Soccer Aid: UK aid match helps UNICEF save more lives

06 September 2012

UPDATE: Thanks to the British Government matching all public donations pound for pound, ITV1's football fundraiser, Soccer Aid 2012, has smashed all previous fundraising records set by the biennial event.

Soccer Aid 2012 has raised over £4.9 million for UNICEF's vital work to save some of the most vulnerable children around the world. The money raised by this year's event will be spent helping UNICEF provide food, vaccines and other critical supplies. 

Amongst the children benefiting from Soccer Aid money this year will be children affected by the food crisis that continues in West Africa. Just £5 will help provide a week's supply of lifesaving emergency food to help bring a severely malnourished child back to health.

Soccer Aid 2012 took place at Old Trafford on 27 May 2012 and was broadcast live on ITV1. The match saw celebrities and football legends team up to play a game of football whilst raising crucial money for UNICEF. 

Star players including Will Ferrell, Gerard Butler, Woody Harrelson, Mike Myers, Jason Isaacs, James McAvoy and Edward Norton alongside team captains Robbie Williams and Michael Sheen in the match which resulted in England defeating the Rest Of The World 3-1.

Michael Sheen, the Rest of the World captain and star of The Queen and Twilight, added:

"It was amazing to get back on the Old Trafford pitch this year and, despite not retaining our trophy from 2010, it was the most incredible year yet.

Thanks to the pound for pound matching from the UK Government we were able to raise more money than ever before which will help UNICEF reach so many more children with life-saving care like vaccines and emergency food."

Robbie Williams, UNICEF UK Ambassador and co-founder of Soccer Aid, said:

"I'm still basking in the glory of England's win and so pleased that this has been the best Soccer Aid yet with almost £5 million raised for UNICEF – for children. Thank you so so much to everyone who donated on the night or bought a ticket to the match - we couldn't have done it without you."

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AMAZING news @unicef_uk! #SoccerAid smashed fundraising records to save more children's lives thanks to #UKaid match ht.ly/dvv3I

— DFID (@DFID_UK) September 6, 2012

27 May 2012

UPDATE: Speaking after the Soccer Aid match which took place on Sunday 27 May, former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said:

"Tonight, the millions of people tuning in to watch Soccer Aid were reminded of the huge difference that a single game of football can help to make in the lives of children in some of the poorest countries in the world.

"Football is the UK’s national game, uniting people up and down the country - the huge public response to the Soccer Aid appeal shows that those watching tonight’s game were also united by a fantastic generosity of spirit. It is exactly that spirit that we will reflect by matching pound for pound from our existing aid budget all donations to Soccer Aid, helping UNICEF double the impact it can have.

"That support will mean help for hundreds of thousands more children in countries in East and West Africa like Djibouti, Chad and Niger. These are countries already facing shockingly high numbers of child deaths and in West Africa’s Sahel region the current drought and resulting food crisis are only serving to worsen conditions.

"A £5 donation, doubled by our matched funding, will help a starving child get life saving emergency food for a fortnight. If someone gives £20, once doubled, this could vaccinate four children against all of the main diseases that kill in childhood or buy mosquito nets to protect ten families from malaria. This is vital and genuinely life-changing help reaching those who need it most."

11 May 2012

Today the British Government announced it will match all donations given by the public pound for pound as part of Soccer Aid 2012 to help UNICEF save even more children's lives.

The announcement was made to coincide with Dan Magness achieveing a new world record - a 10 day challenge between London and Manchester doing 'keepy-uppys' all the way.

Launched by Robbie Williams in 2010, 'Keep it Up for Soccer Aid' calls on the UK public to keep something up and get sponsored to do so in the run up to Soccer Aid, ITV1's celebrity football match at Old Trafford on Sunday 27 May, which raises money for UNICEF's lifesaving work for children around the world.

Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said:

"Dan Magness should be congratulated on his achievement, which demonstrates exactly the sort of commitment to UNICEF's work that our matched funding is intended to recognise. The British public has repeatedly shown its generosity, even in difficult economic times. By matching pound for pound all public donations to Soccer Aid, we will help UNICEF to ensure hundreds of thousands more children under the age of five get better healthcare and more nutritious food in some of the poorest countries in Africa." 

Dan Magness commented:

"This is without a doubt the craziest, most exciting and most challenging thing I have ever done. It's incredible to finish on the day that we hear that all Soccer Aid funds will be matched by the government; that means if you give a fiver, ten pounds will go to UNICEF's vital work to save children's lives. I hope today's news inspires other people to take up a 'Keep it up for Soccer Aid challenge' - and double the money they raise for UNICEF." 

This year's Soccer Aid event will be hosted by Dermot O'Leary and players taking part include Robbie Williams, Will Ferrell, Gerard Butler, Mike Myers, Michael Sheen, Marvin Humes and Aston Merrygold from Britain’s biggest boy band JLS, world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay, presenter, and DJ Jamie Theakston alongside footballing heroes Teddy Sheringham and Edwin van der Sar with more names to be announced soon.

How UNICEF is supporting children worldwide

Two year old Achta from Chad is being rehabilitated following severe meningitis. View UNICEF's photo story to see how they're supporting children worldwide

UK Aid Match is a fund that will match the public donations to appeals focused on poverty reduction in developing countries. The money raised by 'Keeping it Up for Soccer Aid' will help change the lives of vulnerable children all over the world. 

To find out more read the full press release on the UNICEF website 

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The British Government will help @unicef_uk save children's lives by doubling all your donations to #SoccerAid ht.ly/aQnv9 #UKaid

— DFID (@DFID_UK) May 11, 2012