NewsTV star Kwame Kwei-Armah on why he supports LEAP

Kwame Kwei-Armah is well-known as an actor, writer and singer. He first came to prominence as paramedic Finlay Newton in ‘Casualty’ (from 1999) and for his outstanding performances on 'Celebrity Fame' Academy'. He is a regular on ‘Newsnight Review’ and is a presenter of ‘the Culture Show’. Amongst many accolades, he won the Evening Standard's Charles Winter Most Promising Playwright Award 2003 and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier and Bafta awards, in 2004 and 2005 respectively, for his play Elmina's Kitchen, which was the first Black British play to be staged in the West End. He had a second play at the National Theatre in 2005, the thought provoking ‘Fix Up and a third called Statement of regret in 2007. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Open University in 2008.

Kwame is a man who believes in “giving back” to the society in which he personally has thrived and is involved with a myriad of good causes. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for Trade for Christian Aid; an Ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics; a Governor at the University of the Arts London; a Board Member of the National Theatre Development Council and a Board Member of the Roundhouse Theatre. His accolades are many and his profile continues to grow.  He is also a trustee here at LEAP.

We asked Kwame what it was about the work we do at LEAP that attracted his commitment. He said:

“When Tunde showed me the programme he had brought to Britain from America and the tremendous effect it seemed to have on the participants, I cried. I cried because often people speak about change - about how we equip a community to supersede its circumstance, but to see a programme that helps a community, one person at a time, gain the equipment and motivation to navigate themselves out of the mire and into a world where they can provide for themselves and their families - it touched not just my mind but my heart. I could not refuse when offered to be part of this great initiative - this is the real deal!! “