War Child UK was established in 1993 in response to the conflict in former Yugoslavia, and in particular to meet the needs of the many children affected by that conflict. Over a decade on, War Child UK supports an extremely successful music therapy programme in Bosnia. Attended by hundreds of children a year, this project is a testament to the enduring problems created by war.

In 1995 War Child UK released the now-legendary Help album, which featured acts such as Blur, Oasis, The Stone Roses and Radiohead. Each act featured on the album recorded their song in a day and the album was released in a week – following guidelines laid down by John Lennon for the release of ‘Instant Karma’!

Help

Help raised a lot of money and awareness of War Child UK’s cause. Subsequent releases have included the successful Hope and One Love albums. The charity’s link with the music world continues to this day. www.warchildmusic.com offers unique exclusive tracks for download from old friends (Radiohead) and new faces (they heartily recommend The Bravery). Fans can subscribe to get a bundle of songs each month for £3.50 or simply cherry-pick track-by-track at a not-unreasonable 99 pence. Around 70% of all moneys raised by www.warchildmusic.com helps fund War Child UK’s work. To subscribe to www.warchildmusic.com each month click here.

One thing in evidence wherever War Child UK has worked, is the enduring and global love of football - in Rwanda, War Child UK saw kids playing with a football made of string, plastic and paper bags.

War Child UK

War Child UK currently operates programmes in Iraq, Afghanistan, The Balkans, the Occupied Palestine Territories and Democratic Republic of Congo – where it demobilises child soldiers, rehabilitates them, and ultimately reunites them with their families. These are no easy tasks. Sports Interactive has embarked on a fundraising initiative relationship with War Child UK in the hope that they can help the charity in these – and other – very difficult jobs. For more details about War Child UK’s programmes: www.warchild.org.uk.

This relationship will not only net War Child proceeds from every copy of Football Manager 2005 sold around the world, but also from all other games created by Sports Interactive (the creator of the best-selling Championship Manager series), including the ice hockey management simulation NHL Eastside Hockey Manager and the forthcoming baseball game, Out Of The Park Baseball.