Ryan Biddiss left Woolwich Polytechnic School in 2011 but revisited on March 21, 2023, to donate a bleed control kit.
Since leaving education, Ryan has launched a knife amnesty group named “Protect Our Children” in a bid to get rid of dangerous weapons being used for crime.
As a part of his project, he has also called for bleed kits to be installed around London to stop stab victims from dying at the scene.
Ryan said: “It was weird going back to my old school but felt good at the same time as I was going there for a good purpose.
“It was great and again weird seeing my old teachers who used to give me detentions at the time.
“It was overall a crazy experience really.”
Some of Ryan’s old teachers who follow his project reached out to him through social media.
Ryan talked to the school about the amnesty group and the work he does with his local community before the visit.
He explained: “We were talking back and forth for a while, but I had never really had the chance to go back.
Ryan and headteacher at Woolwich Polytechnic School, Mr Lawrence (Image: Woolwich Polytechnic School)
“I had a bleed kit that I was looking to donate, so then I thought of the school and decided to give it to them.
“The teachers then welcomed me with open arms really.”
Ryan began the knife amnesty group after suffering from depression following the death of his father, prompting him to change his life.
He previously worked with young people for a number of years, working at different community centres, before setting up the group.
Ryan explained: “As knife crime campaigners we go out on the streets and tackle these problems head-on.
“It is important that we all play a part in stopping knife crime.
“The community needs to get together and stop these nightmares.
“It’s all done anonymously where people get in contact with me, to get rid of their weapons.”
Ryan discovered bleed kits through the Daniel Baird Foundation which was founded by Lynne Baird.
Lynne founded the foundation to provide life-saving kits after her son was stabbed to death in a Birmingham pub in 2017.
Ryan was inspired by Lynne’s work and decided to distribute kits within Greenwich Borough.
The kits, which costs £85 each, provide bleed kits designed to treat wounds quickly and effectively.
Ryan explained: “I was inspired by what Lynne has done.
“So, I thought on how I could make a difference and purchased some kits myself to give to local shops in my area.
“I think everyone should have a bleeder kit, whether it’s in their homes or cars.
“It’s not just stabbings but maybe if someone’s had a bad car accident, you can also go and help.
“It was great to know that I could potentially make a difference to my old school, so going there and talking to students about my project was great.”
Ryan has donated various kits that are available in local shops and roads across Greenwich.
These are located at TJ Premier in Woolwich Church Street, PJ off-license in Sandy Road, Glendon Community Centre, Rose Inn Pub in Waverley Road, and Birchwood Pub in Abbey Wood.
Ryan is now calling for more schools to take Woolwich Polytechnic School as a “great” example in tackling knife crime.
He feels that many deaths over the years could have been prevented if bleed kits were in more streets and schools.
Ryan added: “It’s crucial that we have more stab bleed kits across our councils and schools.
“So, I think we should take my old school as an example and call for all schools across London to have these kits.”
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