Charity auction raises almost £30,000 for SE1 United

Communications agency Exposure set a target of of £20,000 for the auction which was organised to mark the firm's 20th anniversary.

Auction lots from big name brands such as Hackett, Dr Marten's, Jaeger, LOVE magazine, Levi's, Coca-Cola, Rankin, Netflix, Hobbs, Cath Kidston, and Ted Baker were donated by Exposure's network of clients, staff and celebrity friends.

"I think we are all still a little dazed from the impact of the funding that Exposure's twentieth anniversary charity auction has raised for us," said Sarah Cretch, chair of SE1 United.

"SE1 United is a relatively small organisation with a massive impact. It is run by young people for young people and our aim is not to proscribe the shape or type of services young people need as delineated by policy makers and misinformed adults.

"Over the past three years we have been extremely vulnerable financially within the perfect storm of funding cuts and increased demand for services from young people who are finding it harder and harder to find employment and access education.

"This time last year our future was looking extremely shaky as a number of large scale grants were coming to an end simultaneously. Our young people describe SE1 United as a place of 'safety' but over the last year we have had to have a number of difficult conversations with them about the possible risks of closure and service cuts.

"In response, our board of trustees, which includes a number of our founder members, have committed immense time and energy to raising the money to ensure our young people continue to feel safe. The Exposure auction was the final piece of the jigsaw and the money raised ensures that we will be operational at full capacity for the next twelve months."

Raoul Shah, founder and joint chief executive of Exposure, said: "This October marked twenty years in business for us.

"Over the years we've made backing social causes and London-based kids' charities a priority, but with the twentieth anniversary auction we wanted to give something back over and above previous years' activities.

"This could not have been made possible without the help and support of Exposure's friends, clients and colleagues. We set a target of £20,000 and to have raised a total close to £30,000 is an inspirational achievement.

"It means that SE1 United can continue to do its brilliant work helping London's vulnerable young people for another year and to have had a part in that means so much to us."