Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Katy Perry, One Direction and Ed Sheeran are among 100 artists offering free concert tickets to UK fans in a bid to help global poverty.

The pop stars have signed up to the Global Poverty Project and Global Citizen Tickets initiative, which encourages fans to build up points for actions they take to combat extreme hardship and then exchange their points to buy tickets for gigs and festivals.

Katy said: "This is a simple, smart, modern initiative with potential for huge impact. Global Citizen provides people with doable opportunities to make the world a better place, and rewards them for doing so."

The scheme already runs in Australia, New Zealand and America and will launch in the UK soon.

Emma Banks, chair of the UK Global Citizen Tickets initiative committee, said: "The Global Citizen Tickets initiative in the UK marks the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work and foresight.

"I have no doubt that we will match the successes that this initiative has already enjoyed in the USA, something that could only have been achieved by our industry uniting for this very worthwhile cause."

Other acts to sign up include Kings of Leon, Jessie J, Neil Young, McBusted, Arcade Fire, and Katy's ex-husband Russell Brand, as well as a number of UK festivals, including Reading and Leeds, Lovebox and Bestival.

Each ticket will have a different points value, and those with enough points are entered into a lottery to try and secure a pass.

Points can be earned from activities including volunteering with charities or contacting local MPs.

Global Citizen aims to help 1.2 billion people worldwide suffering from extreme poverty, as well as looking to improve gender equality, access to primary education, and the life expectancy of children.