Key4life bob geldof biography

How would you describe Key4Life’s mission?
Our mission is to rehabilitate young men in prison or those who are at risk of going to prison. We also help children who are caught up in knife crime or at risk of doing so. We want to help save lives, not only because it costs the economy £18 billion annually, but also because we know helping reoffenders move away from crime can yield amazing results. Only 14% of our participants have re-offended within a year of release, compared to the national rate of 64%, and a Key4Life participant is four times more likely to find employment.

What does the programme involve initially?
We work with people being released from prison within six to nine months, but ideally within three. We look for men who want to change, and we don’t take on board active drug users – they might have had substance issues in the past, but we need people who are really going to engage with the process. Our programme is based on three principles. The first is to help these young men release the pain from their past. To do this, we use equine therapy and bring horses into the prison – the animals can mirror the emotions and feelings of the young men. We also work with the music and football industries, as many of the men we support have a keen passion for both – we often enlist the help of Queens Park Rangers FC, for example. Through these resources, one of our main goals is to help them come to terms with their feelings, which often include unresolved anger, sadness, guilt, fear and hurt. Around 78% of our participants didn’t have a father growing up and 30% of them already have children themselves – the statistics are really shocking. 

And what happens next?
The second part of the process involves mentoring. We bring in businesspeople from all walks of life who will support these men as they go through the programme, essentially becoming the role model they never had. The final part is about employability, which involves CV preparation, moc

Innovative crime prevention charity Key4Life chose St Paul’s Hammersmith for its recent 10th anniversary gala. As the venue’s trusted AV partner for many years, we were expertly placed to provide the AV support.

Supplying lighting and video elements to transform the Grade II* listed Anglican church, we enhanced the celebratory atmosphere, fitting of such an important occasion. With a special concert from Bob Geldof and the Bobkatz, plenty of stage lighting and moving fixtures, including Clay Paky Alpha Spots and Robe Spiiders, helped add to the performance. Ayrton Diablos were used to fly the charity’s logo across the building’s stunning architecture. Videos highlighting Key4Life’s campaign work reinforced the charity’s extraordinary work and achievements in transforming the lives of ex-offenders over the past 10 years.

300 guests were in attendance, including top business leaders, Key4Life graduates, charity mentors and other supporters. The milestone event raised an incredible £90K (net) in support of Key4Life’s work, from ticket and table sales, the auction and donations.

Key4Life’s chairman, Paul Sternberg, said: “We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful AV SFL provided on the night of Key4Life’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner. What fantastic lighting and brilliant to have the Key4Life logo on the ceiling. The evening was a huge success and would not have been possible without your team. Your wonderful support will be helping some of the most marginalised young people in the UK on to a new and positive path.”

“…I’m not sitting through another f*cking charity auction”

I was expecting something irreverent from Sir Bob Geldof – he delivered.

I was expecting something magical from Jules Holland on the piano – he delivered.

I wasn’t expecting my preconceptions to be challenged quite so emotionally by ex prisoners.

I certainly wasn’t expecting to hear about horses being taken into prisons to tame hard geezers.

…all at the gala event to support the extraordinary work of Key4Life, with the human dynamo that is Founder Eva Hamilton & her team.

I do expect your prejudices & preconceptions to be challenged by the 5 minute video below.

At Lexikin we don’t ask for cash, but 2 requests, please:

1. I’m asking this professional network to consider mentoring, or giving some work experience for ex offenders, to give them the confidence & hope to get off the bottom of the ladder. You’re unlikely to meet more motivated people to get off their arses and perform for your business – as it’s voluntary to join the Key4Life programme, and these blokes don’t want to go back inside. Link  here: Key4Life Application
2. Lexikin supports Key4Life for legacies – it takes less than a minute to make a legacy pledge; less than 5 minutes to register your essential details (securely); less than 15 minutes to submit a request for a professionally drafted Will….but a lifetime to accumulate your memories for your next of kin. Leave a Legacy to Key4Life