"i started self-harming again a couple of weeks ago. this time i ended up in hospital. i'm scared i'll go too far." Rob, 21.
Get Connected Raises £150,000 for Young People at Charity Auction
Get Connected's Annual Charity Auction on Wednesday evening raised £150,000. The annual event, now in its sixth year, raises vital funds for the UK's confidential, free, national helpline for young people.
Bidding closed at The London Barbican shortly before midnight, with feverish competition pushing Lot 10, a Pixie Lott package kindly offered by The Carphone Warehouse, including tickets to see Pixie on tour supporting Rihanna and the chance to meet the star herself, to go for the most money at an incredible £21,000. Other popular auction lots included:
- 2 tickets to the Superbowl in the US including flights and accommodation, courtesy of Motorola (£3500)
- A round of golf for four at Woburn Golf Club's world class courses, courtesy of Celaton Ltd (£3500)
- 2 tickets to the round of 16 match featuring the winner of England's group at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, including flights and accommodation, courtesy of Sony Ericsson (£5000)
- Your product placed in a Get Connected National Marketing Campaign, donated by Get Connected (£5400)
In the UK there are over 13,000 services designed to help young people, offering support on everything from homework to homelessness. Get Connected's free helpline makes sure that young people are put in touch with the right support. Last year the helpline connected over 16,500 people and reached its 100,000th caller, all connected for free to the help they needed.
The proceeds of the annual auction go directly towards the Get Connected helpline, training and expanding its team of volunteers who make sure young people get the best confidential support they need, and raising awareness in schools and other organisations across the country that help is on hand.
"We are always overwhelmed by the kind support Get Connected receives at this annual fundraising auction," commented Fiona Clark, Chief Executive of Get Connected. "We would like to thank all the sponsors who so generously donated our best ever auction lots and everyone who attended and bid on items, making this year's auction so successful. This provides key funding for us, allowing us to connect even more young people to the help they need in 2010."
Charles Dunstone, founder of The Carphone Warehouse and Chairman of Get Connected, was thrilled with the auction's success: "Get Connected has an exciting vision for the next five years and once again the dedicated team staged a hugely successful evening of fundraising. I'd like to thank everyone involved for their generous lot donations, bids and support with the event. The funds received will further help Get Connected raise much needed awareness among young people of the vital service it provides."