The Ben Kinsella Trust

The Ben Kinsella Trust was founded by Brooke Kinsella MBE, along with her parents Deborah and George, in memory of Ben Kinsella— a vibrant 16‑year‑old from Islington with dreams of becoming a graphic designer. Tragically, Ben was fatally stabbed on 29 June 2008 after being pursued by older teenagers, in an attack completely unrelated to him. His death compelled his family to channel their grief into a mission: to prevent other young lives from being lost to knife crime.

The Trust’s mission is focused on preventing knife crime through education and campaigning, with a long‑term vision of a society free from such violence. Their approach relies on immersive, trauma‑informed programmes—especially the award‑winning “Choices & Consequences” workshops and exhibitions—that take young people through the unfolding journey of both a victim and an offender. To date, they’ve reached over 30,000 young people, including more than 6,000 in the past year alone .

Beyond direct education, the Trust leads public campaigns, legislative advocacy, and awareness initiatives. Their efforts include support for “Ben’s Law,” which increased mandatory life sentences for knife‑related murders, a strong radio campaign for Mother’s Day in 2019, and the recent establishment of the UK’s first Knife Crime Awareness Week. Additionally, they provide vital resources and lesson plans for schools, youth workers, and parents—empowering them with the tools to tackle knife crime through guided learning and open discourse.

The Trust relies on community support through donations, event fundraising, and corporate partnerships to finance its work. Their programs are grounded in five core values—ambition, collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, authenticity—and intentionally incorporate youth voices, trauma‑informed design, and outcome‑focused strategies. Initiatives like the youth ambassador program and national Knife Crime Awareness Week highlight their continued commitment to collective action—responding to the stark reality that, even after 15 years, knife crime among under‑24s has not substantially decreased.