COUTTS & CO HOSTS LAUNCH OF GLOBAL ANGELS

Top stars perform for charity launch

Private bank Coutts & Co last night played host to the launch of Global Angels, a new charity founded by Molly Bedingfield which aims to promote a powerful and effective global response to children in need.

Molly Bedingfield, mother of stars Daniel and Natasha, launched her charity with an exclusive concert at Coutts’ head office on the Strand at which Daniel, Natasha and Lemar performed live a selection of their chart topping hits.

The evening was ultra-exclusive with only 250 guests invited and a number of celebrities attending the event. An auction was held after the artists had taken to the stage. Hosted by Fame Academy judge David Grant, the auction kicked off the charity’s fundraising, with prizes such as fitness sessions with Natasha Bedingfield and a serenade from Lemar at the event.

Global Angels has been set up to respond to the needs of poorly, disadvantaged and starving children world-wide - from supporting charities such as Great Ormond Street and Nordoff Robbins in London, to children suffering in Africa. Global Angels is planning globally televised concerts in strategic locations, viewed by millions of people via satellite. These Global Angels Concerts will feature internationally acclaimed artists, uniting together and responding to the ‘cries’ of millions of suffering children and aims to raise hundreds of millions of pounds to assist many of the wonderful projects that make a difference in the lives of children.

The charity already has a number of celebrity ambassadors including model Lilly Cole,classical artist Hayley Westenra and Fame Academy judges David and Carrie Grant.

Molly Bedingfield commented: "My vision for Global Angels is to make the World a safer and kinder place for all children by promoting a powerful and effective global response to the needs of children in every country. I have a dream of a vast network of Angels, people like you and me, from all ages and cultures… uniting together as a powerful voice to generate an effective global response to these children in desperate situations."

Coutts Chief Executive, Sarah Deaves added: "The evening was a resounding success and we were absolutely delighted to host the launch of such a charity – a charity that can really make a difference to the world’s most vulnerable people."

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For further media information on Coutts contact:

Claire Symonds, PR Manager, Coutts & Co on 0207 957 2650 or mobile 07970 001149 or e-mail claire.symonds@coutts.com

For Molly Bedingfield, Vicki Brookes on 07712 488915/ Vicki.brookes@outside-org.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• Coutts is the international private banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.
• Coutts manages the wealth of 90,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of 50 offices globally.
• The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. The most recent new opening was Liverpool at the end of 2003. Today, Coutts has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Eton, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Tunbridge Wells & Winchester.
• Coutts offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services.
• Coutts has for three years running been awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards

• Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England No. 36695. Registered office: 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS

• Calls may be recorded