a volunteer group is simply staying open.

"In the voluntary sector a lot are doing good work," Mr Brown said.

"But they don’t last because they don’t have the money.

"What we will be doing is to make sure they are sustainable over another 12 months."

The funding comes as part of an anti-knife initiative by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan that will see a total of £1.4 million given out to groups across the capital.

“Prevention is the most effective tool we have," Mr Khan said

"With the funds announced today, these community and grass-roots projects will be able to help root out violence within our communities and give more young Londoners the skills, support and aspirations they need to turn away from crime and fulfil their potential.”

BME plans to work hand in hand with the chosen groups (Music Relief, ANOS, Lions Society, Alliance Society and one still to be chosen) to combine their knowledge of the area.

"Everyone is doing really good work, but it isn't coordinated at times," Mr Brown said.

"I could be working with one man, but three other organisations could be working with the same young man.

"We want to work together rather than throwing money at the same people.

"With this grant, we will be able accomplish that goal."