Charity launches star-studded clothes auction

A host of famous faces including Ed Sheeran, Dame Helen Mirren, Hugh Laurie, Sir Chris Hoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Irons and Fern Britton have joined forces with Turn2us to help fight fuel poverty in the UK by donating items for the charity’s biggest ever celebrity clothes auction.

The auction launches on 30 November and is part of Turn2us’ No Cold Homes campaign to raise awareness of the millions of people across the UK struggling to afford to heat their homes. As a national charity helping people in financial hardship to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other support, Turn2us hears regularly from people suffering in cold homes because they can’t afford their energy costs. New research by the charity found that half of low income working households are struggling with these bills, with a third skipping meals as a result.*

The auction will raise funds to help more people access vital financial support to help with their energy costs in time for the colder winter weather. It features a fantastic range of designer and high street brand coats, jackets and jumpers donated by over 20 popular personalities.  

Bidders can go for Ed Sheeran’s O’Neill jacket, or an army jacket given to Jeremy Irons on the set of the third Die Hard film (Die Hard with a Vengeance). Honor Blackman’s cashmere Ralph Lauren jumper will be up for grabs too, alongside a vintage Nicole Farhi coat from journalist and presenter Jane Moore and a leopard print Antipodium coat donated by Lauren Laverne.

Sports fans can opt for a signed Team GB cycling top from six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy or a long padded Arsenal jacket made famous by manager Arsene Wenger. To add to a spectacular celebrity list, top designer Ben de Lisi has donated several bright and beautiful coats from his Principles range and Olly Murs has bucked the trend by offering one of his trademark trilby hats.

Simon Hopkins, Chief Executive at Turn2us said: “We believe that no one should have to live in a cold home and through our auction we hope we can raise awareness of the struggle so many people face and
raise funds to allow us to help more people access the support they desperately need. We’ve got some fantastic well known faces on board who have given so generously to our auction, and we urge the public to get involved so that more people can afford to stay warm and healthy this winter.”

Commenting on her participation in the auction, Dame Helen Mirren said: “There are so many people who can’t afford the basic essentials like a warm home and food for their families. That’s why the Turn2us No Cold Homes campaign is so important and I’m pleased to play a part in helping more families get the vital help they need this winter.”

The auction will be hosted on eBay from Monday 30 November to Thursday 10 December 2015. For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk/NoColdHomes