MOBO PARTNERS WITH NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT FOR 2ND SUCCESSIVE CAMPAIGN


“B POSITIVE” – A CHOIR PROMOTES BLOOD DONATION TO RECRUIT YOUNGER DONORS & FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY

MOBO announced today the launch of "B Positive", a ground breaking national campaign with a 60 strong choir at its focus, in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant as part of the MOBOvation Season countdown to this year's MOBO Awards on 29th November. 

The “B Positive” campaign, so named after a blood type that is more common in the black population, aims to drive registrations of much needed, lifesaving new blood donors, in particular targeting 17-35 year olds and those from Black communities, who are more likely to have genetic blood conditions, such as sickle cell disease, which requires regular blood transfusions. 

Following last year’s hugely successful ‘Represent’ campaign headed up by MOBO 2016 Best Female winner Lady Leshurr, MOBO and NHS Blood and Transplant have teamed up for the second successive year. This time creating “B Positive” choir , a 60 strong choir comprised of individuals who either live with sickle cell or families, friends and supporters of those who are affected by the disease. The choir’s members have come from all over England and are led by Choir Master, Colin Anderson. 

MOBO Founder and CEO, Kanya King MBE said “MOBO has always had a social and cultural responsibility to drive positive change, so we are proud to team up with NHS Blood and Transplant again to launch this vital campaign. “B Positive” has been created to raise awareness and encourage blood donation through the power of music and motivate a new generation to take action and get involved. We need more new donors from younger audiences and black communities to help ensure that patients can get the best possible treatment. “B Positive” is a positive rallying cry that we hope will win the hearts and minds of MOBO’s heartland audience, it really is about donating blood and saving lives.”

Those from the Black communities are more likely to have less common blood types such as B Positive and rarer subtypes such as Ro, and typically blood donations from those with a similar ethnic background are the best match. NHS Blood and Transplant desperately needs more donors and the aim is to get younger generations to sign up, so future patients have access to the blood they need, when they need it. NHS Blood and Transplant needs 200,000 new blood donors a year. Donating blood only takes an hour and can save up to three lives per donation.”

The choir will make their debut with an exclusive performance on the 20th November at the MOBO Pre Awards Show at Boisdale Canary Wharf, London, as well as performing at various events and locations, culminating in a rousing performance at the 22nd MOBO Awards itself, which will be held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 29th November. Music is no longer seen as just a form of entertainment but it is a driver for creative activities and social endeavours and its power should not be underestimated.  "B Positive" aims to harness this power to create a call to action: Give blood, Save lives.

Visit www.blood.co.uk to book an appointment to give blood or download the app by searching ‘NHS Give Blood’.  

The 22nd MOBO Awards 2017 will take place at the First Direct Arena, Leeds on Wednesday 29th November www.mobo.com 
#Giveblood
#MOBOvation
#MOBOAwards
The Facts:

  • 900,000 donors donate 1.6million units of blood to hospitals in England each year. 
  • 6,000 donors are needed each day to treat patients in England.
  • Blood from donors with a similar ethnic background gives the best match.
  • The NHS urgently need 40,000 new black donors.
  • Sickle Cell is more common in Black communities.
  • Around 15,000 people in the UK have Sickle Cell Disease.
  • Each month hospitals in England request 3-4,000 units of red cells to treat patients with Sickle Cell.
  • Some blood groups such as B positive and RO are more common in black communities. 
  • Non-fully matched blood in transfusions risks antibody production and can have long term negative effects on the recipient’s health. 


Notes to editors:
About MOBO:
The MOBO Awards were established in 1996 by Kanya King MBE to motivate, elevate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of artists in under-served musical genres, from soul, RnB and reggae to hip hop, grime, gospel and afrobeats. Now in its 22nd year, MOBO is a pioneer in its field and not just an event, but a movement.  Over the years, MOBO has become much more than just an awards ceremony, it is now an iconic, year-round, agenda-setting global brand that successfully champions diversity and inclusion in music and broader cultural arenas. It strives to support emerging and independent talent and has provided an early platform for some of the nation’s most-loved artists, from Amy Winehouse and Emeli Sande, to Laura Mvula, Sam Smith, Adele and Skepta. MOBO pursues its purpose to create more opportunities and access for diverse talent across the creative industries in film, TV, fashion, art, sport and media.  A drive to deliver social and cultural change is embedded in the organisation’s DNA. With an ongoing successful talent development programme, a number of Executive Fellowships in the creative workplace and a host of annual training and educational opportunities for young people, MOBO influences the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year. In 2016, the charitable foundation MOBO Trust was established to support young people realise their potential in a wide range of disciplines within the creative sector. The MOBO Help Musicians Fund is the first scheme to be announced by the MOBO Trust, offering grants to support high potential artists at the very start of their careers in music http://beta.mobo.com/help-musicians-fund.

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About NHS Blood and Transplant:
NHSBT is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority responsible for ensuring a safe and efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. They are an essential part of the NHS and take pride in saving and improving lives by making the most of every voluntary donation, from blood and organs to tissues and stem cells. Blood donors can search for sessions, book appointments, change/cancel their appointments and change their contact details in real time at www.blood.co.uk. There are apps available for Android, Windows and Apple Smartphone and tablet devices, which enable donors to search for sessions based on their location and book and manage appointments. The donor line - 0300 123 23 23 - is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect 1.6 million units of blood each year to meet the needs of patients across England. There are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common and therefore the most in demand. A regular supply of blood is vital – red cells last 35 days and platelets only 7 days. They need just under 200,000 new blood donors each year to replace those who no longer donate for reasons such as ill health, pregnancy or foreign travel and to ensure they have the right mix of blood groups to match patient needs in the future. Some blood groups, such as O negative (the universal blood group), A negative and B negative are particularly vulnerable to shortfalls. They need more black African, black Caribbean, mixed race and South Asian people to become blood donors to reflect the ethnic diversity of patients.

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Press contact – The Outside Organisation:
Jack Delaney: jack.delaney@outside-org.co.uk
Corinna Ingram: corinna.ingram@outside-org.co.uk

November 14, 2017 11:04am ET by The Outside Organisation  

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