James Brindley's family launch Full Circle Programme

The 26-year-old was stabbed on his way home in Aldridge last year.

Published 21st Oct 2018
Last updated 2nd Nov 2018

Free Radio's helping the family of James Brindley and health and social care organisation DMR Services launch the Full Circle Programme.

At around midnight on June 23rd 2017, Mark and Beverley were called by their daughter Charlotte telling them their son had been stabbed.

James Brindley had been out with friends in Aldridge town centre and was walking home alongside The Croft recreation area on Little Aston Road.

"We can't hug him, talk to him, hear his voice"

He was on the phone to his girlfriend at the time.

James was stabbed to death - paramedics performed open heart surgery on him as he lay on the floor.

A post mortem showed he'd died from a stab wound to his heart.

A 17-year-old was jailed for life, with a minimum of 17 years for his murder.

The Full Circle Programme address the root causes of anti-social behaviour that can lead to violent crime.

It's an educational tool for children and young people, and an assessment tool for professionals which addresses a variety of behaviours which could potentially lead to people making decisions that negatively impact their lives, and the lives of others.

It'll tackle youth offending by developing problem solving and decision making skills.

The programme focuses on seven key areas:

We've been speaking to James' dad Mark and mum Beverley:

"It's about pushing back against that evil act, and overwhelming it with a good act that will help everybody and prevent lives being lost.

"James would be doing exactly the same, he would be 100% behind it.

"We've got to keep the spirit of James going, he will never be forgotten.

"He won't be forgotten because of the James Brindley Foundation and the Full Circle Programme."

DMR Services wrote the programme, we've been speaking to their Managing Director David Miller:

"Two years ago, we decided to write the programme based around the challenges we were facing with the young people who were coming through our residential care homes.

"Over the years, one of the big elements we're seeing is an increase in knife crime.

"A lot of people coming into our homes from that type of background.

"We wanted to react to the need of educating young people, but also working with practitioners so they understand what led the young person into that pathway.

"The Full Circle Programme has been designed as a reactive and proactive."

It's been officially launched at Walsall Town Hall today, we were at the event: