War Child’s Emergency Coronavirus Crowdfunder Launches Second Phase With Over £185,000 Raised To Date + More A-Listers Joining

Vanessa Kirby, Frances McDormand, Jodie Whittaker, Finn Wolfhard, Anne-Marie, Muse, Stella McCartney, James Bay, Keane, Steven Merchant, IDLES, Craig David, Suede, Damien Hirst, Ticketmaster, the Mission Impossible franchise and many more donate exclusive prizes and join their peers in raising crucial funds for the charity’s emergency response to Coronavirus

 Act now to save children from a virus as deadly as war and choose from the list of auctions, prize draw and ‘buy now’ items here

Exclusive prizes include meet and greets with your favourite celebrities, an exclusive and hand signed Muse guitar, a signed bomber jacker from Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, a birthday message from Anne-Marie, backstage tours, one of a kind signed film and music memorabilia, plus a Mission Impossible stunt session with Vanessa Kirby and Hayley Atwell

Today at 8:00am, War Child launched the second phase of its Emergency Coronavirus Crowdfunder. Now in its third week, the six-week campaign has so far raised over £185,000 of its £300,000 target, attracting 3,869 funders. Stars including Frances McDormand, Muse, Jodie Whittaker and many others have joined the likes of Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Stone and War Child Global Ambassadors Carey Mulligan, Marcus Mumford and Vanessa Kirby, to help raise vital finds for children whose lives have been torn apart by war.

The staggering total of £185,000 will help War Child reach children impacted by conflict and Coronavirus and could help support 4,000 families living in cramped conditions and provide lifesaving hygiene kits containing soap, hand sanitiser, masks, and towels.

The initiative launched on 21^st July and will run until 1^st September. In this time of crisis, the creative community has come together to support War Child's work by offering a unique range of exclusive items, experiences and designs available to 'buy now', through auctions and prize draws prices at just £5.

They include: An hour-long stunt session on the Mission Impossible set with Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell and their stunt team, the crown worn by Frances McDormand in the eagerly anticipated production of MacBeth, an exclusive and hand signed guitar from Muse, a special birthday message from Anne-Marie, a signed, one of a kind IDLES vinyl, a Stranger Things bomber jacket signed by award-winning actor Finn Wolfhard who plays Mike Wheeler in the show, the chance to attend a Keane 2021 UK headline show, meet the band backstage and have a behind the scenes tour, a handwritten lyrics sheet from James Bay, lunch on set with Stephen Merchant, four original Damien Hirst Spin paintings, and a personalised video from Jodie Whitaker.

The public can keep up to date with available prizes here and by following @WarChildUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Actress, Jodie Whittaker, who is donating a personalised video message said “Now more than ever we need to do what we can in the fight to protect vulnerable children in conflict areas. War Child’s Coronavirus Crowdfunder is a brilliant and necessary initiative which I’m proud to be a part of. It will provide not just essential information on COVID-19 but will bring life-saving food and hygiene kits to the children and families who have limited access to these crucial items. I hope you can join me in supporting this vital cause and help children around the world who are struggling.”

On the success of the campaign so far, Vanessa Kirby, Global Ambassador for War Child UK, said “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the War Child Coronavirus Crowdfunder so far, we’ve been so taken aback by the positive response. As someone who has met some of the children War Child supports first hand, I have no doubt that these funds will make a huge difference to youngsters and families who, now more than ever, desperately need guidance and resources to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Rob Williams, Chief Executive Officer at War Child UK, added “Since the War Child Coronavirus Crowdfunder launched in July, we’ve been blown away with the support this life-saving initiative has received. To our contributors across the creative industry, our funders who have snapped up the prizes, and the media who have helped us drum up awareness – a huge thank you. We have hit halfway point now and are humbled once again by even more amazing contributions from our supporters. We have some incredible new prizes on offer so please do what you can to help us reach as many children as possible and provide the support they so urgently need. We have three weeks to go and we are determined to reach our goal!”

Already living in some of the most dangerous places in the world, children now face a danger as deadly as the bombs and bullets they have survived.  With schools shut and families pushed further into poverty by lockdown and recession, children living in conflict zones are more at risk than ever from child labour and recruitment into armed groups, as well as the life-threatening dangers of the virus.

War Child’s teams are already on the ground providing families with lifesaving food and hygiene kits, and with your help and donations, they can work to keep children safe and protect them from the increased risk of abuse and exploitation that a crisis causes, whilst providing access to vital information.

War Child’s Emergency Coronavirus Crowdfunder runs until 1st September. To find out more, visit WarChildCrowdfunder.co.uk and follow @WarChildUK on Twitter and Instagram for further updates.

About War Child
War Child is striving for a world where children’s lives are no longer torn apart by war.

We protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children caught up in conflict. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery - helping to keep them safe, give them an education, and equip them with skills for the future.

We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution - from supporting Syrian children to access education, to reintegrating child soldiers in the Central African Republic and promoting justice for young people in detention in Afghanistan. Together with our partners we work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America.

We also work with children and young people to change systems and practices that affect them – campaigning on the root causes of conflict and demanding that children are at the centre of humanitarian response.

Find War Child on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Charity number: 1071659

ROB WILLIAMS – CEO WAR CHILD BIO

Rob Williams OBE is Chief Executive of War Child, the UK charity dedicated to supporting children affected by conflict.  War Child promotes child protection, education and livelihoods in a range of countries affected by war including Afghanistan, Iraq and The Democratic Republic of Congo, helping children who have been abused, abducted, displaced or marginalised by conflict.  Previously in relief and development Rob has worked for Save the Children, the British Red Cross and Concern Worldwide in Africa and Asia leading country programmes and also managing emergency response. In the UK he has been, at various times, Deputy Children’s Commissioner for England, Chief Executive of Bliss - the premature baby charity, and Chief Executive of the Fatherhood Institute. Rob was awarded an OBE in December 2014, for services to protecting and improving the lives of children, including those affected by conflict overseas. He is married with two children and lives in Cambridge.

Current Supporters and Fundraiser Prizes:

Case Studies:

Afghanistan – Rosana - Livelihood

Rosana, based in Herat and the mother of four children, had to sell her possessions to provide food for her family. Due to a health problem she is not able to work and her husband is now jobless because of the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown.

“The coronavirus has had a bad effect on my family. Both my husband and my son are jobless and we have no other breadwinner. During the corona situation, we had to sell the carpets of our rooms to buy food.”

Afghanistan – Esta – Livelihood

Esta is a mother of five living with her father’s family in Herat Afghanistan. Local job opportunities are rare so two years ago her husband, who has serious health problems, was smuggled into Iran to find work. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, he has been unable to get in touch with her or send money. The family were become reliant on the money he sent home.

“We are very worried. It has been almost two months now that we have not had three meals a day”.

“Before the outbreak I used to do the laundry in the neighbour’s houses, wash clothes, wash dishes… but now no one allows me or calls me for work.”

Afghanistan –Navid – Livelihood/Education

12-year-old Navid was forced to leave school as they family couldn’t continue to afford sending him. At first his mother kept him at home, but in the face of her family starving, she was forced to send him out to find work. 

“During the quarantine and the city lockdown, I prevented Navid from leaving the house, but as there was nothing to eat at home, I had to let him go out for work.”

Now, instead of going to school Navid leaves home early in the morning without breakfast to look for work on the city streets. He’s forced to survive on leftover food he can find from people and shops that are open during the lockdown. Navid is earning less than a dollar a day polishing shoes which is helping his mother pay some household expenses, but she’s worried the work is making him sick as well as exposing him to the risks of coronavirus.

Afghanistan – Ezatullah - Education

Ezatullah who is 12 years old and living in an IDP camp can no longer go to school because they are closed. He says there is no one in his family to help with his education and he’s had to go out looking for work to support his family. When asked if he knows about coronavirus he says:

“I don’t know much about it but I heard that it is a disease. I am very afraid because doctors say if someone gets coronavirus they get separated from their family.”

Iraq - Amjad – Mental health & education

Amjad, 15, spoke about his family’s current situation and the impact this has had on his mental health.

“I’m thinking a lot about negative things, fears about the future, and how our life has become more difficult than before due to poor living conditions. The effect of the virus has prevented me from going to my school, I am in the ninth grade and I need to continue my studies… but I cannot and now I feel very distressed, I spend my time at home and I cannot go out with my friends.’

Iraq - Aliya – Education/Livelihood

Aliya, 38, spoke about how her children who can no longer go to school are now working to help provide for their family. One of Aliya’s children also has epilepsy and requires medication which is an additional cost that needs to be covered. The family have been forced to prioritise buying food and medication over hygiene and protection items which would keep them safe from coronavirus.

“My children are working every day, they have to do that to feed us.

There is no recreational activities in my children’s lives. When they get back from work they are forced to stay at home. If the children go out to work we can eat and drink but if the children stay at home, I do not know how we can live.”