Actor Tobias Menzies (The Crown, Outlander, and Game of Thrones) has launched WaterAid’s new fundraising appeal, Future on Tap, to bring clean water to poor communities around the world.
Tobias, an ambassador for the international charity, is adding his support to the campaign ahead of the release of the fourth season of The Crown, which will be available on Netflix from 15 November. Tobias will be reprising his role of Prince Philip alongside Olivia Colman who plays Queen Elizabeth II and Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher.
WaterAid hopes to help transform thousands of lives across the world with clean water by raising £3 million during the appeal, which runs from 5 November 2020 to 4 February 2021. During this time, the UK government will match public donations to Future on Tap, up to £2 million, to bring clean water to 50,000 people in Ethiopia.
The money raised by the UK public will help families like Hawa’s in Frat, western Ethiopia. Hawa and her daughters spend hours each day walking the rocky path to collect dirty water from the river 2km from their village. They are afraid to go alone or at night as thieves are known to hide there. The changing climate is making life harder; with hotter summers and unexpected storms destroying crops, their only source of income.
Match funding from the UK government will be used to bring sustainable water, toilet and hygiene facilities to communities in Berbere, which like Frat, is one of the poorest and most climate-vulnerable areas in Ethiopia where a lack of these basics is putting lives and livelihoods at risk. The project will include constructing flood-resistant community water points and accessible water and sanitation facilities in schools and health centres, as well as training communities to manage the facilities.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Minister Baroness Liz Sugg said:
“Millions of families around the world are locked in to poverty because they lack even basic access to clean water or decent sanitation.
“With UK aid doubling the public’s generous donations to WaterAid’s new campaign, the money will go even further to help some of Ethiopia’s poorest communities thrive and build their resilience to a changing climate.”
Tobias Menzies said:
“It’s easy to take clean water for granted, but one in ten people lack access to this basic human right, and our changing climate is making life even harder for poor communities around the world.
“With clean water on tap, lives and livelihoods are protected. They can meet their basic needs, stay safe and healthy, have time to go to school or work, and can grow food even when the weather is unpredictable. I’m proud to support the Future on Tap appeal; the money raised will help bring clean water to thousands of people, transforming lives for good.”
Tobias will take part in WaterAid’s star-studded virtual Christmas concert on 8 December, giving a reading as part of the evening of merriment, festive songs and performances that will raise money for Future on Tap.
Find out more and donate at www.wateraid.org.