Where knife crime continues to rise, Anthony Olaseinde, known as “Big Ant”, is on a mission to offer young people a real alternative. Through his charity and grassroots activism, he’s transforming fear into hope, turning weapons into opportunities, and reminding a forgotten generation that their lives matter more than the knives they carry.
On a cold afternoon in Yorkshire, Anthony Olaseinde, known as “Big Ant”, stands quietly by a bright orange metal bin. He watches as a schoolboy drops a folded knife into the slot and runs off without a word. It might look suspicious, but he’s not hiding a crime – he’s making a change. That knife is going into a surrender bin.
“There’s always an alternative option to your life plans,” Anthony says. “I want those young people to understand that.”
Ant’s journey
Anthony began his anti-knife journey in 2021 and is now one of the best-known campaigners in Northern England. Knife crime is rising, with over 50,000 offences recorded in England and Wales in the year to June 2024. South Yorkshire ranks third, reporting 10.7 incidents per 10,000 people. His charity, Always An Alternative, is a grassroots group that helps young people find safer paths and real alternatives to violence.
Through the project, he has installed weapon amnesty bins across Sheffield; bright, visible drop-off points where people can anonymously dispose of knives. But the bins are just the beginning.
Anthony grew up in council housing, surrounded by violence and pressure to protect himself. He knows what it feels like to carry fear in your pocket.
“I understand why you do it. You think it’s protection. But it won’t protect you, if something goes wrong, the consequences are real,” he says. “Believe me, it’s not worth it. Just get rid of it. Drop it in one of our bins, or anywhere safe. You’re worth more than that.”
Charity work
Anthony visits schools, builds youth clubs, and works with local groups to speak directly with young people, not to judge, but to connect. His message is simple: your life matters more than a weapon.
“I just want to give those kids everything I have, and help them see there’s always a positive choice.”
In a music project, Ant brought together children whose youth club was under threat. They wrote and performed a song with the line: “What about us?”
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That moment showed his work’s urgency. This work isn’t just about preventing crime – it’s about dignity, and making sure young people feel heard. Anthony’s charity gives them a platform where they’re seen as human beings, not just “problem boys” or statistics.
“They weren’t being metaphorical,” Anthony says. “They were asking a real question.”
He calls out a double standard that frustrates many young people. “If a young person says something is racist, unfair, or hurting them, they’re ignored. But when an adult says it, people pay attention. That needs to change.”
The future
Anthony doesn’t shy away from the difficulties. In a system that often dismisses young voices, he constantly pushes against the barriers. “We’ve lost funding because of previous projects, we just spoke honestly, but some people took it personally.”
He admits the weight of it all gets to him. “I always want to give up. But when you feel like giving up, you’ll be okay, that’s what I do. You’ve got to understand, there’s always an alternative with me,” he says. “I speak from the heart.”
“I’m an optimist, but I’m a realist too. I hope for the best, but I plan for the hard parts.”
