Tag Archives: UNICEF

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.

Hardlyeverwornit.com & Donna Air Host UNICEF Fundraising Halloween Party Dorchester

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A favourite of celebrities and fashionistas who wish to recycle and refresh their wardrobes, hardlyeverwornit.com, the London based platform for the international buying and selling of previously owned luxury fashion, hosted an exclusive event with UNICEF as beneficiary. Sponsored by Santander the event, held on Wednesday 30th October, from 6.30 – 10pm, in the Penthouse & Pavilion Suite of The Dorchester Hotel, hardlyeverwornit.com client, Donna Air, co-hosted the event with guests including: Anya Garnis, Harold Tillman, Ivetta Lukosuite, Kamailya Zahoor, Kate Hardcastle, Kimberley Garner, Laura Wright,Lizzie Cundy, Nancy Dell’Olio, Nitin Ganatara, Noelle Reno, Patrick Grant and Stuart Higgins

Nancy Dell'Olio and Kamailya Zahoor

Nancy Dell’Olio and Kamailya Zahoor

Donna Air and Sharon Wolter-Ferguson

Donna Air and Sharon Wolter-Ferguson

Kimberley Garner

Kimberley Garner

Attendees of the event brought hardly ever worn garments from their closets which will be auctioned online from Wednesday, November 13th, for 5 days, with all proceeds going to Unicef. Donations so far include those listed below, with more being added daily:

Kimberley Garner: Halston Heritage Evening Dress
Emma Logue: The Logue Dress
Nancy Dell’Olio: Roberto Cavalli Dress
Patrick Grant: Hermes Tie
Laura Wright: T by Alexander Wang Evening Dress
Peter Crouch: Signed Shirt and Meet and Greet with Abbey Clancey
Preeya Kalidas: DSQUARED Dress
Noelle Reno: Lulu’s Estate, Platinum and Diamond Stud Earrings
David Sheehan: Hermes Tie and Vivienne Westwood Dress
Patricia Erskine: An original Planet Hollywood Leather Jacket, a gift to her from Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis

This is in addition to items previously donated for the auction, including:
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Harry Styles, unwashed clothes, win, competition

Sienna Miller, coat, win, competition

Harry Styles: SS14 leopard print top, worn to the Burberry show in September, and since unwashed
Harold Tillman: 2002 Burton England football suit signed by all the team members including David Beckham
Donna Air: Beige Burberry dress
Chloe Green: Black Yves Saint Laurent dress
Ronnie Wood: Signed shirt with his hand drawn music notes on the collar and cuffs
Jo Wood: Sequin Gucci minidress
Jenson Button: Signed 2013 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team shirt
Kamaliya Zahoor: The Diane Von Furstenberg dress she wore in the ‘Meet the Russians’ campaign shoot

What will you bid on?

 

Katy Perry teams up with UNICEF and visits children in Madagascar

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Beautiful and talented singer/songwriter Katy Perry has visited Madagascar to bring attention to the situation of children in the tropical island country, one of the poorest in the world and still recovering from a political crisis that began in 2009.

 

“In less than one week here in Madagascar, I went from crowded city slums to the most remote villages and my eyes were widely opened by the incredible need for a healthy life – nutrition, sanitation, and protection against rape and abuse – which UNICEF are stepping in to help provide,” Perry said.

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“I am grateful to UNICEF for giving me the opportunity to see first-hand how their programmes make a real difference in children’s lives. Support for UNICEF is saving children, I am a witness to it.”

On her first visit in support of UNICEF, Perry saw a full range of programmes, from education, nutrition, health and child protection to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Beginning her trip in a slum area of the capital Antananarivo, she visited a child protection centre and met abused and abandoned children and young mothers receiving support and counseling. More than three out of four children in Madagascar live in extreme poverty, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Most international donors have frozen development aid following the 2009 crisis, forcing the government to make drastic cuts in public spending and resulting in large parts of the population not having access to basic health care and primary education. Perry visited a UNICEF supported pre-school and a primary school built to enable children to go back to school.

At the Sahavola pre-school, 117 boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6 receive a quality early education and learn the importance of thinking creatively and working collaboratively. They are also encouraged to participate in health and hygiene practices at an early age. To promote proper hygiene and sanitation, UNICEF constructed latrines and sinks at the pre-school, where Perry took in hand washing with the children.

The old village primary school, made from sticks and with a thatched roof, was destroyed by one of the tropical cyclones that hit the island every year. It was replaced by UNICEF with a solid, cyclone-resistant building.

 

 

Schooling rates in Madagascar are alarmingly low. Only three children out of every 10 who start primary school complete the cycle. Two-thirds of teachers have not received any formal training.

 

UNICEF and national school authorities are working to improve the situation through school construction and providing learning materials, training for teachers and supporting community action plans for education.

“An education is an incredible opportunity here. I visited a very remote community, where children and teachers walk for 45 minutes just to get to school. This is a testament to how appreciative they are about their education,” said Perry in the UNICEF- supported primary school in the village of Ampihaonana.

In the nutrition centre in Androranga village, Perry learned about UNICEF’s efforts to tackle another serious problem of the country – chronic malnutrition. Half the children in Madagascar are chronically malnourished, putting the country among the six worst in the world for chronic malnutrition.

 

Poor maternal nutrition, poor feeding practices and poor food quality contribute to the failure of these children to reach their full potential mentally and physically. The centre, run by a community health worker, identifies cases and works with village mothers to improve children’s nutrition, including focusing on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life.

Frost Magazine Mother’s Day Gift Guide

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marc jabobs watch

Marc by Marc Jacobs Henry Skeleton Watch

WatchShop.com Price:  £185 and free next day delivery within the UK

 

A beautiful timepiece with a genuine pink leather strap with a shine.  The case is rose gold plated whilst the skeleton dial is protected by mineral crystal.  The watch is water resistant to 50 metres.

 

 

 

STORM Cimage011rystin Watch

Stockist:  WatchShop.com

This ladies STORM Crystin watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with a quartz movement. It is fastened with a silver metal bracelet and has a silver dial.

 

 

 

 

 

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Karen Millen Watch

 

WatchShop.com Price:  £95 and free next day delivery within the UK

 

This ladies’ Karen Millen watch has a stainless steel case and is powered by a quartz movement. It fastens a purple leather strap and has a purple dial

 

 

 

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Michael Kors Camille Chronograph Watch

 

WatchShop.com Price:  £229 and free next day delivery within the UK

This ladies’ Michael Kors Camille watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with an analogue chronograph quartz movement. It is fitted with a two tone bracelet and has a blue dial. The watch has a date function.

 

Springtime Planter gift set

P4P Springtime Planter (300 dpi)

£25 plus delivery

The perfect Mother’s Day idea for a green-fingered recipient, the Springtime Planter is a traditional wooden planter containing colourful hyacinths, primroses, cyclamen and pansies.

Every plant is carefully gift wrapped and boxed by hand in Plants4Presents’ Sussex nursery to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Standard delivery is just £6.50 per address. Delivery is available across the UK and Ireland. For more information visit www.plants4presents.co.uk.

 

 

We love this Royal Albert Tea For One Set, £60.00 from The House of Bath

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The Kobo Mini is a great present for mother’s. (the 5” eReader easily slips into a handbag or coat pocket making it great for the mum who is either always on the go or just like things a bit more compact) Highly portable Kobo Mini holds up to 1,000 koboeBooks.

Price £59.99

Stockist:  WHSmith and all fine electronic retailers

 

 

Fulton this Mother’s Day – from Fab Florals to spectacular Spots and Stripes – there are many new beautiful designs to choose from – many of which are part of Fulton’s soon to be launched SS13 collection.

 fulton

With ‘Walking’ and ‘Folding’ umbrellas, Rain Macs, Rainboots and Rain Hats from designers such as Cath Kidston and Lulu Guinness, as well as Fulton’s stunning own range, there’s a stylish shelter for every mum out there.

 

teafortwo

I don’t know about your mother but my mother’s favourite gift is spending time with me. She also loves tea so The UK’s largest afternoon tea gift site, AfternoonTeaForTwo.co.uk is perfect for her. They have a huge range of tea experiences so you can select the perfect memorable experience for your mum. On the site, you will find hundreds of afternoon tea ideas, from glamorous London hotels to relaxing country retreats.  If you’re confident you know what she’ll like, you can purchase an individual experience at the click of a button.

 

Celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Frost’s favourite hotels, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall

 

Treat your mum this Mothering Sunday with a quintessential Afternoon Tea celebration set in the beautiful library of the 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall onLondon’s South Bank.

Start with delicious hand crafted sandwiches including roast Angus beef and horseradish, Wiltshire ham with English mustard, Burford brown egg mayonnaise with cress, Forman & Son London Cure smoked salmon with caper butter and the classic cucumber with cream cheese and chive.

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Savour a delectable selection of pastries with green tea drizzle cake, passion fruit and coconut crown, blackberry tart and mint surprise, pineapple and vanilla compote with mascarpone cream an Valrhona Chocolate Opera.

Sweet and savoury scones complete the menu. Choose from freshly baked golden raisin scones topped with Tiptree strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream or Montgomery cheddar and Hampshire watercress scones with cream cheese and watercress.

Accompanied by a choice of refreshing teas all laid out to tempt, treat and delight and served with charm and a keen attention to detail.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea is available on Sunday 10th March between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, priced at £36 per person.

Groups are welcome for Afternoon Tea, however, for parties wanting a little extra privacy, a range of private dining rooms are available. Contact us on +44 (0) 207 902 8000 to find out more about private dining.

 

Emma Bunton reveals her most magical moment with her children for UNICEF UK’s Mother’s Day campaign to end child malnutrition

 

 This Mother’s Day, former Spice Girl, Emma Bunton has joined forces with UNICEF, the global leader in child malnutrition, and is sharing her most magical moment in her children’s first 1,000 days of life.

 

The first 1,000 days are the critical window of opportunity for children to get the right nutrients they need to develop properly. Around the world a staggering one in four children are not getting the nourishing food they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential in this first critical period.

 

In the run up to Mother’s Day, UNICEF UK supporter Emma Bunton is asking UK mums to give children around the world the best start in life, by supporting the campaign at www.unicef.org.uk/mothersday.

 

Sitting in her window seat at home, Emma Bunton said, “It’s so shocking that one in four children around the world are not getting the right nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong in their first 1,000 days of life.

 

“When my boys were toddlers I’d sit here and sing ‘You are my sunshine’ to them while the light streamed in on us. When they reached the stage where they could start singing along it really was a magical moment and one I’ll always remember in those first important 1,000 days.

 

“Every mother should be able to enjoy these precious moments in their child’s life and development. So, please, this Mother’s Day join me and go to the UNICEF UK website to help children everywhere.”

 

Mums visiting the website will learn how, for £3, they can help another child by buying sprinkles to ensure that children get the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential.

 

UNICEF UK is part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, a great movement of individuals and organisations united to tackle global hunger.

Mums Show Live, the new and only show for parents of 4 – 12 year olds, is offering tickets half price with the code BESTMUM. 

Mums Show Live will be taking place from 16 – 19 May at Alexandra Palace, London and will be a great day out for mum, and all the family (dad and kids go free).

Parents will get the chance to enjoy a spot of shopping, with brands including Joules, Fit Flops and Micro Scooters and also join in live conversation and inspiration theatres to get answers to challenging questions. Mums, dads and kids can also get involved in a diverse range of fun games, activities and entertainment.

For more information on the show please visit www.mumshowlive.com.

 

BRITS LEAVE IT LATE FOR MOTHER’S DAY

30% of Mums Left Disappointed as Last Minute Shoppers Fall Short of the Mark

Research carried out by One4all Gift Card reveals that over half of all Brits leave it late to plan their Mother’s Day treats.

As many as 54% of women and 58% of men admit to failing to plan ahead for Mother’s Day, saying that they regularly forget the date. Younger sons and daughters are the worst culprits with 72% of those aged between 18 and 24 forgetting to put Mother’s Day in their diaries.

As a result we can expect many Mums to be putting on a brave face this weekend, with 30% admitting that they are left disappointed with the thought and effort shown for them on Mother’s Day.

Men are also the biggest offenders at not making an effort to see their mums on Mother’s Day, with just 28% making a special visit compared to 43% of women. For men, it seems this weekend should be renamed Mother-in-Law’s Day.

However, it’s not all bad news with some mums receiving very fancy gifts indeed. The most extravagant gifts lavished on mums for Mother’s Day includes cars, cruises and diamond necklaces!

One solution for people not planning to be quite so generous this weekend, appears to be treating mum to a shopping trip for her to choose her own present.

Managing Director of One4all UK, Declan Byrne said, “We’ve seen our sales up 40% ahead of this weekend which is partly explained by people looking for last minute inspiration and deciding that perhaps mother knows best.

“The One4all gift card enables mum to choose a gift from 17,000 stores nationwide, so it takes the pressure off gift shopping and ensures mum gets a great gift, which she actually wants.”

If you need a last minute gift, you can purchase the One4all Gift Card from any of the 11,500 Post Office branches nationwide and at www.one4all.co.uk.

A gift card can be loaded with any amount from £10 to £400 and can be spent at 17,000 different retailer outlets nationwide including mum-favourites, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Boots.

Other points from the One4all research:

35% of our mothers rarely treat themselves

30% of mums out there still treat their grown-up kids, now full-grown adults, on a regular basis

Mums are best friends to over 30% of us

A quarter of us say our Mum is still the one person who can reduce us to feeling like a child with one look or one word

 

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Say happy Mother’s Day on Sunday 10th March with a limited edition Emma Bridgewater bag for life, designed for this year’s Red Nose Day, available now from TK Maxx stores throughout the UK.

 

British pottery maker Emma Bridgewater has created the stylish bag to encourage the great British public to ‘Do Something Funny For Money’. The money donated from sales of the products will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives across Africa and here in the UK.

The bag features a specially designed feathered ‘snitch’ nose and costs £9.99 with at least £4.00 going to Comic Relief.

Red Nose Day 2013 is heading your way on Friday 15th March.

 

Here is a brilliant infographic of the cost of celebrating Mother’s Day from Baines & Ernst.

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Drayton Manor offers the perfect gift for Mother’s Day

Every year the time comes to buy a present for Mother’s Day – but what about the Mum that has got everything? This year, give Mum the perfect gift of a fun day out to remember with the family to Drayton Manor Theme Park.

 

Family day pass

 

By purchasing a family pass, it will provide a far more exciting alternative to the usual flowers and chocolates, and instead, will offer a great day out to one of the UK’s most popular family attractions.

 

With Mother’s Day taking place on Sunday 10th March, it means there is only a five day wait to celebrate this special day with Mum at the park when it opens on Friday 15th March.

 

A family pass for four costs £108. However, tickets for the park are also available online at www.draytonmanor.co.uk for a reduced rate, providing a real value for money treat for the family and a well-deserved day off for Mum!

 

UNICEF famous faces join campaigners to speak up for children at Rio

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UNICEF famous faces join campaigners calling on government to speak up for children at Rio

Ewan McGregor, Rio Ferdinand, Eddie Izzard, Keira Knightley & more get involved

Ewan McGregor, Keira Knightley, Rio Ferdinand, Eddie Izzard, Keeley Hawes, Simon Reeve and Martin Bell are just some of the high profile figures who have joined UNICEF UK’s campaign calling on the government to speak up for children at this week’s Rio Earth Summit.

* McGregor, Knightley, Izzard, Hawes and Bell all filmed video messages for UNICEF UK’s Speak Up campaign.
* On 7th June, broadcaster and UNICEF supporter Simon Reeve joined young UNICEF supporters at a Rio discussion event with environment minister, Caroline Spelman.
* On 12th June Rio Ferdinand tweeted a series of comedy twitpics under the hashtag #Rio4Rio, urging his 2.8 million followers to sign UNICEF UK’s Speak Up petition.
* On 13th June, young campaigners met with Nick Clegg in Whitehall and handed him a list of the thousands of signatories who have signed the petition so far.

Rio Ferdinand, a long term UNICEF supporter, caused a Twitter stir last Tuesday when he tweeted a cryptic twitpic which read “Everyone’s asking ‘What’s happening with Rio?’” alongside a picture of him looking quizzical. Only from his later tweets – which included an image of the footballer wearing a feathered carnival head dress – did it become clear that Ferdinand was tweeting to raise awareness of UNICEF UK’s Speak Up campaign to ensure children are at the heart of the Rio Earth Summit’s agenda.

UNICEF supporters Keira Knightley, Eddie Izzard, and Keeley Hawes joined UNICEF Ambassadors Ewan McGregor and Martin Bell in recording special video messages stating that they are “speaking up for children at the Rio Earth Summit.”

Rio Ferdinand said:

“Speaking as a Rio, I know life isn’t all carnivals, beaches and playing football. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro global leaders will discuss the future of the planet and we want them to think about the world’s children. That’s why I’m speaking up for children with UNICEF UK and hope that everyone who follows me on Twitter will do the same.”

Simon Reeve said:

”We have to think more long-term and protect our planet for future generations. And so of course we have to get youngsters and children involved, and make them central to the debates and discussions that take place in Rio.”

Eddie Izzard said

“There is a massive opportunity for the UK government to put children at the heart of the Rio Earth summit. Children should be at the top of the summit agenda.”

Sign the Speak Up For Children petition at www.unicef.org.uk/speakup

Lenny Kravitz Supports UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Efforts

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Lenny Kravitz – GRAMMY award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actor—is using his voice and talent to do more than dazzle the stage and screen. He is throwing his support behind the global push by UNICEF and its partners to help save and improve the lives of millions of children and their families around the world by providing them with access to clean water and adequate sanitation.

“I was born in New York City and have always taken access to clean water as a given,” said Kravitz. “No child should die of diarrhea from drinking dirty water. That thousands of children under the age of five continue to die every day because they lack clean water and basic sanitation is simply unacceptable.”

Earlier today UNICEF announced that the world has met the Millennium Development Goal for drinking water, with 89 percent of the global population now with access. However, that still leaves more than 780 million people, mainly in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, without access. In addition, around 2.5 billion people—almost half the developing world’s population—lack access to improved sanitation. This all adds up to bad news for the children who are being left behind.

Kravitz will be appearing in Public Service Announcements and take to Twitter and Facebook with a message that all children can—and must—have access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Kravitz, who recently released the album ‘Black and White America’, and who will be starring in ‘The Hunger Games’ later this month, is joining forces with UNICEF to help mark World Water Day (March 22) and will send a global message of the importance of investing in children and providing them with clean water and sanitation.

In the United States, Kravitz will be lending his support for the UNICEF Tap Project by encouraging his fans and dining patrons across the country to pay $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free during World Water Week, March 19 – 25. With $1, UNICEF can provide a child with access to clean, safe water for 40 days, or 40 children with access to safe water for one day. Funds raised through the 2012 UNICEF Tap Project will provide children and families with clean drinking water in Viet Nam, Togo, Mauritania and Cameroon.

Poor sanitation, water and hygiene have serious repercussions on a child’s health, often causing diarrhea and other easily preventable diseases. Children, particularly girls, often miss school, because they are responsible for gathering water for their families, which can require many hours of their time. In addition, many schools lack private and decent sanitation facilities for girls, causing them to drop out of school. Without safe water, sanitation, and good hygiene, sustainable development is difficult to achieve.

Since 1990, UNICEF, governments and partners, have helped more than 2 billion people gain access to improved water sources and 1.8 billion people gain access to improved sanitation facilities. The efforts include drilling wells and installing water pumps, helping communities build latrines and teaching lifesaving hygiene to schoolchildren and mothers, and providing safe water and sanitation to communities during emergencies.

Brighten Up Valentine's Day in Aid of UNICEF

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PURPLE RONNIE BRIGHTENS UP VALENTINE’S DAY WITH A SPLASH OF COLOUR

– Retro poet provides uniquely created poems in aid of charity –

Romantic rhyming favourite, Purple Ronnie, is creating a series of one-off poems for loved-ones this Valentine’s Day, to accompany a very special gift – your very own colour.

A world first, men and women will be able to gift their loved-ones an actual colour for them to own, through Facebook.com/OwnAColour, for a minimum donation of £1 – an initiative in aid of UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation.

A number of celebrities have named their own colour, including;

Jemima Khan – CFC Blue, named hers for her Chelsea mad son

· Sir Roger Moore – Swedish Blue, I chose to name this particular shade of blue Swedish Blue as it is the colour of the Swedish flag, the homeland of my very wonderful and very beautiful wife, Kristina, and not far off the cyan blue that represents UNICEFfor his wife

· Matt Dawson – Arcos Olive, Reminds him of his wedding day as it was the theme of my Wedding so will always be associated with good memories

· Duncan Bannatyne – Scottish Saltire Blue, It represents my proud Scottish roots

The gift of colour, accompanied by a unique Purple Ronnie poem, will be available from 8th February – for those who are organised – until Valentine’s Day itself – for those not so organised – and provides a special solution for all those Valentine’s Day gifting dilemmas, whilst also contributing to a great cause.

The limited-edition poem, in Purple Ronnie’s iconic cheeky style, will appear on your loved-ones Facebook wall on the 14th February, along with a link for them to pick and name their colour of choice.

Stewart Longhurst from the Own A Colour team comments:“What’s great about the Own A Colour initiative is that, not only does it allow people to put their name to a never-before-owned colour, but it harnesses the power of colour to have a positive impact on saving lives of children. Colour is such an important and personal method of expression, so what better way to show someone you love them this Valentine’s Day than with a colour of their very own, accompanied by an original love poem?”

PURPLE RONNIE OWNACOLOUR

With Own A Colour, your Valentine will be the exclusive owner of one of the 16.7 million colours that the average computer, smartphone or tablet can display.

Recent celebrity donators include The Saturday’s beauty Frankie Sandford as well as other UNICEF Ambassadors and fans such as Jemima Khan, Matt Dawson and Sir Roger Moore, who have all been inspired by their loved-ones in buying and naming their colours; Jemima Khan named hers CFC Blue for her Chelsea mad son, Sir Roger Moore’s Swedish Blue for his wife and Matt Dawson’s colour reminds him of his wedding day.

To Own A Colour, and for more information, visit: Facebook.com/OwnAColour