War Child UK releases Help(2) benefit album 30 years after the original Help

War Child UK has issued a new compilation, Help(2), featuring unreleased tracks to raise funds and awareness for children affected by conflicts including Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan; the release follows the charity’s 1995 Help album, which reached No. 1 and raised more than £1.25 million.

War Child UK has released a new benefit compilation called Help(2), arriving 30 years after its first Help album. The new collection includes unreleased songs from artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo and Wet Leg, and is intended to raise funds and awareness for children and families affected by conflicts in places including Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. The charity’s head of music, Rich Clarke, said many musicians now feel a need to act, which helped bring the project together. Several contributors have historical ties to the charity, and some pieces were completed or recorded specifically for this release. Key details: - The original Help compilation debuted in 1995, reached No. 1 on the British charts and raised more than £1.25 million for children and families in war-torn Bosnia. - The 1995 album included unreleased tracks from major Britpop acts such as Oasis, Blur and Radiohead, and featured a supergroup that included Paul McCartney and Paul Weller. - Help(2) features unreleased contributions from contemporary artists including Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo and Wet Leg, and it will be released on Friday across stores and streaming platforms. - Jarvis Cocker and his band Pulp have a long connection to War Child UK; Pulp donated proceeds from their 1996 Mercury Prize win to the charity and contributed the song "Begging for Change" to this compilation. - Cocker said he began "Begging for Change" about 14 years ago and finished it as part of the charity project. - Part of Pulp’s recording session at Abbey Road Studios was filmed by children working on a documentary directed by Jonathan Glazer. Summary: The new album is positioned as a fundraising and awareness effort that echoes the role of the 1995 Help compilation while involving a new generation of artists. It will be released on Friday on stores and streaming platforms, and proceeds and attention are intended to support children affected by multiple conflicts.