The Homeless Fund: Dress like Alexa Chung or bag a Caribbean retreat in our second charity auction
Have your portrait done by a top British artist or escape to an Indian Ocean paradise
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A bespoke cocktail gown designed and worn by Alexa Chung and a six-day trip to the Colombian Caribbean coast are among the prizes on offer for our second Christmas appeal auction.
Lots include an unforgettable meal in Fortnum & Mason’s legendary wood-panelled Boardroom, an exclusive tennis lesson with ATP top seed Joe Salisbury and a Boxing Day trip to the races.
A four-night getaway to the Seychelles, three nights at Nobu’s glamorous hotel in Marbella and a five-star stay in Tuscany are among the luxurious holidays on offer.
Closer to home, foodies can sit down to an intimate meal with wine pairing at London’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Taillevent, or share a friendly private lunch with editor of The Independent, Christian Broughton.
All proceeds will go towards our two-year appeal, The Homeless Fund.
Using the money raised, the London Homeless Collective, a coalition of 23 charities delivering direct services to people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness, will work to target the worst gaps – particularly around support for homeless women and mental health provisions.
Our auction is powered by Givergy, an award-winning fundraising technology company which offers a range of cutting-edge platforms to help charities make more money at events and online.
You can make your bids through the link at the bottom of this article or by clicking “bid now” beneath each of the lots below.
The auction ends on Monday, 16 December at 10pm.
Take home the stunning dress Alexa Chung wore to the fashion awards
Fans of fashion powerhouse Alexa Chung have the opportunity to get their hands on a treasured piece from her wardrobe.
The fashionista has donated a velvet and broderie anglaise cocktail gown for our auction – a bespoke ALEXACHUNG piece made to order for Alexa to wear to the Fashion Awards 2018.
Once-in-a-lifetime Fortnum & Mason dinner
Readers can enjoy their own taste of history with an exclusive dinner for 24 at Fortnum & Mason.
Following in the footsteps of former patron Winston Churchill, the lucky bidder and their friends will enjoy an unforgettable meal in the luxury store’s wood panelled Boardroom
The evening will start with a champagne and canape reception, followed by a four course meal and wine pairing curated by Fortnum’s executive chef.
Play tennis with ATP star Joe Salisbury
Budding tennis pros or keen learners can bid to play with doubles star Joe Salisbury.
The lucky winner and two friends will take on the London-born sportsman for a match on Roehampton Club’s championship grass courts, followed by a delicious cream tea.
Joe is one of the world’s top doubles players, having finished this year as the number four doubles pair in the world with his partner Rajeev Ram.
He will represent Great Britain in the ATP Cup in January before taking on the Australian Open.
Explore Colombia’s Caribbean coast on a six night trip to Cartagena and its islands
A generous bidder will be able to snap up a six-night experience of Colombia’s Caribbean coast and the historic old city of Cartagena, giving a local’s insight on where to go, all while travelling in laid back luxury.
The boutique itinerary – created for two people – begins with three nights at picture-perfect Townhouse Cartagena in the heart of the historic city
A pass to a renowned members’ only burlesque show in the old town is also included, along with a personal concierge on hand to coordinate and answer any queries
Three nights will then be spent a 30 minute boat ride away at Blue Apple Beach House, which sits tucked away on the southern shore of Tierra Bomba island.
Spend days on the beach, before drinks overlooking the sea and nights at the packed beach club.
Three nights at a five-star eco-spa resort in Austria
Those craving some alpine luxury should bid for this three-night getaway to Green Spa Resort Stanglwirt in Austria.
The bidder and one lucky guest will stay in the 12-acre hotel overlooking the Kaiser mountain range, with access to world-class ski slopes and summer hiking routes.
The package includes sumptuous breakfasts from the hotel’s organic farm, a gourmet dinner every evening and one bespoke massage per person in the spa.
Three nights at Nobu Hotel, Marbella
One couple will enjoy the best of Andalusian sophistication with this three-night stay at Nobu Hotel Marbella.
Located on the “Golden Mile” linking the seaside city’s historic old town to the glittering Puerto Banus marina, Nobu Marbella boasts of world-class sporting facilities, a vibrant beach club and a Six Senses Spa.
The bidder and their guest will stay in a luxurious double room on a bed and breakfast basis and enjoy a complimentary dinner for two at the hotel’s iconic Japanese restaurant.
L’Andana wine estate stay
Couples looking for a luxurious long-weekend can bid for a two-night stay at the five-star L’Andana resort in Maremma, Tuscany.
The former Medici villa is set in a 500-acre wine estate, boasting stunning views of the Tuscan countryside, as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant and ESPA spa.
With just 33 rooms and suites, guests enjoying this exclusive stay will have special access to 30 acres of lush vineyards and their award-winning wines.
Relax in the Seychelles on a dream island escape
Readers dreaming of a palm tree-lined paradise should bid on this four-night getaway to the Seychelles.
One lucky couple will enjoy spectacular views of the Indian Ocean from their King Sunset Villa at Hilton’s Northolme Resort & Spa on the main island of Mahe.
Here they will spend two luxurious nights before travelling to the remote Silhouette Island.
Staying at the exclusive Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa, guests will enjoy two nights nestled among lush gardens and unspoilt beaches in a King Garden Villa, with access to a host of activities, from snorkelling and kayaking to tropical hikes.
Luxury Jo Malone gift collection
Pampered luxury is just a bid away with this exclusive gift collection from Jo Malone London.
The lucky winner will receive beautifully wrapped boxes containing a selection of the brand’s signature Lime Basil & Mandarin range.
This treat for the senses includes the bestselling cologne, body creme, hand lotion, body wash, room spray and diffuser, ensuring elegant opulence for mind, body and home.
Boxing Day at the races
Anyone looking for a post-Christmas thrill should bid for this day out at Kempton Park racecourse.
The lucky winner will get two Premier Enclosure tickets to watch day one of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival.
Here, from the buzz of the main grandstand, they will watch the racing world’s greatest talents in the King George VI Steeple Chase.
Guests will enjoy a host of food and drink options throughout the day, plus views of the parade ring and winner’s enclosure.
Best books
An ideal Christmas present for any bookworm would be a box of this year’s best, chosen by the Evening Standard Literary department.
The hamper will include the latest fiction from Robert Harris, Zadie Smith and Ben Lerner, plus a selection of history, biography, photography, gardening, cookery and children’s titles.
Meal with bespoke wine pairing at Taillevent
Book up a sought-after meal and bespoke wine pairing for up to four people at Les 110 de Taillevent, the sleek London outpost of the famed two-Michelin-star Parisian restaurant.
Situated in an elegant Marylebone street, Taillevent chefs create classic French dishes with a modern edge, using carefully selected seasonal local produce.
The meal, available to claim for either lunch or dinner, would be ideal for a group who love their wine as the restaurant has offered a tailored wine pairing for the lucky bidder’s table.
The Taillevent boasts an expansive selection of 110 wines by the glass, access to more than 1,700 bins by the bottle, and even single glasses come with a label outlining the provenance and character of the blend.
Christian Adams cartoon
Throughout this year and some of the most interesting and turbulent times in British politics in recent history, Adams’ brilliant work has poked fun at the powerful and shone a light on inequality – and Brexit.
You can bid to be the proud owner of this original work published earlier this year.
Have your portrait sketched by a top artist
Lorna May Wadsworth is an acclaimed British portrait artist. She has painted Tony Blair, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, DR Rowan Williams and Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the last portrait the “Iron Lady” ever sat for.
Her contemporary interpretation of The Last Supper, featuring Jamaican-British model Tafari Hinds as Christ, is another outstanding work.
Wadsworth has offered to meet the winning bidder to sit for up to five hours for a charcoal sketch.
Consultation with top hypnotherapist Malminder Gill
Snap up a sought-after consultation with a reinvention hypnotherapist to the stars, Malminder Gill, whose client list includes royalty, celebrities and CEOs, offers “radical change from within”.
The experienced practitioner helps clients with many concerns, from losing weight and managing anxiety, to changing unhelpful thought patterns through an individually tailored combination of hypnotism and holistic therapies.
Private lunch with Christian Broughton
The editor of The Independent is offering one generous bidder the chance to visit the paper’s buzzing newsroom and then grab lunch together at a nearby restaurant.
You can bid on these wonderful auction lots at independent-auction.co.uk
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