London Twestival 2010

Gone are the days when working in/with/for a charity meant you must be a wheat free, Oxfam cardigan-wearing hippy reminiscent of Toni Collette in About a Boy.

No, that stereotype has been well and truly put to bed. Today, in 2010, everyone wants a piece of charity. It’s deemed cool; hip; trendy even, to be associated with it, and the hype around Sports Relief last week is indicative of that.

Last Thursday night it was the turn of a popular social networking medium to get in on the [charitable] act. Twitter, Cable in SE1 and international development charity Concern Worldwide combined to bring together London’s very own Twestival. Neither a twit nor a tweeter, I twent along not really knowing twhat to expect. I’d been promised a ‘fun night out’ and those promises tend to go either tway. Twell, this promise twas kept.

Greeted twith a smile and a request to twrite my name on a badge, I duly embraced the social networking side of the event, not least because it twas all for a good cause. The venue twas packed, everyone sipping on £1.50 Magners, all of twhich twent to Concern. My favourite Mexican food joint, Chilango, twas selling burritos for a £1 – yum – and cute cupcakes courtesy of Crumbs and Doillies circulated the two rooms – double yum – again with all proceeds going to Concern.

Twell fed and second cider in hand, attention turned to the live music and activities. I must immediately say I hadn’t heard of any of the acts and celebrated that fact; good music is not just twhat Fearne Cotton plays on Radio 1. Kal Lavelle was testament to that.

Twhilst gobbling up my third C&D cupcake, Kal [already on first name terms] sang her own song Sing! beautifully. I got the tingles and did again this morning twhen I MySpaced her. Aside from Kal, highlights also included giant jenga, karaoke (£1 a song), mask making and a raffle – everyone loves a good old-fashioned raffle. I left thoroughly contented – a good night out for a great cause. All funds raised will go towards Concern Worldwide’s education projects, working to transform the lives of the world’s poorest, most marginalised children.

Thoughts in a nutshell? Twell tworth twit – I twutterly enjoyed myself and was impressed to see how an online idea became an online movement, mobilising people to make a difference offline.

You can still donate at www.london.twestival.com or visit www.concern.net to find out more about what Concern Worldwide does. And check out Kal for yourself www.myspace.com/kallavellemusic