Help Our NHS is a new project launched by Liam Gallagher’s tour manager Ben Pomphrett (pronounced ‘pom-frett’) that aims to benefit frontline NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping to provide them with both treats and essential items. The project was 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 Raffle, with support from The Myton Hospices and 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.
The raffle prizes are made up of rare and collectible items from artists including Liam Gallagher, Arctic Monkeys and Bring Me the Horizon. The raffle was originally launched on Friday 10th April but due to unprecedented demand the website was unable to cope and the raffle was temporarily paused.
Fans can now enter the raffle from 6pm on Friday 17th April until 6pm on Sunday 19th April, 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.
The NHS Fest Raffle is open for a very limited amount of time, from 6pm on Friday 17th April until 6pm on Sunday 19th April, so get in quick for your chance to win. While the festival angle provides a fun aspect, its short duration also allows the funds it raises to be quickly allocated.
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 is 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 two hospices 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.
Ruth Freeman, CEO, The Myton Hospices said:
We are absolutely delighted to be part of this incredible initiative with Ben and The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. We are doing everything we can to support our NHS colleagues at this difficult time and they will directly benefit from the money raised from this raffle. We will also receive a small percentage of the funds which will help to support our own frontline staff and ensure we can continue to care for people who need us most, now and in the future.
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.
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.