Source: http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/
Save the Children’s ‘No Child Born to Die’ is the first charity campaign to benefit from the DFID’s UK Aid Match scheme for public donations, announced at the end of June.
The government has committed to double any donations received from Save the Children’s ‘Born to Shine’ televised fundraiser, up to the value of £5m.
Until now Save the Children has raised £1.7m from ITV talent show Born to Shine, some of which was match funded by the government.
The final of the Born to Shine series, in which celebrities were mentored by talented children, was a fundraising special. Part of the charity’s No Child Born to Die campaign, the show raised money from viewer voting and donations.
The campaign is the first to be supported by the DfID’s UK Aid Match initiative for oversees projects.
Comedian, Jason Manford won the viewer vote in last Sunday’s 90 minute final for his operatic performance alongside 14 year old George Clark.
He said: “I loved being involved with such an amazing cause and am speechless about how much money we raised.”
The final saw other celebrities competing including actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, actor/director Nick Moran, rugby player Gareth Thomas and Emmerdale actors Tony Audenshaw and Lesley Dunlop.
The programme was hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky and she was supported by Chris Tarrant, Dervla Kirwan and Paul O’Grady to front appeal films highlighting the cause and encouraging people to donate.
Corporate partners of Save the Children were also involved with the programme. Morrisons was the official programme sponsor and FirstGoup donated £150,000 advertising space on their buses and Lloyds Banking Group staff volunteered at call centres taking donations during the final.
Donations can be made to Born to Shine until 30 September online and by texting ‘SAVE’ to 70008 to donate £5.
