Kendal Calling music festival has raised £12,000 for five long-standing charity partners — North West Air Ambulance Charity, Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind, St John Ambulance and Hospice at Home.
The money was raised through donations, merchandise sales and ticket donations as a result of the huge success of Kendal Calling Radio, which ran from 30th July to 2nd August, which bringing the festival experience directly into people’s homes.
This featured interviews, live sessions, DJ sets from the likes of Nile Rodgers, Primal Scream and 808 State, plus classic sets from 15 years of the festival, including Madness, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Franz Ferdinand and more.
With over 50,000 listeners over four days, Kendal Calling Radio was accompanied by a limited edition range of merchandise including T-shirts and posters, which sold out in a matter of days.
Festival founder Andy Smith said: “The donations we receive for our festival charities every summer make a huge difference to the important work they do.
“When we realised that this year’s festival wasn’t going to take place, we knew how important it was to find an alternative way to raise money for these charities, and the Kendal Calling Radio weekend became a celebration of the selfless volunteers in the north who work tirelessly and with few resources.
“The money raised for our charities by the incredible Kendal Calling family is testament to how amazing our attendees are, and how much their hard work truly is recognised.”
With some of the charities’ fundraising events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and funding drying up, the festival organisers set up the Kendal Calling Family Foundation to help these charities through an difficult period, with Kendal Calling Radio acting as a launch event for ongoing fundraising efforts.
Following the success of Kendal Calling Radio, the current fundraising total has been split evenly between the five charities, with each receiving £2,400.
Since its inception Kendal Calling has raised more than £200,000 for worthy causes.
Chris Andrews, corporate partnership officer at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Kendal Calling Radio was a brilliant weekend and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make it a success.”
