Charity Week 2021 begins to help raise money for children worldwide

Thousands of people across the UK and overseas are embarking on a week of activities to raise funds for children across the world for international charity Islamic Relief.

Charity Week, now in its nineteenth year and led by a group of dedicated volunteers, inspires people to become active, socially engaged and united upon shared Islamic and humanitarian values. Last year, a monumental £1.4 million was raised to help children across the globe.

Islamic societies, families, mosques, schools and workplaces up and down the UK will dedicate their time, energy and goodwill to raise money through innovative and exciting fundraising events and activities.

Some of the fundraising activities in previous years have included auctioning a banana, which ultimately sold for £6,000 and cakes produced by different universities in the UK selling for a total of £40,000.

This year, Charity Week volunteers will take part in various events including sponsored bungee jumps in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow, as well as the ‘10K Step Challenge’ in which fundraisers will walk, jog or run 10,000 steps a day for seven days.

Charity Week began as an annual volunteer-led campaign launched by a group of students in London 2003. Over the years it has raised over £9 million, and every volunteer and donor has a say in what projects the money raised is spent on. Funds raised go to emergency and long-term care for children in some of the world’s poorest places and fragile environments, such as Gaza, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan.

“It’s amazing to see how far Charity Week has come over the years, from a small group of students in 2003 to a huge inspirational national and international event, that demonstrates the generosity of so many people.  “A staggering one in five children across the world live in extreme poverty, Charity Week volunteers will truly make a huge difference to help the most vulnerable across the world.  “I wish everyone the very best in their fundraising efforts this year. You all show the best examples of people coming together to help others.”

For more information and interviews, please contact Jonaid Jilani, Media 07872 403534.

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo.  Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.

Charity Week is one of the world’s largest volunteer-led Charity campaigns. It started in London in 2003 with one student collecting funds in a shoebox; it has now grown to be an international annual fundraising and engagement event taking place across the globe. With more than £9 million raised in the last 16 years, Charity Week is fast becoming one of Islamic Relief’s most exciting campaigns, with over 5,000 students participating directly in the campaign. Funds raised have assisted orphans and vulnerable children in 28 countries worldwide. This year Charity Week takes place between 26 October and 1 November, though people fundraise before then too.

Charity Week currently operates in six countries including the UK.