Wilsons Auctions inaugural ‘A Bid For Kindness’ auction raises over £45,000 for charities across the UK and Ireland

With charities across the UK and Ireland feeling the impact of cancelled fundraising activities and gala balls due to the widespread coronavirus pandemic, the team behind family-owned Wilsons Auctions hosted their first ‘at home’ gala charity auction on Friday 1st May.  Streamed across the Wilsons Auctions online bidding platform to bidders around the world, the inaugural live auction raised over £45,000 for worthy causes based across the UK and Ireland.

With bidders tuning in from as far away as Hong Kong, South Africa and Dubai and as close as Dublin, Belfast and Ayrshire, over 40 lots hit the auctioneers’ block on Friday to benefit charities including the NHS Foundation, NSPCC, Marie Curie, Mencap Northern Ireland, Cancer Fund for Children, Northern Ireland Hospice, Mary Peters Trust, Marie Keating Foundation, The Irish Guards Benevolent Fund, Ayrshire Hospice and Ayrshire Cancer Support. 

High-performing lots within the auction included: an original portrait of Colonel Tom Moore, kindly painted and donated by Scottish artist Craig Campbell to support Ayrshire Cancer Support which sold for a whopping £8,500; an Olympic gold-medallist Tag Heuer watch gifted to Lady Mary Peters in aid of the Mary Peters Trust which sold for £1,200; a bespoke city skyline painting commission by British artist Ben Mosley auctioned off for the NHS Foundation Trust and Marie Curie which generated £5,000; and a two-night stay in the Eddie Irvine-owned Dalkey property currently being resided in by Matt Damon during the Coronavirus quarantine which raised £2,400 for Mencap Northern Ireland.

Reflecting on the success of their ‘A Bid For Kindness’ initiative Rebecca Wilson, Director and Auctioneer, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity demonstrated by our bidders on Friday night as donors from across the UK and Ireland tuned in live to dig deep and support a variety of charities. At a time when everyone is feeling the financial strain of the Covid-19 crisis, we are so grateful to everyone who gave generously.”

Following the success of the inaugural ‘A Bid For Kindness’ live auction, the team at Wilsons Auctions have appealed to charitable organisations across the UK with fundraising requirements to put themselves forward for future auctions.

“Following Friday night’s success, we are already curating our next live gala auction to take place in the coming weeks,” added Director and Auctioneer Ricky Wilson. “Any charitable organisations keen to put themselves forward to raise valuable funds for their initiatives or services are encouraged to contact abidforkindness@wilsonsauctions.com to get involved. In the meantime, we will be putting live a series of buy-it-now and online timed auctions to continue the fundraising efforts for these very worthy charities.”

For more opportunities to bid on items, experiences and initiatives to help support a wide range of charities visit www.wilsonsauctions.com.