The kids are alright, an introduction by Paolo Hewitt.

Enough! People have had enough. No longer will they stand by and endure the violence, the senseless loss of life, the tears and the utter heartbreak as yet another family loses a loved one. In other words, no longer will people stand by and watch young people kill themselves over the most trivial of matters. Ask John Lambert, father of two teenage daughters, proud Londoner and the man who began The Kids Are Alright Foundation.

After the latest stabbing on the streets near his home, the very streets he walked as a child, John started asking questions – hard questions. Why do these kids seem so different to those I knew when I was young? Why do they seem almost feral, vicious and without innocence? Moreover, what can I do about it? John knew there was an easy option: he could sit at home or in the pub and moan about the state of the world while waiting for the Government to pass new laws. But, he could also choose another option. He could choose to take a walk on a much tougher road. ‘I realised’ states John, ‘that it does not serve us to regard this as 'society's problem.’ That’s because WE are society and, therefore, it is OUR problem. It was then that I made a decision to establish the KIDS ARE ALRIGHT FOUNDATION (KAAF) to raise funds to provide amenities for the youth of today and tomorrow.’

As John elaborates, ‘team based activities are essential to any child's upbringing. They help teach them key skills such as socialising, integrating and, maybe most important of all, compromising. Whether it is a football or netball team, drama group or music project, the idea is that children and young people will learn that they need other people to work with them to achieve their goals. This will help children and young people to break down this isolated mentality where gangs live by their own rules and moral codes, where the wrong kind of peer pressure has taken precedence over respect and decency towards one another.’ John’s aim is simple, to nurture a new generation of socially skilled young people, who will grow into the parents every child deserves − loving and responsible, superb carers and guiders.

‘We know there is no easy short-term fix. That is why we will ensure that monies reach those projects that are most likely to make a long-term positive contribution,’ states John. ‘The Kids Are Alright Foundation (KAAF) has been established as a not-for–profit organisation to support, promote and publicise positive team and group based youth activities through fund-raising such as the HMV Forum Festival. You see, you ask children or young people what they regard as their priorities, and they consistently reply that they would like more "things to do and places to go". It is clear that “things to do and places to go” are vitally important. That is why the Foundation seeks to create such opportunities wherever it can. In doing so, it will enormously help shift young people away from the bad and towards the good. The violence has to stop. Help make that happen.

The Bands performing over the two night's include From The Jam, The Blockheads, Trio Valore, Eddie and The Hot Rods, The Only Ones, with plenty of very special guests. Tickets are priced at £20.00 for each night and are exclusively available at Ticketmaster