Charity launches star-studded clothes auction to help people struggling in cold homes this winter

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 Wednesday 9 December 2015. For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk/NoColdHomes

-ENDS-

For further information,  images and celebrity quotes, please contact:
Emma Lamberton, Communications Manager, Turn2us on 0208 834 9259 / emma.lamberton@turn2us.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
•    *Figures are from a survey conducted with Research Now in September 2015. Total sample size was 2,001 adults with annual household incomes of £30,000 and less before tax and deductions
•    There are over four million people living in fuel poverty in the UK (Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2015)
•    Celebrities participating in the auction: Kaye Adams, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Honor Blackman, Fern Britton, Alistair Campbell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben de Lisi, Gizzi Erskine, Joanne Froggatt, Sir Chris Hoy, Jeremy Irons, Duncan James, Ruth Jones, Hugh Laurie, Lauren Laverne, Matt Lucas, Dame Helen Mirren, Jane Moore, Olly Murs, Bruce Oldfield, Katie Piper, Craig Revel Horwood, Alan Shearer, Ed Sheeran, Frank Skinner, Lisa Snowdon and Arsene Wenger

About Turn2us:
•    Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services – online, by phone and face to face through partners and volunteers
•    The Turn2us website includes a Benefits Calculator to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to, a Grants Search to find out if you might be eligible for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and a range of information and resources to help people in financial hardship
•    Turn2us can also provide direct financial assistance through a range of specific funds that are managed directly by the charity, including the Elizabeth Finn Fund which supports people from over 120 different professions
•    For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk