Christian Aid Week - an annual seven-day drive to raise funds for the humanitarian agency - is going digital for the first time because of coronavirus.

The weeklong fundraiser would normally see thousands of UK churches and Christians hold events and activities to raise money for the organisation. 

But with the lockdown still in place, Christian Aid Week 2020 - taking place from May 10 to 16 - is moving online. 

Former prime minister, Gordon Brown, who helped launch Christian Aid Week last year, is asking the nation to give what they can. 

"Christian Aid Week this year will focus on the needs of those who have been hardest hit by the coronavirus in the poorest countries with the least developed health systems, often with no social protection whatsoever. Please give generously," he said. 

Mr Brown continued: "Christian Aid was founded in a time after The Second World War when as a country we were acutely aware of our common humanity.

"Seventy-five years after VE day, there is an urgent need for us to rediscover how we can work together to make this world a safer, more connected and far fairer place."

Christian Aid Week is one of the biggest fundraising events in the annual Church calendar, and has been taking place in communities across the UK since 1957. 

It would normally see fundraisers go house-to-house with the familiar red buckets and bibs, but because of the pandemic, in-person collections have had to be cancelled.

Instead, this year will see a variety of fundraising events taking place online throughout the week, including daily quizzes, livestreamed worship and the 300,000 steps in May challenge running on Facebook. Supporters are also being asked to send an 'e-envelope' to friends and family to collect donations. 

Nick Georgiadis, director of fundraising and supporter engagement for Christian Aid, said: "We're so grateful to our supporters up and down the country who every year turn out to raise money for our work through collecting and holding events with their neighbours and churches.

"Love unites us all and, while we're disappointed that these events won't happen face to face, we know that, in our 75th year, our amazing supporters won't forget their global neighbours, hardest hit by this pandemic.

"We would love people to join in and take part in a vibrant, virtual Christian Aid Week online – the world's poorest communities need us now more than ever. This year's Christian Aid Week will undoubtedly be a different experience, but we know supporters will do all they can to make it the same life-changing and joyous week that we have run since 1957."

The fundraising week is going ahead at a challenging time for Christian Aid, which last week announced it would be furloughing a fifth of its staff and moving the rest to a four-day week so that it can prioritise supporting vulnerable communities in the developing world. 

There are fears that developing countries will be overwhelmed if they become the next epicentre of the pandemic.

Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, CEO of Christian Aid, said: "The coronavirus pandemic threatens not only to jeopardise the health of a region, but of the world. It has shown us that our futures are bound more tightly together than ever before.

"The coronavirus does not discriminate who it targets – rich or poor – and our experience has shown us that it will be the poorest who will bear the brunt.

"We anticipate that some of the world's poorest countries, with the weakest health systems and most vulnerable people, will be exposed to this deadly virus. They will struggle to cope with any costs of healthcare, the costs of being unable to earn a living while ill or quarantined, and the costs of rebuilding their lives afterwards."