19 November 2020
Newsdesk
What if all the ground we covered added up to something life-changing? Today, War Child UK launch the Peace Band Challenge encouraging the public to go the distance – 24,901 miles to be precise – to help raise vital funds for their essential work supporting children living in conflict zones.
Celebrities including Capital FM’s Roman Kemp, comedian Asim Chaudhry with People Just Do Nothing’s Kurupt FM, singer Tom Grennan, This Morning’s Dr Zoe Williams and former Olympic athlete Kelly Sotherton have already pledged their support and will be running, jumping, wheeling, skipping and playing team sports to raise funds for War Child UK.
The Peace Band Challenge will launch from January 1st 2021 and War Child are encouraging people to get involved across the country – whether going it alone or teaming up with friends, family or colleagues to go the distance for children affected by war.
Supporters can set up their individual fundraising pages now at https://peaceband.warchild.org.uk/. All donations made until 18th February 2021 will be doubled by the UK government, as part of Aid Match funding for War Child’s Torn From Home appeal.
Roman Kemp, Radio and TV host, said: “The work that War Child do is so vital and very close to my heart – so I am delighted to be showing my support for the Peace Band challenge. This January you will mostly find me running, jumping, skipping and cart-wheeling my way towards doing my bit to that target – and I hope others will do the same in support of this amazing charity. You can complete your challenge in the comfort of your own garden, your own city or if you'd like, somewhere entirely new. However you choose to take this challenge on, you will be doing it in the knowledge that you are helping thousands of children in Afghanistan to build a better life for themselves, safe at home”
Rob Williams, Chief Executive Officer at War Child UK, said: “In Afghanistan, thousands of children, some as young as eight, are forced to leave home in search of work after decades of war have destroyed their family’s livelihoods. Thanks to the UK government doubling public donations to our Torn From Home appeal, the generosity of the public will go twice as far, helping us provide solutions to the problems that drive families to take the agonising decision to resort to child migration and labour, to keep children safe at home. We thank all of our supporters and participants who have signed up so far, we can’t wait to see everyone come together in this incredible way, for War Child UK”
Aid matched funds raised from the Peace Band Challenge will be used to increase access to education and business skills training for children, as well as help parents and caregivers to find local sustainable work to help keep families together:
£5 - A textbook for a child attending community-based learning programme
£20 - School kit, including stationary, for a month to help a child return to education
£40 - A classroom kit for a teacher (chalk, blackboard etc.) for a class of 35
£175 - Business skill toolkits for parents
£1000 - Costs to set up one child friendly multipurpose centre
£2500 - Would provide 500 textbooks for children at risk of migration
War Child’s Peace Band Challenge will run throughout January 2021. To sign up, donate or find out more, visit https://peaceband.warchild.org.uk/. Until 18th Feb 2021 - the UK government will double donations to help keep children affected by war, at home and safe.
