Comedian Jo Brand, actress Zoe Wanamaker and TV presenter Anita Rani have all got behind our Winter Appeal in support of refugees and people experiencing homelessness, with Brand insisting “we all deserve a place to live”.
Their support for our joint appeal in partnership with Comic Relief comes as leading charity Centrepoint predict that nearly 23,000 young people will face homelessness this winter.
Brand, whose wry stand-up humour makes her a frequent guest on shows like Have I Got News For You, said: “Without somewhere safe to sleep or call home, the bitter cold of winter brings added worries and fears to so many people who already feel like they are isolated and alone. No ifs, no buts, we all deserve a place to live – yet for over 300,000 people in the UK, the reality is an all too different story. Together we can make a difference. So please, if you’re able, donate today and help to offer hope and a new beginning to those who are in urgent need of our support.”
Rani, who was brought up in Bradford to Indian-born parents, said: “Many of us take for granted the comfort of having a safe place to call home, but hundreds of thousands of people in the UK face the cold winter months without a bed or a roof over their heads, unsure of where their next meal is coming from. Many will be people who have been forced to flee their homes, filled with anxiety and fear. It’s heart-breaking to think about, which is why I am asking you to join me in supporting such an important appeal.”
Other celebrities to back our appeal so far include singer Rita Ora, Hollywood actor Michael Sheen and comedian Shaparak Khorsandi.
Wanamaker, the Shakespearean actress who came to the UK from the US aged three when her father, American actor Sam Wanamaker, fled to England to escape the anti-communist McCarthy witch-hunts, said: “Winter can be an incredibly tough time for those facing crises. With nowhere else to turn, help from organisations on the frontline can mean the world of difference. Right now, for individuals and families in need of support, every donation counts. It can mean a warm welcome, a safe place to stay, and the comfort of knowing that they matter, that someone cares. So please, if you’re able to, join me in supporting this year’s appeal.”
Since we launched two weeks ago, we have already raised more than £1 million, including £500,000 from Comic Relief, £460,000 from This Day Foundation and £70,000 from the Standard’s Dispossessed Fund.
In a nutshell
Our winter appeal, A Place to Call Home, in partnership with Comic Relief, is seeking to help fund organisations in London and across the country that support asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness.
How you can help
£10 could provide a young person travel to meet a wellbeing mentor and have a hot meal
£50 could provide travel to work or school for a month for an at-risk youth
£150 could refurbish a bike for an adult refugee giving them freedom to travel independently
£500 could train ten people with experience of homelessness to become homeless health advocates £1,000 could enable one of our partners to fully support a young person throughout the year
To make a donation visit: comicrelief.com/winter
