First UK Aid Matched event raises £1.7m for Save the Children

Fundraising | Kirsty Weakley | 24 Aug 2011

Save the Children has raised £1.7m from ITV talent show Born to Shine, some of which was match funded by the Department for International Development's UK Aid Match programme.

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 (pictured) 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.”

Other celebrities competing in the final included actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, actor/director Nick Moran, rugby player Gareth Thomas and Emmerdale actors Tony Audenshaw and Lesley Dunlop.

Natasha Kaplinsky hosted the programme and she, Chris Tarrant, Dervla Kirwan and Paul O’Grady fronted appeal films highlighting the cause and encouraging people to donate.

Save the Children corporate partners 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.

Directory: Save the Children

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