HomeBackstageCharities etcMerlin

Merlin

Merlin

Merlin is the UK’s leading international health charity, sending medical experts to the frontline of global emergencies.

Hugh said: "I’m proud to have been a Patron of Merlin since 2004. Its aim is simple and essential: to provide health care to people suffering at the hands of conflict or natural disaster. Having visited Merlin's programme in Congo and seen at first hand the amazing work it does, I am keen to increase public awareness of this unique and vital charity."

Click here to visit Merlin's website

All Liberian photos taken by Ben Gurr of The Times. Click on a photo to enlarge.

Dec18

Merlin Christmas Appeal

An article Hugh wrote for The IoS Christmas Appeal

Jul22

An Evening with Downton Abbey

Raising money for Merlin

May11

A special appeal from Merlin patron Hugh Bonneville

TV appeal for medical charity Merlin

Apr15

Liberia and Ivory Coast Crisis

The situation worsens...

It is estimated that over 1,000 people are dead and more than 125,000 refugees have fled to Liberia due to the political unrest and violence in the country. Despite the capture of the former President Laurent Gbagbo on April 11th, it is...

Show Details

Dec04

Merlin in Liberia

An article Hugh wrote for The Times about his trip to Liberia

Nov26

Hugh Bonneville, Merlin Patron, in Liberia

Hugh visits Merlin's Liberia country programme

Nov25

Downton in Liberia

In 2010, while visiting Merlin programmes in Liberia, Hugh came across a street market...

  • At the Banjor clinic in Montserrado County.
    Weekly check-up for a baby girl at the Robert H Fergusson clinic in Gardnersville Township near Monrovia.
    Henrietta Popples, midwife at the St John clinic. After nine years sleeping on the floor of her office in order to be on hand for her patients, she built her own hut.
    A surreal moment: Merlin's international staff suggested that Hugh's present to them of a Downton Abbey DVD should in fact be given to the Minister for Health, Dr Walter T. Gwenigale.
    With the family planning officer at Banjor clinic. The winner of a Twitter caption competition for this one was Emma Irvine (@emmacarshalton): 'Now, I know I said I'd do anything for Merlin...'

    Get Adobe Flash player

    Get Adobe Flash player

Click here to find out more about MerlinGiving Back: Any purchases made on Amazon via links from this site benefit Merlin, the international medical relief charity of which Hugh is a patron.  

Here's how it works: click on either of the Amazon buttons on the Homepage or on an Amazon-related item (eg a DVD of Downton Abbey) and any completed purchase made on amazon.co.uk or amazon.com during that visit will generate a commission for this website, which is then passed on to the charity as an annual donation. You don't even have to buy the item which first took you to the Amazon site. In 2012, £840 was donated to Merlin this way, adding to the £101.25 raised in the 6 months to December 2011. So, any time you buy anything from Amazon, please consider doing so via this site - you'll be helping a great cause. Thank you.  To find out more about Merlin and Hugh's other charity interests click here.