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War Child’s ambassador Vanessa Kirby says government must reconsider UK Aid Match delay

The Highgate based charity War Child UK has accused the government of failing to deliver on a pledge to match public donations worth £500,000 for its Torn from Home campaign.

The organisation, which works to support children affected by conflict, exploitation and trafficking says it was told several weeks ago that a promising of UK Aid Match funding would be delayed until April 2022.

It comes as a growing number of Conservative MPs have raised concerns about wider cuts to foreign aid.

War Child says without the funding it will be unable to push ahead with plans to protect thousands of vulnerable children in the Middle East.

In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “The seismic impact of the pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take tough but necessary decisions, including temporarily reducing the overall amount we spend on aid.

“We have protected War Child’s UK Aid Match funding because we value their work and the results they will deliver.

“All UK Aid Match commitments will be protected, as set out in the foreign secretary’s written ministerial statement. In some cases there will be a delay in releasing the guaranteed funding”.

Anthony Baxter has been speaking to the charity’s Chief Executive Rob Williams and Global Ambassador, the actor Vanessa Kirby.

Tanya Francis 4th June 2021

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