Annie Lennox, Sting, Taylor Swift, Emeli Sandé, Jessie J, Paloma Faith, Celeste and more launch The Circle Music Auction.
All proceeds to go to The Circle’s global Covid-19 Emergency Appeal.
Singer-Songwriter, Activist and Founder of The Circle, Annie Lennox, has invited fellow musicians to contribute to The Circle Music Auction to help raise funds for women and girls across the globe who have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
The Circle Music Auction, which is live on the platform Charity Stars from today, invites partakers to bid on auction items or buy tickets for a sweepstake competition (starting price $10). The auction will close Friday 10th July, and the sweepstake will end Friday 31st July.
Annie Lennox, Sting, Emeli Sandé, Jessie J, Yola, Paloma Faith, Jessie Ware, Hozier, Anoushka Shankar, Jack Savoretti, Skin (Skunk Anansie), Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) and Frank Turner have kindly donated two personalised performances for the auction (one for the winner of the highest bid, and one for the winner of the sweepstake competition). Winners will receive an exclusive, pre-recorded video featuring a live performance of one or two songs chosen from the winners list alongside a personalised message.
In addition to the exclusive personalised performances, The Circle Music Auction will also feature lots kindly donated by musicians. These include an Alberta Ferreti silk dress worn by Annie Lennox for performances, a signed guitar from Taylor Swift, a signed outfit worn by Madison Beer for her ‘Good in Goodbye’ video shoot, and a virtual afternoon tea and two song performances by BRITs Rising Star Award Winner, Celeste.
Founder of The Circle, singer and activist, Annie Lennox said: ‘The crisis for thousands of women living in poverty is acute. Many no longer have any income, are suffering domestic violence and have nowhere to turn. I am delighted that such incredible musicians are stepping up to join me and offer support.
Sting: ‘Annie Lennox is a wonderful friend and I am pleased to support her & The Circle in their important fight for vulnerable women and girls around the world devastated by the impact of COVID.’
Emeli Sandé: ‘These are painful times across the world, and I show my continued solidarity to fighting injustices. In support of The Circle’s music auction, which is supporting vulnerable marginalised women and girls disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic, I am pleased to offer my incredible fans such a personal prize to raise much needed funds. Whatever the reason you are bidding, your support will provide much needed emergency support in these difficult times.’
Hozier: ‘I’m standing in solidarity with Annie Lennox and The Circle to support their emergency fundraising appeal that will support some of the world’s most vulnerable women and girls disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. The Circle are working at critical time to support marginalised women including survivors of violence and garment workers who have been left destitute.’
Raakhi Shah, CEO of The Circle: ‘The COVID pandemic has turned the work upside down and recent events have rightly seen an outpouring of support for marginalized communities. The Circle stands in solidarity. It has long been there for the world’s most vulnerable women and girls and we continue to provide support at a time of great urgency with the launch of The Circle Music Auction.’
All funds raised by The Circle Music Auction will go to The Circle’s COVID-19 emergency appeal ‘The Women and Girls Solidarity Fund’ to support immediate needs such as food and hygiene packages, access to safe refuges and legal aid packages. The emergency appeal is supporting The Circle’s current and expanding portfolio of project partners which particularly focus on women and girls in Asia and Africa who are affected by rising domestic violence and workers in the garment industry faced with total loss of income. The NGO has already deployed grants to scale up helplines and public awareness campaigns on domestic abuse.
Examples of how the funds will provide support:
- $15 (£12) could provide emergency parcels including food, hygiene kits, and menstrual products for three women in Uganda.
- $25 (£20) could provide a garment worker and her family in Bangladesh who have been left destitute with essential supplies of food, soap, and protective equipment including masks and hand sanitiser.
- $50 (£40) could provide one week of safe refuge for a survivor of violence at the Nonceba Centre in South Africa.
About The Circle NGO:
The Circle is a small but mighty charity focussed on achieving equality for women and girls in a fairer world and led by a network of inspiring women. Founded by singer, songwriter & human rights activist, Annie Lennox in 2008, The Circle is inspired by the knowledge that when women come together and organise, they can be a powerful force for change.
To date, over 160,000 women and girls in more than 16 countries have been supported by The Circle’s fundraising and advocacy work. The Circle is committed to helping women achieve economic empowerment and access to health by ending violence against women, ensuring a living wage in the fast fashion industry, fighting for girls’ education.
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