Support: Ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is launching tomorrow with 765 charities taking part and with backing from celebrity supporters including ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell.
James Reed, the boss of the recruitment company of the same name, whose father Sir Alec founded the Big Give in 2007, said charities had suffered a slump in donations and a surge in demand this year due to Covid.
Two-thirds of charities reported a drop in income averaging 43 per cent since the pandemic hit, with more than half seeing an increase in demand for their services.
‘We want to give the sector a boost because they need it,’ said Mr Reed, who added that he hopes to raise £16million in a week, starting at noon on Tuesday. During that time, all donations made to participating charities on theBigGive.org.uk[http://theBigGive.org.uk] will be doubled.
The Big Give has been responsible for helping to raise £135m in total.
The so-called ‘match funding’ to double the donations is provided by a range of philanthropic individuals and organisations, including The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust and The Childhood Trust as well as the Reed Foundation which has put in £1m.
Other celebrity supporters include Jonny Wilkinson, the Duchess of York and Jo Brand.
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