Cel Spellman
UNICEF UK High Profile Supporter
“I believe young people can make the world a better place and have the power to change it for the good.”
Cel is a strong advocate of UNICEF’s OutRight campaign, which empowers children and young people to realise their own rights and to speak out in support of the rights of all children. Cel regularly creates content that is shared with teachers and pupils, and as part of his work with OutRight, Cel recorded some guided meditation clips for children to use in schools, encouraging them to take a breath and spend time outdoors.
Cel visited a UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School in Southwark, London, to see how children were learning about their rights and the rights of children all over the world, focussing on those caught up in the refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
Reflecting on his visit, he says, “The children at Charles Dickens Primary told me that every child has a right to safety and a right to family. They thought refugee children would be feeling ‘scared’, ‘stressed and depressed’ and ‘weak’ right now. The children in Year 2 wrote speeches and performed them in front of the class, voicing their opinions about the rights of refugee children.”
Cel and Climate Change
Cel is a passionate climate advocate. In 2021, Cel co-chaired a panel discussion with UNICEF corporate partner Formula E and the UNICEF UK Youth Advisory Board focussing on how sports organisations can facilitate youth engagement in tackling the climate crisis. He has supported climate content for the OutRight campaign and takes every opportunity to address climate related emergencies.
When we’re learning about and trying to protect the climate and the natural world, it can make us feel anxious. It can feel very overwhelming and we wonder what we can do. But we are a powerful force. Young people across the world are rising up and fighting for change!
Cel Spellman, UNICEF UK High Profile Supporter
Over the years Cel has supported our fundraising Galas, including the Halloween Ball, the Blue Moon Gala and the Once Upon a Time Gala to raise vital funds for our work with children.
Football is one of Cel’s key passions and he has been involved in Soccer Aid for UNICEF for many years, proudly supporting the games’ values of the right to play for every child. As part of this work, he’s taken calls from the public pledging money for this critical annual fund raising programme for ITV.
Cel regularly amplifies his support across his social channels and media interviews, integrating UNICEF values into his daily life and vocalising his concern for the lives of children in everywhere.
About Cel Spellman
Cel is an actor and broadcaster who has been on British television and screen since he was seven years old. He’s of Irish descent from County Mayo. In addition to many recent series, he has starred in high profile series such as WHITE LINES for Netflix, COLD FEET for ITV and WATERLOO ROAD for BBC. Away from acting, Cel is a passionate advocate and activist for young people and the planet. He was appointed a UNICEF UK High Profile Supporter in May 2020 in recognition of his support for UNICEF programmes since 2016, particularly supporting and promoting young voices.
“I proudly support UNICEF because I believe that all children have the right to lead happy, healthy lives and live in a clean, safe, sustainable environment,” says Cel.
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