Actors Nicola Coughlan of “Bridgerton” fame and Paapa Essiedu from the “Harry Potter” film series are among over 20 celebrities participating in a charity auction to fund scholarships for students in Gaza.
The auction, organized by Phoenix Space charity, launches on July 27 and includes contributions from notable figures such as Brian Cox, Gary Lineker, Paloma Faith, Maxine Peake, Juliet Stevenson, Charlotte Church, Harriet Walter, Vanessa Redgrave, and Janet Suzman. The initiative responds to the UK government’s commitment to support Palestinian students’ education in Britain, contingent upon securing full funding.
Coughlan and her “Derry Girls” co-star Siobhán McSweeney have contributed a signed behind-the-scenes photograph, while Essiedu is offering his personal copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” In a statement, Essiedu expressed concern about educational barriers, saying, “I can’t imagine almost all universities being destroyed and the immense talent in every discipline wasted: no opportunities and no choice at all.” He added, “What a beautiful thing if this book in some way can unlock the futures of these brilliant students, too.”
Additional auction items include a signed Japan football jersey from Lineker; an “I Swear” production hoodie from Peake; Stevenson’s first owned poetry book; a place at Church’s upcoming wellness retreat; Walter’s personal script from Donmar Warehouse’s all-female “Julius Caesar” production along with her signed book; a necklace Redgrave wore in “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”; and a vintage Christian Lacroix brooch from Suzman.
Phoenix Space reports that hundreds of Gaza students have received offers from UK universities but lack the financial means to pursue their studies. This year, accepted students have been admitted to University College London, Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh for programs including artificial intelligence and cognitive neuroscience.
The 10-day bidding period begins July 27 on the Scholarships for Gaza auction website.
