At the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) we protect millions of people throughout the UK who are members of defined benefit pension schemes, to compensate them if their pension scheme fails. We make a real difference to our members’ lives and also aim to make a difference in the community.

Our employees chose to support Lives Not Knives as our chosen charity for 2023-2025. LNK does fantastic work in Croydon, where we’re headquartered. We’re raising funds to support the important work they do to prevent knife crime, serious youth violence and school exclusions by engaging, educating and empowering disadvantaged young people and supporting them to enjoy their lives and improve their future prospects. We’re also using our collective skills to help LNK through volunteering.

What LNK does

Engage

LNK provides a safe space for children, particularly those from single-parent families or low-income households in Croydon, to keep them off the streets. During the school holidays, LNK hosts a free programme providing fun activities, enriching events, mentoring and lunch. In term time, LNK’s youth hub is open until 6.30 pm Monday to Friday, providing mental health support, employment advice and a place to relax and play video games.

 Educate

LNK Educate is the principal component of LNK’s preventative work. Through workshops, roadshows, one-to-one mentoring and group mentoring, LNK educates 9-18-year-olds in schools and pupil referral units about the effects of knife crime in order to discourage them from engaging in anti-social activities, particularly serious youth violence.

Empower

LNK aims to empower young people and the wider community towards a more positive future by delivering training, offering mentorship and relationships advice, preparing them for work, and supporting successful engagement in education, apprenticeships or employment.