The family of a teenager who was stabbed to death on the streets of Norwich have confirmed a charity ball in his memory will become an annual event after the success of the first.

Emma and Phil Dix set up the Joe Dix Foundation following the death of their 18-year-old son who was murdered in Mile Cross in January 2022 with a first charity ball held in aid of the foundation last month.

Eastern Daily Press: Phil and Emma Dix with son Joe (right)Phil and Emma Dix with son Joe (right) (Image: Submitted)The January Blues Ball, held at the Oaklands Hotel in Norwich on January 27, helped raise £4,500 in aid of the fledgling charity set up to try and enlighten people about the dangers of child criminal exploitation, knife crime and gang culture in the UK.

Joe's parents said the event proved to be successful they were "already forward planning the next one" and hoped there would now be a "celebration of Joe every year".

Eastern Daily Press: Joe DixJoe Dix (Image: Submitted from family of Joe Dix)They said: "We will keep it around that weekend, the last weekend of January, every year."

As well as Joe's local friends there were people who had travelled from other parts of the country to attend.

The event was hosted by MC Lee with The Shunters Blues Band playing live.

Emma said that since the Foundation launched, on October 5 last year, the helpline that has been set up has received calls from across the country from people looking for support.

This is something both her and Phil felt had been lacking.

Before last month's fundraising ball they travelled to London to attend a national initiative tackling knife crime and met TV and movie star Idris Elba, himself a prominent anti-knife crime campaigner, who gave his backing to the charity.

Eastern Daily Press: Phil and Emma Dix with Idris Elba (centre)Phil and Emma Dix with Idris Elba (centre) (Image: Submitted)The Joe Dix Foundation was launched days after their son's killers - Hans Beeharry, then 20, Benjamin Gil, then 19, and Cameron Palmer, then also 19 - were sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder.

Eastern Daily Press: Cameron Palmer, Hans Beeharry and Benjamin GilCameron Palmer, Hans Beeharry and Benjamin Gil (Image: Norfolk Police)The charity will be hosting a national conference on child criminal exploitation on May 9 at the Kings Centre, King Street, Norwich between 10am and 4.30pm.

Log onto www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/national-conference-on-child-criminal-exploitation-and-knifecrime-tickets-815891051097 to get tickets.