Tag Archives: UK Government

Groundbreaking Festival For Girls To Be Headlined By Jessie J

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Girls are the most powerful force for change on the planet

girleffect festival London will host Girl Effect Live, an event bringing together some of the UK’s best and brightest talent, to celebrate the potential of girls, to stop poverty before it starts

 

Jessie J will headline Girl Effect Live, an all-day festival taking place in London on Sunday 20th July, which promises a day of celebration, creation and conversation about the power of girls to break the cycle of global poverty.  It will bring together some of the UK’s best and brightest talent to spotlight girls as the most powerful force for change on the planet.

 

Girl Effect Live will take place in venues in and around London’s Brick Lane two days before the world’s first ever Girl Summit, hosted by the UK government and UNICEF.  It will comprise a series of exciting and inspiring happenings during the day, and a gig in the evening to celebrate, incite and educate young people in the UK about the aspirations and opportunities of girls living in poverty.

 

The daytime schedule at the Vibe Bar kicks off at 13:00 and will feature a range of creative activities including spoken word performances from exciting talent including Dizraeli and James Massiah; comedy from female comedians: Mae Martin and Ava Vidal; SLAMbassadors UK workshops hosted by the champions of UK youth slam Megan Beech, Ollie O’Neil and Tiana Oldroyd; a live graffiti wall and exclusive Girl Effect nail art by Wah Nails – the acclaimed London-based nail salon.  Visitors will also be able to purchase a limited edition ‘Girl Effect’ necklace by Tatty Devine.

 

Truman Brewery’s Dray Walk gallery will also play exclusive host to the ‘Girls Reframed’ exhibition: featuring exclusive pieces from renowned artists such as Jimmy C, Hattie Stewart, Magnus Voll Mathiassen, and Michela Picchi.

 

At Loading Bay there will be a girls-only immersive experience that brings to life the realities faced by girls living in poverty with artistic consultancy provided by Punchdrunk Enrichment.

 

As night falls the day’s festivities will culminate in what promises to be electrifying performances from Jessie J, supported by Sasha Keable plus special guests at Village Underground, celebrating the potential of girls around the world and the achievements of the day.

 

Jessie J comments:  “Living in the UK, we’re fortunate that we have the opportunity to strive for and fulfil our full potential, but this isn’t the case for many girls living in poverty. I am involved in Girl Effect Live, because I want to take a stand with other girls in the UK to inspire, recognise and celebrate the amazing potential of girls everywhere.”

 

Girls will be invited to lend their voices in support of girls in poverty, by going to a video booth or speaking to the roving camera crew. Their voices will be edited into a film that will be taken to the Girl Summit where they will contribute to the efforts to end FGM and early, forced and child marriage within a generation.

 

The Girl Effect Live: Day event is completely free but capacity is limited at some events, so pre-booking is recommended. Tickets to the Girl Effect Live: Night event are priced at £10 and will be issued via an online ballot. Lucky ticketholders will also receive a limited edition ‘Girl Effect’ necklace from Tatty Devine.

 

For more information on how to register for the day event and the ballot for the evening music performance visit:www.girleffectlive.com.

 

To share your voice and help make a noise on social media about the event, the UK public are also invited to join in conversations on social media using #GirlEffectLive and via Girl Effect on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  There will also be coverage of Girl Effect Live throughout the day on SBTV.

 

 

Jemima Khan, Ewan McGregor & Robbie Turn Out at UNICEF UK Halloween Ball to Help Children of Syria

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Long-standing UNICEF Ambassadors Jemima Khan, Ewan McGregor and Robbie Williams were among guests at UNICEF UK’s star–studded Halloween Ball, raising vital funds for UNICEF’s work helping the children of Syria. The event raised an amazing £1million, made possible by the UK Government matching all donations on the night pound for pound.

UNICEF UK Ambassador, Jemima Khan said, “For over two years, the children of Syria have been witnessing and experiencing one horror after another. I have seen UNICEF’s work in emergencies all over the World. They work tirelessly to reach every child, but they cannot do it alone and the need has never been so urgent, particularly with winter approaching. We hope to raise vital funds tonight at The Halloween Ball this evening for the children of Syria and I am very grateful to the UK government who have pledged to match pound for pound everything we raise.”

UNICEF UK Halloween Ball UNICEF UK Halloween Ball UNICEF UK Halloween Ball

 

High-profile personalities from the worlds of entertainment, fashion and business,turned out at London’s iconic venue, One Mayfair, in fancy dress to support UNICEF’s work to help children caught up in the Syria crisis. More than four million Syrian children, one million of whom are refugees, are in urgent need of aid.

 

UNICEF UK Ambassador Robbie Williams gave an electrifying exclusive performance, with fellow Ambassador Ewan McGregor joining him on stage for a surprise rendition of the all time classic, Angels.

 

Throughout the evening, guests were treated to an immersive theatre extravaganza from Look Left Look Right in the crypt of the former church; as well as magical tricks from Drummond Money-Coutts. Isaac Ferry kick-started the DJ sets, followed by Queens of Noize DJs Tabitha Denholm and Lisa Moorish who took over the party until 2.00am. The whole venue was scented by Jo Malone London.

 

UNICEF UK Executive Director, David Bull said: “Many children caught up in the current Syria crisis have been killed, maimed, orphaned, displaced, witnessed violence and lost their family members and friends; the need is desperate. We are so grateful for the fantastic support that all of our guests at the first ever UNICEF UK Halloween Ball have shown this evening, and to the UK Government for matching pound for pound all donations made from tonight, and over the next three months, to UNICEF’s work for Syria’s children.”

 

Tonight’s match funding is part of the UK Government’s wider support for UNICEF’s work helping the children of Syria in what is currently the largest humanitarian operation in history. Over the next three months the UK Government will match pound for pound all public donations made to UNICEF’s work for the children of Syria.

 

UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation, is working on the ground to provide water, education, medicine and psychological support inside Syria and for refugee children in five neighbouring countries. But the numbers are only getting bigger and lack of funding means UNICEF cannot reach every child in need.

 

UNICEF UK Ambassador, Ewan McGregor said: “As it stands today, there are more than one million child refugees and more than three million children needing urgent help inside Syria; the situation for them is critical. UNICEF is working day and night to provide clean water, vaccinations, education, and psychological support to those children. However, the essential supplies are running low; the Halloween Ball will play a very important role in raising the vital missing funds UNICEF needs to reach every child.”

 

UNICEF is the first great charity that the UK Government plans to support with match funding to help the children of Syria this winter.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said, “Syria’s people are experiencing unimaginable hardship with millions of children in particular facing a bleak and uncertain future. The UK has already committed its largest ever humanitarian response to the crisis and we are now teaming up with UNICEF to double the power of donations from the British public. Our partnership with UNICEF means that donations to UNICEF’s appeal for the children of Syria will be matched pound for pound by the UK Government.”

 

Text ‘SYRIA’ to 70007 to donate £5 to help UNICEF reach even more children in desperate need.

Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller join forces to demand George Osborne keep his promises on aid

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Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller join forces to demand George Osborne keep his promises on aid

 

Chancellor George Osborne will be in the good books of a host of stars – including Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller – IF he keeps his promises on international aid in the forthcoming Budget on March 20th.

 

Stars from the world of music, film and sport have joined forces to write a joint letter to George Osborne, urging him to take action to help end world hunger. Nearly thirty high profile individuals beseech him to keep his promises on international aid and crack down on tax dodging by big businesses working in poor countries.

 

The letter:

Dear Chancellor,

 

I am writing to thank you for your leadership in protecting the aid budget. By announcing in the Budget that the UK will give 0.7% of national income to life saving aid, you’ll be making good a 43-year-old promise and helping millions of people in their fight against poverty and hunger

 

In 2012, the UK demonstrated inspiring global leadership and community spirit through our hosting of the Olympic Games. This year, the UK Government has an opportunity to build on that promising legacy, when it hosts a major summit on food and hunger and chairs the G8 in June.

 

Keeping our word and doing the right thing are part of what Britain stands for. We can be proud that, in the face of crises, in good times and bad, the British public show great strength and generosity. Because of this, we can be collectively proud that huge strides have been made in reducing poverty and 14,000 fewer children are dying each day than in 1990.

 

The world is at a tipping point where we could abolish absolute poverty but hunger is threatening to reverse these achievements. Food prices have been higher than ever in recent years, affecting people everywhere and climate change is making things worse.

 

By matching the strength of spirit of the British people, we could be the generation that starts to end hunger.

 

No budget decisions can be taken lightly, but investing in the long term will be cheaper for all of us. We simply can’t afford hunger to rise to the emergency famine levels we saw in 2011.

 

In order for poor countries to be self-sufficient, as well as investment in aid they also need their own revenue to spend on fighting hunger. That is why the IF campaign is also calling on the UK and other governments to change global rules to make sure companies pay their fair share of tax in the poor countries in which they operate.

 

Along with others, I am proud that the UK is keeping its promise to provide 0.7% of our income for life saving aid and leading the way on vital tax reforms, which will provide a lasting solution for the world’s poorest people.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Mo Farah, Olympic Gold Medallist; Robbie Williams, Singer; Ewan McGregor, Actor

Bill Nighy, Actor; Jemima Khan, Journalist and Campaigner; Sienna Miller, Actor; Raymond Blanc, Chef; Dermot O’Leary, Presenter; Helena Christensen, Model; Angelique Kidjo, Singer; Michael Sheen, Actor; Eddie Izzard, Comedian; Shazia Mirza, Comedienne; Tamsin Greig, Actor; Tom Hiddleston, Actor; Keeley Hawes, Actor; Joanne Froggatt, Actor; Fay Ripley, Actor; Valentine Warner, Chef; Vivek Singh, Chef; Emilia Fox, Actor; Miriam Margolyes, Actor; Jimmy Doherty, Presenter ; Roger Lloyd Pack, Actor ; Billy Boyd, Actor; Atul Kochar, Chef; Jun Tanaka, Chef, Cat Deeley, TV Presenter

 

 

Jenny Ricks, Enough Food for Everyone spokesperson said:

“Millions of people across the UK backed Make Poverty History and we can be proud that the Government will next week deliver on a promise we made then to the world’s poorest.

“British aid will help many of the 1 in 8 people in the world who go to bed hungry each night.

 

“This Budget can also assist poor countries to help themselves by enabling them to collect taxes from companies refusing to pay their fair share.

 

“Trillions of pounds is hidden in tax havens while people in the UK are struggling to make ends meet and in poor countries two million children starve to death every year.

“Cracking down on tax dodging in this year’s Budget would be a win-win – it will help poor people abroad but also those at home.”

Enough Food for Everyone IF is a coalition of 160 organisations and counting which have joined together to campaign for action by the G8 on the issue of global hunger. The last time we worked together at this scale was for Make Poverty History. Now that the G8 group of world leaders are returning to the UK in June, we are demanding they take action on hunger.

 

Poor countries lose around $160 billion every year to tax dodging, money which could be used to support vital services or invested in agriculture to make sure everyone has enough food. That’s more than three times what they receive in aid and is enough money to save the lives of 230 children under 5 every single day – that’s almost 8 primary school classes

The Government has pledged to make tackling tax avoidance by multinationals a priority for the G8 summit. The UK has an opportunity to show real leadership by putting its own house in order in the Budget.

 

Sign up now at www.enoughfoodif.org and make sure the G8 leaders put food on the agenda when they meet in the UK in June.