First National #InThisTogether Stop the Bleed Conference in Newark marks National Stop the Bleed Day

Held at Castle House in Newark, the conference focused on equipping ordinary citizens with the practical skills and knowledge to positively act in a crisis, including how to stop severe bleeding before the emergency services arrive.

The event was hosted by Nottinghamshire’s Academy Transformation Trust for Further Education College (ATTFE) in partnership with Newark & Sherwood Council, and coincided with both National Stop the Bleed Day and the iconic Knife Angel anti-violence sculpture being placed in the town centre.

#InThisTogether began in Nottinghamshire after a teenage learner at ATTFE was threatened with a knife, which brought into focus how the majority of people would not know what to do if someone suffered a life-threatening bleed.

The campaign promotes simple life-saving techniques which are useful in the event of a range of emergencies, including road traffic collisions, domestic incidents, agricultural and industrial accidents, as well as knife-related incidents.

The conference brought together partners and speakers from a broad spectrum, including representatives from healthcare, emergency services, community organisations and national charities.

The event was formally opened by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Prof Veronica Pickering MBS HAC, who affirmed a strong support for this community-led initiative during her opening address.

Attendees then heard from Major General Tim Hodgetts, followed by speakers from Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Freemasons, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and CitizenAid.

The conference encouraged organisations to make practical pledges to support the #InThisTogether campaign, including widening access to bleeding control training and helping communities feel confident to step in and help until emergency services arrive.

Liz Barrett, principal of ATTFE College, said: “Although we’re six months into this campaign, this is only the start.

“By collaborating we can have a greater impact across Nottinghamshire and beyond.

“The main thing we would like is for people to be trained on how to stop bleeding, so they can use those skills if needed.

“It’s all about life-long learning.”

The initiative has grown into a national campaign, and organisers hope the conference will encourage more organisations to join, expand training opportunities, and build long-term momentum.

As part of the day, delegates visited the Knife Angel and tied messages of hope on white ribbons.

They also took part in practical first aid sessions, including how to use the tourniquets and wound packing found in Stop the Bleed kits, designed to help control catastrophic bleeding in the crucial minutes before professional help arrives.

It also provided an ideal platform on which to network, so ideas were shared and local connections strengthened, whilst sharing best practice.

Coun Paul Taylor (Lab), Newark & Sherwood Council’s portfolio holder for community protection and public relations, said: “This conference focuses on something very simple but incredibly powerful - communities helping communities.

“Actions taken before emergency services arrive can save lives, and we want people to have the confidence to act when it matters most.”

Peter Gregory, community engagement lead from Nottinghamshire Freemasons, said: “Knowing how to stop severe bleeding is a practical skill anyone can learn.

“By working together across services and communities, we can help more people feel confident to act quickly and safely in the minutes that matter.”

A message from Adele Cook, whose husband James Cook died following a stabbing in Newark in 2025, was read out during the conference by Penny Taylor, head of Newark College Campuses, calling for hope through action, education and early intervention.

The message said: “We stand here today not just in the shadow of the loss of my husband, James Cook, but in the light of what still can be…

“We cannot undo what has been done.

“But we can shape what comes next.

“Hope is not passive - it is action, it is education, early intervention, listening without judgment and stepping in before it’s too late.

“It is standing together - families, communities, services - not divided, but united in one clear message: enough.

“Every life saved matters.

“Every choice to put down a knife matters.

“Every conversation that changes a path matters.

“So let this not just be a gathering of voices, but a turning point.”

Chf Insp Kylie Davies, of Nottinghamshire Police, illustrated her presentation with how tackling knife crime requires long-term work across services and communities, supported by education, partnership activity and proactive policing.

Organisers say the conference marks a major step in building a stronger local and national network to tackle violence, increasing access to bleeding control training and ensuring more people have the knowledge and confidence to help save a life in an emergency.