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Posted 19 Apr 2017

GRIME SUPERSTAR SKEPTA PLAYS TO FANS & STAR-STUDDED AUDIENCE IN AID OF HOMELESSNESS CHARITY SHELTER

Grime superstar Skepta played a sell-out show on Tuesday night in aid of homelessness charity Shelter.

The Mercury Prize-winner put on the exclusive show because he feels so passionately about the issue of poor housing in his home city of London, where 45,000 families are homeless.

Skepta was introduced by one of his biggest fans, the actor Idris Elba. Elba opened the show by highlighting the plight of homeless children, young people and families in the capital before welcoming Skepta to the stage.

Skepta said: "We're all here for a good cause and a good reason, and that's to support Shelter to end homelessness.

"Thank you to everyone for being here. Every penny goes to a good cause. Tonight is about all of us being together. This is about us all giving back. Everyone should give back.”

Throughout the set, Skepta was joined on stage by A$AP Rocky, Shorty and JME. VIP guests included singer Ellie Goulding and BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo.

The show raised a huge £30,000 to help fight bad housing and homelessness.

Skepta and Shelter gave free tickets to a number of people who may not have otherwise been able to attend, including those who have been helped by Shelter in the past.

This included 18-year-old Renee Stephenson. She attended the show with her mum Louise, 40, who had sought advice from Shelter after their home was repossessed. They were moved into temporary accommodation where five of them were forced to share one room.

She said: “It was awful, a constant struggle to do things you take for granted such as sitting down and having a family dinner, watching a movie, getting ready for school and even doing homework.

“But after Shelter helped us approach the council and get a more suitable home I no longer have that constant struggle. Now I have peace. Shelter is a truly amazing charity and thanks to Skepta and all his fans, it can now help other homeless children and their families in London like it did mine.

“I’m a huge Skepta fan so tonight was an incredible experience.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

    For further information please contact: alice_klein@shelter.org.uk

    Download rights free pictures from:

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t3ns6gtx2wsfh76/AADdIoeHOBem3xB7ul9DGtvLa?dl=0

    Please credit: Shelter/Kate Booker, 2017

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