An a cappella army of celebrities and entertainment professionals have joined forces to perform a lockdown megamix in aid of The Care Workers’ Charity.
The AcaArmy Lockdown Megamix features well-known tracks ‘Staying Alive’, ‘Fever’, ‘Lonely’, ‘Toxic’, to name a few, with celebrities, X factor winner Sam Bailey, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Star Divina de Campo, Jamie Lambert from Collabro and Amanda Cole former En Vogue, as well as many familiar faces from the West End.
Developed by Nic Chiappetta, Lara de Belder and George Strickland (AcaArmy) with Howlin Entertainment Ltd, the idea was inspired by the current Coronavirus playlist meme songs and covers trending across the globe.
The Care Workers’ Charity will use any funds raised from the video to provide grants to care and support workers requiring financial support during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kev Orkian, CEO of Howlin Entertainment commented: “The main aim of this fab project is to raise money for the nations incredible care workers who are at the front line of the fight against Coronavirus. Throughout history, in times of trouble, people have always turned to the arts to help them escape, laugh or to simply put a smile on their face. This is the reason Nic, Lara, George and I have called on our friends, colleagues and fellow performers to come together for CWC and help make this a reality.
“Inspired by the Sparkle for Social Care campaign which was set up by a group of care sector professionals, I felt passionate to support and to sparkle for The Care Workers’ Charity and together I feel we have done just that!”
Karolina Gerlich, Executive Director of The Care Workers’ Charity said: “We’re so pleased people are coming together to sing for our care workers, it will make us smile, entertain us, and raise those all-important valuable funds for our target of raising 2 million pounds to enable us to continue to issue grants to care workers facing hardship due to self-isolating, shielding or with the virus themselves.”
Established in 2009, The Care Workers’ Charity exists to support care workers, give them a voice and advocate for the social care workforce. There are about 2 million care workers in the UK, many of whom exist on a low income. This means that if they are impacted by a crisis, without financial security or a safety net they will be plunged into financial crisis, leading to debt, and mounting financial and psychological pressures.
Over 43% of care workers are paid below the Real Living Wage (RLW), compared to 23% of the wider population. Such disparity means that a care worker is twice as likely to be living in poverty. This devalues the essential work carried out by care workers who support the most vulnerable members of our society. The charity supports care staff by offering grants for everyday living costs and emergencies. Last year, 532 care workers were awarded grants, totalling over £180,000.
The charity reacted to the coronavirus pandemic by the introduction of our Covid-19 Emergency Fund. We have been awarding grants of £500 to care workers who have been self-isolating or shielding for at least 2 weeks and are surviving on a reduced income or SSP. We are also offering £2000 to help cover funeral costs for care workers or their immediate family if they pass away during this crisis. We have seen a 1000% week on week increase in applications compared to last year which shows there is a massive need for support.
To watch the video in full click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXC0g3Umgo
To support the AcaArmy and donate to their fundraising page visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/acaarmymegamix
If you would like to say thank you to care workers and raise awareness of the great work care workers do, please retweet and share the video to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and tag The Care Workers’ Charity page, with the hashtag #AcaArmy
