Knife Crime Forum

Prof Erinma Bell, MBE DL JP

Tel: 07903390882     Email: erinma@carisma.me.ukTwitter: @ErinmaBell

In 2003 Erinma became a co-founder and CEO of her own formidable charity known as CARISMA - Community Alliance for Renewal Inner South Manchester Area. CARISMA became a front-line community based group set up to offer life-chances for young people in the community by giving them positive alternatives other than street crimes, and gun crimes www.carisma.me.uk. Erinma employs a successful model that ‘builds social capital’ amongst grass roots individuals, community groups and key stakeholders, employing methods that offer transformative solutions to those who seek to promote social cohesion within their communities to bring about peace. This successful model enabled a 92% decrease in gun and gang crime in Manchester. Erinma continues to lead on work around issues such as Restorative Justice, Peace and Conflict Resolution as well as Peace Making, Peace Keeping and Peace Building within an urban environment.

In 2007 CARISMA were awarded The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for ‘voluntary service by a group in their community.

In 2007, the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, recognized Erinma’s efforts, as Chapter One of his book ‘Britain’s Everyday Heroes’.  In 2008 the Crown awarded Erinma with an MBE in recognition of her services to the community and in 2011 she was made Deputy Lieutenant of County of Greater Manchester as a representative to Her Majesty the Queen. Erinma also became a Magistrate in 2018.

Her passion for community peace has seen her travel widely to share her stories with others seeking peace in countries across the world.

Erinma has produced a Peace Toolkit which is available. The aim is not for you to follow exactly in her footsteps, rather, it is for you to listen to the messages and observe the models being put forth and use them to create peace within your immediate environment.

Erinma has a sculpture of her which is made from 50 recycled guns as a tribute to her work to reduce gun and gang crime in Manchester.  The sculpture was unveiled 2016 in Manchester Town Hall and is the first female statue to go on display in the Town Hall in 150 years!

Erinma received a Highly Commended Award at The English Women's Awards North 2018. Is recognised as One of the 50 Most Influential Women in Greater Manchester; recognised as One of the 100 Inspiring Women in Greater Manchester and recognised as one of the Top 100 Nigerians in the UK (2014).  She is an ambassador for Moss Side; and an International Rotary Peace Fellow.

Lastly Erinma has a secret passion for Nigerian fashion, textiles and clothing.  Hence she creates her own brand known as Nu-Being Designs and they specialise in bespoke clothing.  Check out her website at www.nubeingdesigns.co.uk