Keane Curate War Child Fundraising Event

admin — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:56:45 +0100

Following the release of their War Child single 'The Night Sky' on 29th October, Keane will be continuing their support of the charity by hosting a musical extravaganza at Brixton Academy on November 1st. The event will be held to raise money and awareness for the War Child's work in Iraq. The evening will see a stellar array of musicians joining together to perform with Keane and launch the fundraising activity for War Child. Alongside Keane; The Magic Numbers, Pet Shop Boys, The Guillemots and Teddy Thompson are confirmed, with more special guests to be announced.

"When we first started talking to War Child a year ago about helping their work we decided to curate a night to celebrate War Child's incredible connection with the British music scene and it's an honour that some of our best friends and heroes have agreed to take part. The proceeds from the gig will start War Child on the road towards raising the funds they need to keep their child protection services going in Iraq. We hope the night itself will draw wider attention to the incredible work War Child does for the children of Iraq as well as children in many other war-torn parts of the world."
- Tom Chaplin

The main event on November the 1st will be preceded by 5 nights of warm up gigs featuring up and coming bands from the Camden live scene and a larger event with Keane headlining at the Manchester Apollo on 31st October. Nambucca on Holloway Road, Islington will be the venue for the 4 night Dirty Rock N Roll Festival featuring artists such as: Goldrush, The Thirst, Six Nation State, Broken Dolls, My Luminaries, Metro Riots and many more. Entry every night to the festival from 27th - 30th October 2007 will be via War Child dog tags which can be purchased for £2 from HMV stores nationwide. The proceeds of the entry pass/ dog tags go to War Child.

Tickets to the gigs at both Manchester Apollo and Brixton Academy go on sale 21st September.

Pre-sale tickets will be available exclusively via www.warchildmusic.com or www.keanemusic.com on 19th September.

Established in 1993, War Child is a UN award winning charity that works with some of the most hard-hit children in conflict and post-conflict zones. They have a long established history within the music industry as one of their charities of choice. Their support from artists dates back to their first fundraising events with Bono and Pavarotti. Through their not for profit company War Child Music they have since produced the groundbreaking HELP: A Day In The Life compilation that featured exclusive tracks from: Coldplay, Gorillaz, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Radiohead, Keane, Hard Fi and Bloc Party to name only a few. Warchildmusic.com was the site that retailed the Arctic Monkeys first download. Regular live music fundraising events have been held throughout the last eighteen months and a Dirty Rock N Roll Calendar of cutting edge bands for 2008 in aid of War Child is available via Virgin and HMV.

War Child continues to work for children in conflict zones. They provide day release nurseries and negotiated the release of children from prisons in Afghanistan; they supported de-mobilised child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo with start up grants and training in small business management; and have established much needed drop-in centres and trained social workers to support street children in southern Iraq. They are the only international child support agency operating in southern Iraq. The situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Statistics show that one child in Iraq dies every 5 minutes because of the war. An estimated 1.5million children have been displaced in Iraq many of whom are denied access to basic health, education, shelter, water and sanitation. Nearly 50% of the children in southern Iraq do not go to school.

"We're very excited about the amazing line up for the gig at Brixton Academy. This gig and the warm up events will raise a great deal of awareness concerning how children suffer as a result of war and what can be done about it. We also hope to raise funds to continue our much needed work in Iraq."

- Mark Waddington, CEO War Child.

For further information please contact

Sarah Pearson at Wasted Youth PR on 0207 493 5873 sarah@wastedyouthpr.com or

Sarah Gwonyoma at War Child on 020 7916 9276 / 07957 338525 press@warchild.org.uk

Damien Hirst original goes up on sale on ebay today

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:11:47 +0100

Paintings by Damien Hirst are among the artworks being auctioned on ebay today in aid of the award winning children’s charity War Child.

The original signed Spin paintings by the Turner Prize winner have gone up on sale on ebay today, with profits going to help children affected by conflict.

Other items to go up for auction on ebay include an original signed Gibson Les Paul guitar which was donated to War Child by Gibson at the 2006 Mojo Awards, a hand painted Bestlite table lamp, donated by the acclaimed contemporary Scottish novelist, Irvine Welch and art pieces from Patrick Hughes.

"War Child are thrilled to have all these amazing lots on eBay. Damien Hirst is one of the most influential artists around and being able to give art fans the chance to buy two original pieces of his work is something War Child is very excited about. What makes this auction even more special is that all of the money raised will go towards supporting children acutely affected by conflict in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones"
Sara Bowcott, Fundraising Manager, War Child

All items will be available for auction on ebay from today for 10 days.

NOTE TO EDITORS

• Visit www.warchild.org.uk for information on War Child
• War Child was founded in 1993 in response to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. A UN award winning charity, it works with local partner organizations in places acutely affected by conflict, with some of the most hard-hit children in conflict and post-conflict zones around the world. It has: Separated children from adults in prison and negotiated their release in Afghanistan; Supported de-mobilised child soldiers in Congo with start up grants and training in small business management; and Established much needed drop-in centres and trained social workers to support street children in southern Iraq.
• Iraq –2 million children have been displaced since 2003
Afghanistan- 1 in 4 children die before the age of 5
Democratic Republic of Congo – 2.7 million children under 5 have died due to the war
Uganda – Over 30,000 children were abducted during the conflict
• Our groundbreaking work with former child soldiers, street children and children in prison has helped thousands who would otherwise not have been able to reintegrate with their community, gain access to education or find a way of supporting themselves.We provide vital, on the ground support in each of the conflict zones we work in but also lobby politicians and governments to ensure our cause and the rights of children affected by war remains high on the public and political agendas.

ebay information

To view auction items and bid in the auction, bidders must log onto eBay with their own registered account.
1. The guitar is listed in the following category: Musical Instruments/Guitars/Electric/Gibson
2. The Lamp can be found simply by typing IRVINE WELCH into the search bar Its ITEM #1!
3. Listings will be up for 10 days

FURTHER INFORMATION Sarah Gwonyoma (Press & Media, War Child)
sarahg@warchild.org.uk 020 7916 9276

Press Release Number: 05/2007

Students take the issue of War into their own hands

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:22 +0100

While the ICC debate the future of the warlord, Thomas Lubanga - accused of recruiting child soldiers and while 63% of young people in the UK express extreme concern with the issue of war, it is very timely that a high profile conference is being held for young people and ex-child soldiers to discuss the issue in Westminster.

On Monday 30th June, the annual Global Student Forum (GSF) for Sixth formers, in association with War Child, will take place at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster.

This year, War Child - the UN Award winning charity who protect children in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones - is the associated charity for the event and will be facilitating on workshops focused on issues such as the effects conflict-related poverty on children – in particular the recruitment of child soldiers.

Three former child soldiers will attend the conference, including musician Ben Okafor, now 53, who was enlisted in the brutal Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967-70.

Other special guests include Norman Kember, the peace activist held hostage in Iraq in 2005, but later released in 2006 by British Special Forces.

Quotes

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development
"I am delighted that DFID is sponsoring this event, helping the next generation better understand the world they will inherit and the meaningful contribution that they personally can make to reducing poverty."

Caroline Armitage, Schools Programme Manager, War Child UK.
"As an organization, we believe that students in this country care a lot about global issues such as conflict-related poverty and it is always our aim to give young people a voice. In our own schools programme we encourage students to learn about the issues surrounding conflict and then take a proactive approach in tackling them. We are delighted that we are able to replicate this via the forum"

NOTE TO EDITORS

War Child information

• War Child was founded in 1993 in response to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. A UN award winning charity, it works with local partner organizations in places acutely affected by conflict, with some of the most hard-hit children in conflict and post-conflict zones around the world
• 66% of all people killed by war are children
Iraq –2 million children have been displaced since 2003
Afghanistan- 1 in 4 children die before the age of 5
Democratic Republic of Congo – 2.7 million children under 5 have died due to the war
Uganda – Over 30,000 children were abducted during the conflict
• The Global Student Forum exists to enable school students, of all faiths and none, to think carefully about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues underlying global citizenship, and to help others to do the same.The
• Global Student Forum is owned and operated by The Damiris Trust (an educational charity with a Christian foundation, but serving people of all faiths and none)
• The British Museum has agreed to mount the Throne of Weapons on the GSF2008 stage - a visual reminder of the possibility of turning tools of conflict into tools of peace. The throne was made by the Mozambican artist Cristovao Canhavato (Kester) from decommissioned weapons collected since the end of the civil war in 1992.
• Held each year since 2005, the Global Student Forum is run in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID).
• World Vision and Christian Aid are the main sponsors for the GSF event this year.
• For more information visit www.damiris.org

For more information and to obtain press accreditation contact

Sarah Gwonyoma (Press Officer) sarahg@warchild.org.uk 020 7916 9276

War Child announce an incredible new album!

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:59:20 +0100

WAR CHILD ANNOUNCE AN INCREDIBLE NEW ALBUM FEATURING ALL NEW AND EXCLUSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC.

“HEROES” WILL BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 24 ON PARLOPHONE, WHO ARE DONATING THEIR PROFITS TO WAR CHILD.

War Child are proud to announce the release of their biggest and most ambitious album to date.

“Heroes”, released by EMI’s Parlophone label on November 24, features a unique and unprecedented collaboration between the biggest names in music history and today’s hottest artists, working with a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation..

The concept of “Heroes” is that the biggest legends in music, including Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Brian Wilson and The Clash, select one of the classic tracks from their own songwriting canon, and nominate an artist from the next generation to create a modern reworking of that classic song.

The full track listing will be announced in due course but already the album is shaping up to be a musical tour- de-force with the following amazing cover versions:

DUFFY covering SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY’S “LIVE AND LET DIE”

HOT CHIP covering JOY DIVISION’S “TRANSMISSION”

BECK covering BOB DYLAN’S “LEOPARD-SKIN PILL-BOX HAT”

BRIAN WILSON nominating RUFUS WAINWRIGHT , who performs a medley of two tracks from "Smile"

THE KOOKS covering THE KINKS’ “VICTORIA”.

Many tracks by hugely successful contemporary artists are still being finished; the completed War Child record will be an album of staggering musical diversity uniting the cream of musical giants from different generations.

The album cover has been created for War Child by John Squire, who did the artwork for the legendary “Help” album, the first to be released to benefit the charity.

War Child places its faith in the next generation and works to protect the most hard to reach children hit by a combination of war, poverty and marginalisation. They are the only child protection agency still operating in south Iraq, the only agency to have separated children from adults in Afghanistan prisons and the only international organisation working with ex-child soldiers in northern Democratic Republic of Congo

As well as being known for working in the world’s most dangerous war zones, War Child is famous for its association with the music industry – having broken records and boasting award winning albums.

Sir Paul McCartney said: "I have been supporting War Child since 1995. Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. I think Duffy's version of 'Live And Let Die' is great - I was really impressed. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it's great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child."
Miles Leonard, MD of Parlophone said: “Heroes (Vol 1) is the most innovative and exciting War Child album to date and therefore it was essential for me that Parlophone be involved. It is very rewarding to see so many artists giving so generously of their time for such a worthwhile cause. I’ve admired the War Child organisation for many years now so I am delighted that Parlophone has been able to lend its support”

Mark Waddington, CEO of War Child said: “The prosecution of war on children outrages us. And War Child shares this outrage with many, many people. The generosity of the legendary and talented artists who have made this album happen is helping us to harness this outrage and do something really positive for children marginalised by war, the real heroes.”

www.warchild.org.uk/music

For further information on this record please contact:

Infinite PR
020 7290 9590
Murray Chalmers - Murray@infinitepr.co.uk
Jon Bills – Jon@infinitepr.co.uk
Fay Strang – Fay@infinitepr.co.uk

For further information on War Child please contact:

War Child
020 7916 9276
Sarah Gwonyoma - sarah@warchild.org.uk