Teacher Goggie a sensation in national TV campaign celebrating UKs key workers

A music teacher has now become an advertising sensation after being used to head a national campaign to celebrate the work by key workers during the current pandemic.

Drummer Goggie, who is also a dance facilitator with Services For Education, is part of a nationwide advertising campaign, by Vaseline and celebrated photographer Rankin to applaud the nation’s key workers who have remained steadfast on the ‘frontline’ as the pandemic remains a worldwide problem.

Goggie, real name Robert Ifill, has been continuing his music teaching working alongside colleagues at Services For Education, the Birmingham-based charity whose music service continues throughout the pandemic.

He was selected as one of three key workers in the campaign which showcases the huge efforts made by the ‘special’ people who have gone above and beyond to help those in need.

Joined by Kaitlyn, an emergency call handler - who helped a first-time father deliver his baby - and supermarket worker Katy, who worked through the night to ensure that much-needed food and necessities could accessed, Goggie, who developed his drumming and dance skills whilst living in the Caribbean and has worked at Services For Education since 2011, said: “This all comes from a chance conversation I had with someone who encouraged me to send a video of myself to the ad agency. And I was pleasantly shocked to see that I was considered and hugely surprised to be selected.”

Chief Executive of Services For Education, Sharon Bell, said: “Goggie represents all that our 242 staff represents. And, despite the massive disruption to schools and teaching staff, they have continued to deliver more than 7,000 hours of online teaching in just 12 weeks, producing 450 new music training videos and moving all our training courses on-line.

“We are delighted that Goggie was selected to represent music teachers from across the UK who have worked so hard to deliver and keep children engaged and enthused.”

Services For Education teaches music to 38,000 Birmingham children, as it provides 28,000 musical instruments free of charge. Its School Support Service provides expert and professional training and development in 570 schools.

Featured on UK commercial TV, the ad campaign coincides with Vaseline’s 150^th Anniversary which it highlights the role of hands in consumers’ daily lives and why it is more important to take care of them now than ever.