News

On World Children’s Day, the Rangers Charity Foundation is proud to be pledging £25,000 this season to the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) helping to support the biggest vaccine drive in history and ensure children access their right to education and are protected from harm, no matter where they live.

World Children’s Day is a global day of action for children which aims to raise awareness and funds to address the most pressing issues facing children.  This donation could help to provide 9,294 people with 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in places like Uganda, Columbia or Cambodia. Protecting health workers, social workers and teachers in this way means easing pressure on overwhelmed health systems, ensuring children are protected from harm and are getting back to school. 

This also marks a two-year extension of the Foundation’s enduring partnership with UNICEF UK, which began in 2008. Since then, the Foundation has donated over £750,000 to support a variety of causes including education, health and emergency relief reaching over 2 million children. Since season 2019/20, the Foundation has redirected its funding to support UNICEF’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as providing PPE, delivering vaccines in low- and middle-income countries and working to reduce the knock-on effect the pandemic has had on the development and safety of children.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have devastating impacts on everyone around the world, vaccines present a key opportunity to ending this global crisis. UNICEF, using the organisation’s extensive knowledge and infrastructure, has taken a lead role in supporting 133 low-and middle-income countries with vaccine roll-out, helping to ensure equitable access around the world, so that everyone can be protected; and can get back to the things and people they love.

So far, UNICEF, as the lead delivery partner for the COVAX facility, has delivered 337.7 million vaccine doses globally. UNICEF remains focussed on providing vaccines to ensure that 30% of the population in low- and middle-income countries is vaccinated in 2021. Next year, all eyes will be on ensuring 70% of the world is vaccinated.

Connal Cochrane, Rangers Charity Foundation Director said:

“ We are immensely proud of our long-standing partnership with UNICEF whose global reach has been invaluable in this global pandemic. We know we are fortunate to live in a country where vaccination rollout is in advanced stages and most children are back at school. We hope this donation will help protect children’s basic rights to education and safety, no matter where they live.

“I would like to thank all of our supporters who take on personal challenges, volunteer, donate and do so much to help all the charities we support every season. It is thanks to their commitment that we continue to be able to help UNICEF in the vital work they do.”

Gordon Glick, Deputy Executive Director of Partnerships at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) said:

“Delivering COVID-19 vaccines around the world is the biggest health and logistics operation in history but thanks to the support of partners like the Rangers Charity Foundation, we are able to work towards bringing the pandemic to an end for everyone, everywhere. Vaccinating health workers and social workers will help ease the pressure on struggling services and save the lives of millions of children, parents and caregivers. This is the best way to ensure that every child around the world survives and thrives. Thank you Rangers Charity Foundation, for your ongoing support.”

Read more about our longstanding partnership with UNICEF UK.