Help Our NHS is a new project launched by Liam Gallagher’s tour manager Ben Pomphrett that aims to benefit frontline NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation looks to show their appreciation to the people in healthcare who are making huge sacrifices during this challenging time, by helping to provide them with both treats and essential items.
So far, Help Our NHS has donated hand creams, sandwiches, toiletries, hand creams, drinks, sweets and cakes to staff. They’ve also partnered with food distributors and various other suppliers to dispatch donations to intensive care units. The project has initially been launched in Scotland and is set to expand across the UK imminently.
Now Pomphrett draws on his experience in the music industry to raise funds for the project by launching the new NHS FEST music raffle, with support from The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. The aim is to raise funds to distribute regular care packages to as many frontline staff as possible throughout this crisis.
Fans can enter the raffle by visiting www.nhsfest.co.uk, where they’ll see a list of artists and companies who have gifted prizes arranged in a festival-style poster. Clicking on an artist name will direct you to a page which details the prize on offer and allows you to enter the raffle, with all tickets priced at £5.
Highlights of the prizes on offer include:
- Liam Gallagher: A pair of extremely rare signed Adidas LG Spezial trainers – there are only six signed pairs in existence. Plus tickets for future gigs, a signed Pretty Green parka and a signed tambourine.
- Bring Me The Horizon: The guitar played by Lee Malia in the ‘Ludens’ music video.
- Peaky Blinders: A set visit during the filming of season six and Peaky Blinders Festival tickets.
- Live Nation: A pair of Golden Tickets which allow entry to all Live Nation UK shows and festivals throughout 2021.
Together with The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, the NHS Fest music raffle is open for a very limited amount of time, so get in quick for your chance to win. It opens 6pm today 14th April and closes at 6pm on Friday, April 17th. While the festival angle provides a fun aspect, its short duration also allows the funds it raises to be quickly allocated.
The NHS Fest website also offers two further methods for fans to support the initiative. A range of festival-style merch is available for those who want to show their support in a tangible way, while a crowdfunding option provides an easy way for people to donate a little extra.
Pomphrett commented, “The idea for the project mainly stems from having a partner who works in intensive care. With an understanding of how busy they can be in normal times, and the challenges they’re about to face, it just seemed like something worth doing. Since I work as a tour manager, and the music industry now on pause for the foreseeable, it’s a way for me to put my free time to good use, and hopefully do something beneficial. Partnering with The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice has transformed this project from an idea to a reality, and will also help with their day-to-day operations which include treating patients affected by Covid-19, which isn’t necessarily obvious when thinking about frontline staff.”
Rhona Baillie, Chief Executive of The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Ben to allow this amazing idea to become a reality. We want to do whatever we can to help support our NHS colleagues during this difficult time. All money raised from this raffle will go towards the NHS and we are also delighted that the hospice will receive a small donation too.”
Go to www.nhsfest.co.uk for prize information and tickets.
