About Robin

About Robin

Background // With over 20 years experience, Robin Lockhart is a seasoned professional in the youth work, coaching,Therapeutic Coaching, Mentoring and Human Development, Personal Growth and Change industry.

Over the years he has received numerous international awards and accolades for his work; most recently, Robin was voted 2016 Global Youth Worker of the Year by the Commonwealth, and collected his award from Baroness Scotland (The Secretary General of The Commonwealth) at Marlborough House.

Robin stated that he felt “honoured and privileged to receive such a prestigious award and to be delivering projects and programmes with young people. I realise how privileged I am to be doing what I love for a living and although I don’t do this work for awards, it is wonderful to have my work acknowledged and recognised at this level.”

These recent achievements have led to Robin being interviewed and featured by international radio and press.

Robin doesn’t only work with young people;  rather, he specialises in supporting people to truly understand where their emotions come from:

Many of us suffer challenges and problems in life because we don’t appreciate that our emotions are not things that we ‘have’ or ‘are’, but are actually something that we ‘do’. Our emotions are a result of the sum total of our thinking from moment to moment and we are not obliged to feel the same in one moment as we are in the very next moment”

Robin has been at the cutting edge of youth work, coaching, mentoring and therapy/self-help for many years, and has refined his techniques and methodology to allow rapid transformational results and changes to happen in individuals whom other practitioners may have written off.
He has written many articles and given numerous talks on how to improve the systems that exist and cause many to suffer.

Robin believes that every one of us deserves the best in life and has developed an outstanding reputation for enabling even the most marginalised and ‘challenging’ members of society to recognise and realise that they deserve better.

Biography // Robin began his career as a qualified and experienced Youth and Community Development professional after spending many years working in the professional Creative Industries (where he ran several music and arts focussed organisations).

He holds a BA(Hons) in Informal and Community Education from Christchurch University – Canterbury.

Coming from a family that includes multiple ethnicities and faiths, Robin has utilised his background to enable him to provide effective engagement to diverse communities through his Social Enterprise, Catalyst In Communities.

In 2019 Robin & his team at Catalyst In Communities ran the groundbreaking EastSide Story project as part of the inaugural London Borough Of Culture celebrations in his home borough Waltham Forest.  The project was a powerful personal development programme for young local residents based at 2 neighbouring (& somewhat rival) housing estates that became a 21st Century, East London stage show based on WestSide Story.  The process was documented by the BBC for their long-standing prime arts & culture show Imagine. Click here to view the documentary

About Robin

Background // With over 20 years experience, Robin Lockhart is a seasoned professional in the youth work, coaching, therapy and mentoring industry.

Over the years he has received numerous international awards and accolades for his work; most recently, Robin was voted 2016 Global Youth Worker of the Year by the Commonwealth, and collected his award from Baroness Scotland (The Secretary General of The Commonwealth) at Marlborough House. In 2018 he was given the role of Commonwealth Ambassador for Youth Work.

Robin stated that he felt “honoured and privileged to receive such a prestigious award and to be delivering projects and programmes with young people. I realise how privileged I am to be doing what I love for a living and although I don’t do this work for awards, it is wonderful to have my work acknowledged and recognised at this level.”

These recent achievements have led to Robin being interviewed and featured by international radio and press.

Robin doesn’t only work with young people;  rather, he specialises in supporting people to truly understand where their emotions come from:

Many of us suffer challenges and problems in life because we don’t appreciate that our emotions are not things that we ‘have’ or ‘are’, but are actually something that we ‘do’. Our emotions are a result of the sum total of our thinking from moment to moment and we are not obliged to feel the same in one moment as we are in the very next moment”

Robin has been at the cutting edge of youth work, coaching, mentoring and therapy/self-help for many years, and has refined his techniques and methodology to allow rapid transformational results and changes to happen in individuals whom other practitioners may have written off.
He has written many articles and given numerous talks on how to improve the systems that exist and cause many to suffer.

Robin believes that every one of us deserves the best in life and has developed an outstanding reputation for enabling even the most marginalised and ‘challenging’ members of society to recognise and realise that they deserve better.

Biography // Robin began his career as a qualified and experienced Youth and Community Development professional after spending many years working in the professional Creative Industries (where he ran several music and arts focussed organisations).

He now holds a BA(Hons) in Informal and Community Education from Christchurch University – Canterbury.

Coming from a family that includes multiple ethnicities and faiths, Robin has utilised his background to enable him to provide effective engagement to diverse communities through his Social Enterprise, Catalyst In Communities.

Many of us suffer challenges and problems in life because we don’t appreciate that our emotions are not things that we ‘have’ or ‘are’, but are actually something that we ‘do’.

“Many of us suffer challenges and problems in life because we don’t appreciate that our emotions are not things that we ‘have’ or ‘are’, but are actually something that we ‘do’.

Roles // Robin is co-founder of Catalyst In Communities, a Social Enterprise focusing on delivering high impact training and development programmes to individuals and communities in need.  CIC works extensively throughout England, the UK and Internationally, delivering training to Youth and Community Development workers and other professionals, as well as offering direct case interventions and project management services to those individuals and group in most acute need. Robin believes that by sharing the knowledge and skills he and his team have on a wide basis, improvements in communities’ relationships (including schools, youth organisations, colleges, prisons and businesses as well as other charities and enterprises) are generated. When working with offenders or victims of crime or with families / other groups in conflict, Robin specialises in using his extensive coaching and motivational expertise, blended with Restorative Practice techniques to ensure that all parties find what they are looking for in the intervention.

Robin was a Director of Griffin Research Consultancy where he focuses more on research, evaluation and training in the field of Crime and Community Safety.

In addition to this, Robin is also a Director of The Community Coaching Academy – a Social Enterprise that helps communities design, develop and deliver solutions to their own challenges. Via a mix of training, coaching, mentoring and consultancy the CCA empowers communities to create, operate and realise their own sustainable coaching services.  The CCA works in partnership with schools and other educational institutions to create sustainable  “Learning Coach” programmes. Working with the whole school community to design coaching services which are unique and personalised to meet their specific needs and requirements. Building on their strengths and addressing their challenges.  We also work in partnership with social businesses, charities and community organisations to promote coaching as an effective change and development process. The CCA offers training and consultancy to enable these organisations to design, develop and deliver their own sustainable coaching services. The Academy actively targets communities who have previously been labelled “hard to reach”, disadvantaged, marginalised and “at risk.

Robin added to the above list when he became the CEO of Through Unity, a charity which exists to support families bereaved through homicide.. After working in partnership with Through Unity for several years, Robin stepped in to the role in 2016 and lead the charity until 2019.  Please click here to see a GQ magazine piece about the Charities Peer2Peer Support Programme and here to see a short film about it.

Robin has many years of experience as a Trainer and Practitioner, and has been involved in numerous Youth & Community projects focussed on areas of acute need. 

In 2009, Robin founded and developed Newham Restorative Justice Network (the UK’s first youth led restorative practice project), which received international accolades for its model of full youth inclusion and participation. The project worked with young people affected by Guns, Gangs, Knives and street crime to seek peaceful solutions toconflict situations. NRJN engaged victims, those who have offended, been witnesses and those otherwise affected (friends / family / neighbours / community members) in 1:1 and group work sessions, as well as a range of positive activities to resolve the issues faced. 

Click here to watch a short taster film about Newham Restorative Justice Network.

Robin has also been a supporter of the UK’s YoungStars since they launched their Peace Pledge campaign live at London’s O2 Arena in 2011. Since then, they have gone on to win several prestigious awards for their peace work. 

Click here to watch BBC World News interview Robin and some of the founder members of Young Stars about the launch of the Young Stars Peace Pledge at London’s O2 Arena.

Click here to view YoungStars’ in a short film about winning the V-Inspired Award 2013,

Robin is also an ambassador for A-star foundation which was the concept of professional footballers to create pathways to employment for young adults. The foundation has been running for well over ten years.

Offering project management, training, research, evaluation and front-line delivery services to communities, and with a long-standing personal commitment to Diversity, Equality and Peace Initiatives (particularly relating to programmes involving Young People) Robin has developed a reputation as an outstanding specialist professional.

In addition to the above, Robin runs a private clinic for individuals who wish to book in to see him personally for coaching / therapeutic 1 to 1 sessions.  At the clinic, Robin helps private clients deal with wide ranging issues ranging from sleep problems, relationship issues, low-self confidence and anxiety to those who simply know that they are not happy with their lives currently and want to explore what / how to change. Contact Robin to arrange a session.

Roles // Robin is co-founder of Catalyst In Communities, a Social Enterprise focusing on delivering high impact training and development programmes to individuals and communities in need.  CIC works extensively throughout England, the UK and Internationally, delivering training to Youth and Community Development workers and other professionals, as well as offering direct case interventions and project management services to those individuals and group in most acute need. Robin believes that by sharing the knowledge and skills he and his team have on a wide basis, improvements in communities’ relationships (including schools, youth organisations, colleges, prisons and businesses as well as other charities and enterprises) are generated. When working with offenders or victims of crime or with families / other groups in conflict, Robin specialises in using his extensive coaching and motivational expertise, blended with Restorative Practice techniques to ensure that all parties find what they are looking for in the intervention.

Robin is a Director of Griffin Research Consultancy where he focuses more on research, evaluation and training in the field of Crime and Community Safety.

In addition to this, Robin is also a Director of The Community Coaching Academy – a Social Enterprise that helps communities design, develop and deliver solutions to their own challenges. Via a mix of training, coaching, mentoring and consultancy the CCA empowers communities to create, operate and realise their own sustainable coaching services.  The CCA works in partnership with schools and other educational institutions to create sustainable  “Learning Coach” programmes. Working with the whole school community to design coaching services which are unique and personalised to meet their specific needs and requirements. Building on their strengths and addressing their challenges.  We also work in partnership with social businesses, charities and community organisations to promote coaching as an effective change and development process. The CCA offers training and consultancy to enable these organisations to design, develop and deliver their own sustainable coaching services. The Academy actively targets communities who have previously been labelled “hard to reach”, disadvantaged, marginalised and “at risk.

Robin added to the above list when he became the CEO of Through Unity, a charity which exists to support families bereaved through homicide.. After working in partnership with Through Unity for several years, Robin stepped in to the role in March 2016.  Click here to find out more about the Through Unity Peer2Peer Project.

Robin has many years of experience as a Trainer and Practitioner, and has been involved in numerous Youth & Community projects focussed on areas of acute need. 

In 2009, Robin founded and developed Newham Restorative Justice Network (the UK’s first youth led restorative practice project), which received international accolades for its model of full youth inclusion and participation. The project worked with young people affected by Guns, Gangs, Knives and street crime to seek peaceful solutions toconflict situations. NRJN engaged victims, those who have offended, been witnesses and those otherwise affected (friends / family / neighbours / community members) in 1:1 and group work sessions, as well as a range of positive activities to resolve the issues faced. 

Click here to watch a short taster film about Newham Restorative Justice Network.

Robin has also been a supporter of the UK’s YoungStars since they launched their Peace Pledge campaign live at London’s O2 Arena in 2011. Since then, they have gone on to win several prestigious awards for their peace work. 

Click here to watch BBC World News interview Robin and some of the founder members of Young Stars about the launch of the Young Stars Peace Pledge at London’s O2 Arena.

Click here to view YoungStars’ in a short film about winning the V-Inspired Award 2013,

Robin is also an ambassador for A-star foundation which was the concept of professional footballers to create pathways to employment for young adults. The foundation has been running for well over ten years.

Offering project management, training, research, evaluation and front-line delivery services to communities, and with a long-standing personal commitment to Diversity, Equality and Peace Initiatives (particularly relating to programmes involving Young People) Robin has developed a reputation as an outstanding specialist professional.

In addition to the above, Robin runs a private clinic for individuals who wish to book in to see him personally for coaching / therapeutic 1 to 1 sessions.  At the clinic, Robin helps private clients deal with wide ranging issues ranging from sleep problems, relationship issues, low-self confidence and anxiety to those who simply know that they are not happy with their lives currently and want to explore what / how to change. Contact Robin to arrange a session.

Connect with Robin