Concert for Ukraine brings DEC appeal total to £260 million
Melanie May | 1 April 2022 | News
This week’s Concert for Ukraine raised over £13.4 million, bringing the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal total to £260 million.
The concert, featuring artists including Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Paloma Faith, Gregory Porter, Emeli Sandé, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Ukrainian singer and former Eurovision winner Jamala, was broadcast live on ITV and STV, and is available to stream on demand at ITV Hub.
The broadcast saw 3.6 million people tuned in. Profits from ticket sales and an estimated £3 million in advertising revenue from ITV will also be donated with the concert raising over £13.4 million in total. The overall total of £260 million also includes £25 million matched by the UK Government at the start of the appeal, which launched a month ago.
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The concert was also broadcast live on Ukrainian TV and will air around the world to raise funds. It included readings of refugees’ testimonies by Tamsin Greig and Eddie Marsan, films from Ukraine’s border with Mel Giedroyc and Robert Rinder and a video diary from an aid worker inside Ukraine.
The appeal is funding the work of DEC member charities and their local partners helping people both inside Ukraine and refugees fleeing the conflict there. At least 4 million people have fled to neighbouring countries since the conflict began and a further 6.5 million have been forced to flee their homes inside the country.
Donations to the appeal will help meet people’s immediate needs and also help people affected by the conflict in the months and years ahead. For example one charity is using DEC funds to buy £1 million-worth of trauma kits for civilian first aid inside Ukraine.
DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:
“I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who helped make the concert happen in just two weeks, especially the brilliant acts who performed, ITV and STV for donating the advertising revenue and airing the show live, and Livewire who put in so much work behind the scenes to make it possible.
“The response to this appeal has been incredibly generous and I’d like to personally thank everyone who has donated, raised funds and helped spread the word. Your efforts mean that aid workers will be able to help people affected by this devastating conflict both now and in the months and years to come.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.