Ed Sheeran has offered to fly one lucky fan to a gig in America for a private backstage guitar lesson.

The Thinking Out Loud singer has offered the prize as part of a contest designed to raise funds for Drop4Drop, a charity that aims to provide access to clean water to people around the world.

Explaining his plans for the winner in a YouTube video, the 27-year-old said: “The prize is I will teach you to play one of my songs on guitar, and then you’ll get a guitar that I’ll sign and give to you after the lesson.

“The lesson will take place backstage at my gig at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey). So you’ll also get to go to that gig. I will pay for you to be there, so I’ll fly you out to New York, cover your hotel and give you tickets to the show.”

Fans can enter the competition by making a donation between $10 and $100 to

Drop4Drop via the organisation’s page on the fundraising site RallyUp.com – with those who give larger sums entered more times.

The lucky fan will head backstage at the gig, part of Ed’s ÷ (divide) Tour, in September and receive VIP tickets to watch him perform.

His fellow British singer Adele also helped raise awareness for the charitable drive, which helps fund wells, water receptacles, other sanitation projects, and hygiene education, by retweeting a link directing fans to the contest.