My name is Roseann Taylor. I am 47 years old and live in Luton. I lost my only child Azaan John Kaleem, aged 18 as a result of knife crime on 24 March 2018.

Azaan had been to a funeral and was walking home, accompanied by his girlfriend and a friend. A youth approached them on a bicycle and as a result of what he termed a ' dirty look' made a telephone call to his friends. Minutes later, three men exited a car and in a 22 second frenzied attack, stabbed Azaan in the heart and in the back. Two days later Azaan was pronounced brain dead at the Luton and Dunstable hospital.

This incident robbed me of my son, any potential grandchildren and threw my future into uncertainty.

In the 19 months following Azaan's murder I have undertaken many projects, the aim being that Azaan did not die in vain. It is my belief that no child is born intrinsically evil but is a product of their upbringing and their childhood experiences. It is through forgiving Azaan's murderers that I have found a degree of peace and am able to participate in intervention work with several agencies.

 I have been privileged to work with:

• Walk to Freedom

• CIRV Northampton's Violence Reduction Unit

• Peace Walk

• Lives B4 Knives

• Schools and colleges 

• Churches and mosques

• Prisons

• Diverse FM...' Diversity for children not in mainstream education'

• BBC 1 and Channels 4 and 5

• Luton MAGPAN

• Restorative Justice

•  I was named Bedfordshire Woman of the Year

• I received the Mayor's Award,, Luton Community Award for Parent in a Million and Luton Community Award Winner's winner.

Contact: roseanntaylor18@gmail.com