Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live returning for 2021 featuring Dev Griffin as host and powered by Vodafone

Vodafone and Barnardo’s are calling on the UK public to ‘give the gift of connectivity’ by donating unwanted devices to the Great British Tech Appeal this Christmas.

• Broadcaster Dev Griffin to host Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live on 1 December.
• Purchase tickets or sign up for the Live Stream.
• Vodafone, together with Barnardo’s, will call on the UK public to ‘give the gift of connectivity’ and donate unwanted devices to the Great British Tech Appeal this Christmas.

Broadcaster and Heart DJ Dev Griffin will host Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live event, to be powered by Vodafone as part of its ongoing charity partnership. The festive concert is back for its second year and will take place from 7pm on Wednesday 1 December.

Concertgoers can watch the festivities live at Birmingham Town Hall or tune in to the live-streamed event. Kidsmas Live will raise vital funds for Barnardo’s to help them support vulnerable children and young people across the UK at a time when its services are more crucial than ever due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kidsmas Live will kick off Advent with 200 children’s voices. More of the show’s stars will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets cost between £7.50 and £18 and can be purchased online. The event will also be live-streamed so families outside Birmingham can enjoy the event from the comfort of their own home.

With your help, we can connect more people and give the gift of connectivity this Christmas

(Ahmed Essam, Vodafone’s UK CEO)

Barnardo’s and Vodafone will be asking the audience to support The Great British Tech Appeal which they launched in May 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the campaign has provided devices and connectivity to 7,500 disadvantaged young people, enabling them to access education, stay in touch with friends and family and connect to essential services. This is part of Vodafone’s commitment, announced in June, to connect one million people living in digital poverty by the end of 2022.

Kidsmas Live host Dev Griffin said: “I’m so excited to be hosting the Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live concert this year. Barnardo’s do amazing work supporting vulnerable children and young people across the UK. This concert is going to be the perfect event to get you and your family in the festive spirit, while raising money for an amazing cause. So whether you join us in person or join us online, I can’t wait to see you there!”

Interim Co-CEO Michelle Lee-Izu at Barnardo’s said: “We’re thrilled that the Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live concert, powered by Vodafone, is returning in person this year to kick off Christmas. Join us – either in person or virtually – for a festive singalong with some very special guests and help support our work to ensure vulnerable children are safe, supported and cared for at Christmas, and all year round.”

Ahmed Essam, Vodafone’s UK CEO said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live again; it is such a special event. Thank-you to everyone who has supported our Great British Tech Appeal so far – and for anyone with smartphones or tablets they no longer need, please send them to us.

“With your help, we can connect more people and give the gift of connectivity this Christmas.”

Vodafone recently launched its Christmas advertising campaign, calling on viewers to give ‘The Gift of Connection’. Focusing on the joy of giving at Christmas, the campaign aims to inspire the nation to help those living in digital poverty in the UK by donating old devices. Vodafone will add six months of free connectivity to devices donated to its Great British Tech Appeal, with charity partner Barnardo’s redistributing them to disadvantaged children and families.

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Notes to editors

Ticket prices start at £7.50 for children under 12; standard tickets priced at £18. Or sign up for the livestream.

The Barnardo’s Kidsmas Live Prize Draw (with prizes including signed Anthony Joshua gloves and pictures, a 9ct gold diamond necklace from F.Hinds, Deichmann shoe vouchers and much more) is open for entries until 10 December.

Vodafone has a range of projects under way to tackle digital exclusion and connect one million people by the end of 2022. These include its recent charities.connected initiative, Buy One, Give One and the Great British Tech Appeal. It has also partnered with Global, the media and entertainment group, on a six-month campaign to raise awareness of digital exclusion and inspire the nation to get involved to help those living without devices and connectivity.

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