21 Promises for Charlie
To mark what would have been Charlie's 21st birthday, we are launching 21 for 21, a fundraising and awareness campaign running throughout October in Charlie's memory, honouring the life he should have had.
He was the same age as many of the students you teach, mentor or support.
21 for 21
21 Promises for Charlie
Help us turn 21 into change
On 28th October 2026, Charlie 'Cheeks' Cosser would have turned 21. He was a fun-loving, cheeky 17-year-old with a passion for football, a groundkeeping apprenticeship he loved, and a lads' holiday just days away. On 22nd July 2023, he went to a house party in West Sussex and never came home.
Twenty-one is a milestone Charlie never reached. He was just one of many young lives cut short by knife crime. This October, we're asking schools and youth groups across the UK to help us turn that milestone into change.
Since Charlie's Promise began, we've reached more than 110,000 young people through schools, colleges and youth organisations across the country, educating, inspiring and supporting them to make safer, more positive choices.
Your school or group could be part of this change this October.
How your school or group can get involved
Choose any 21 challenge that works for your pupils, staff or members. It can be educational, active, creative or fundraising-focused, whatever fits your setting.
You might involve a single class, form group, year group or house. You might make it a whole-school assembly or event. Youth groups can shape it around a regular session or a one-off.
Whatever you choose, we would love to have you involved and help us raise awareness with the young people you work with every day.
Every promise matters.
21 ways to take part:
Active challenges
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Walk or run 21km collectively
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Complete 21 laps of a local park, track, or field
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Take on 21 press-ups, sit-ups or star jumps each day
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Reach 21,000 steps as a group or team
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Hold a 2.1km fun run
Creative ideas
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Create a wall of 21 promises
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Write 21 poems, stories or reflections
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Produce a campaign video with a 21 theme
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Create a display about making
positive choice
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Organise a 21-song danceathon
Fundraising ideas
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Casual dress day linked to the campaign
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Wash 21 cars
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Hold a bake sale featuring 21 treats
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Raise £21 per team or household
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Challenge staff or members to complete a "21" challenge of their choosing
Awareness activities
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Wear blue for 21 days
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Hold a 21-minute sponsored silence
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Create 21 knife crime awareness posters
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Share 21 positive messages around
the community
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Complete 21 acts of kindness
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Invite a friend to make their own Promise
The possibilities are endless, create your own "21 for 21" challenge and inspire others to get involved.
What your fundraising goes towards
Every pound raised through 21 for 21 goes directly towards the work Charlie's Promise was set up to do: going into schools and youth settings to deliver talks and workshops on the dangers of knife crime, and equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and support to make safer, more positive choices.
It's how we keep Charlie's promise alive, and how we help make sure no other family has to make the one Martin made to him.
Register your school or group
The campaign is designed to be flexible, inclusive and accessible for all ages and abilities. Every contribution helps us continue educating young people and raising awareness of the immeasurable impact of knife crime.
Register your interest, letting us know your school or group and roughly what you're planning, and we'll be in touch with further details and resources to help you with your challenge
Share your posts with #21forcharlie and tag us @charliespromisecharity to help spread awareness!
Together, let's turn 21 into change!
Talking to your students about knife crime
Martin's talks and our resources are developed with young audiences in mind, and we're happy to discuss the right approach for your age group before any visit, assembly or challenge.