��tv Children in Need Feed

Who Said Bears Can’t Fly?

2014-11-19T14:43:56+00:00

Around 9,000 people got a real treat this year at the Little Grandsen Airshow with world class aerobatics from Mark Jeffries. A Twister, Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster Bombers took to the skies to put on a spectacular show to raise money for ��tv Children in Need – raising a record-breaking £63,743.69 for our Appeal.

“We had more visitors than we’ve ever had – the event was a sell out,” said organiser Dave Poile, “And we raised more money than ever before!”

What began 22 years ago as a small charity event is now a regular fixture in South Cambridgeshire. This year’s August event saw the four-hour air show begin with a Spitfire flyover, closely followed by a Tiger Moth bi-plane and C172 display. The Trig Aerobatic Team wowed audiences with their acrobatic stunts before a former RAF Vulcan took to the skies for three final flyovers.

But the highlight of the day was definitely the arrival of nine Pudsey bears, who had flown all the way from Canada in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Lancaster Bomber especially for the event.

Later, the Pudseys were auctioned off amid lots of other fun activities. “Along with the flying display we had a craft fair, side stalls, food and drink and over 450 classic cars to see,” says Dave, who was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his charitable work.

Dave was inspired to begin fundraising when his daughter was just a baby. “Many years ago, when my daughter was little, she was admitted to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge suffering from dehydration,” explains Dave.

“At that time, ��tv Children in Need was on the TV in the Children’s Ward and being surround by so many desperately sick children left me thinking what could I do to raise money to help.”

When he met brothers Mark and John Jeffries – owners of Little Gransden Airfield - he had the perfect idea.

“I asked Mark if we could use his airfield for a event to raise money for ��tv Children in Need. His answer was, ‘Yes there is the airfield use it,’ and the rest is history!”

The next Little Grandsen Airshow will be on 30 August 30 2015. Head to their website for more information and to buy tickets.

No matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for our Appeal makes you a true Hero – just like Dave.

Raising just £1 means a seriously ill child can have her spirits raised by a clown doctor, while £7 means a deaf boy who has been in and out of hospital can enjoy hands on activities at an outdoor survival skills day.

So what are you waiting for: sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub for exclusive news, fundraising tools and tips that will help get your own Heroic activities off to a flying start!

Bright Sparks

2014-10-23T13:22:24+00:00

Fraser’s mum Shona had a perfect pregnancy. But during his birth, Fraser’s heart stopped and he was starved of oxygen. Near death for the next 72 hours, he spent the next six days in intensive care. After four more long days, Shona and Fraser were finally allowed home, where her plans for motherhood changed forever. Fraser’s traumatic birth had left him with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement, co-ordination and sometimes even communication.

Shona had to leave her job: looking after Fraser and his older brother Mark needed all of her time and energy. And although she tried taking Fraser along to mother and toddler groups, she didn’t feel comfortable when he couldn’t keep up with the other children.

Then she found Bright Sparks, a special place where disabled children can play and socialise with other youngsters: its busy building hosts clubs every night of the week as well as during school holidays.

Based in an old schoolhouse in Midlothian, Scotland - wrangled from the hands of the council ten years ago by founder Louise Gough - it’s a small space where magic happens.

Shona instantly found Bright Sparks to be a lifeline: it was there that she met other mums with disabled children and finally felt like there were people who understood the difficulties of her situation. Fraser loved Bright Sparks from his first visit, especially the holiday club, funded by ��tv Children in Need. He now goes on trips away with his brother, Mark.

It’s something Shona never thought she’d see: Doctors always told her that her little boy wouldn’t walk or talk, but Fraser is thriving at Bright Sparks – both emotionally and physically.

After starting physiotherapy at 10 months, and with the help of Bright Sparks, he’s now walking and starting to talk. Shona puts this down to the positive reinforcement from all the staff, who have boosted his confidence enormously.

“It was such a relief to find Bright Sparks - you think you’re the only person in the world with a disabled child,” she says. “Fraser is so comfortable at Bright Sparks, I see his eyes light up when he hears its name. It gives me strength coming here, and I dread to think what life would be like without them".

"Holiday times are particularly hard, as all routine goes out the window. The Bright Sparks trips are a wonderful help and it’s great that Fraser and Mark can have quality time together as brothers.”

Bright Sparks is so popular that it has a long waiting list for all its groups. It has even started rotating children so everyone gets time at the centre. Thanks to your Heroic donations, many more children will get the support they need from the centre in years to come.

Supporting ��tv Children in Need, no matter how big or small your contribution, makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people right on your doorstep.

Raising just £2.50 could help supply a special pack for premature babies with life-limiting conditions. And £250 means a child with Cerebral Palsy and his family can continue to have healthy meals by paying for a new cooker after their old one was condemned as unsafe.

Sign up to our Fundraising Hero Hub to access exclusive news, tools and tips that will help get your Heroic fundraising activities off to a flying start!

George’s Big Idea: Campfest 2014!

2014-10-15T14:33:09+00:00

While 10-year-old George was wandering around CarFest last year, he decided to do two very important things - raise money for ��tv Children in Need and hold his own mini festival.

Campfest

A year later, George’s dreams became reality - he combined the two to welcome over 40 people to ‘Campfest 2014’, a fundraising festival he’d created in his own back garden!

“I gave him a budget of £100 to spend on anything related to the event,” says mum Carol, who helped George with his ‘big idea’. “Food, drink, prizes: everything.”

George used the funds wisely and spent months organising the summer festival – planning the entertainment, getting a stage built and devising a menu plan for the weekend.

George

No detail was overlooked. “He even ordered wristbands and sent them out with the invites to our family and friends,” says Carol.

George was determined to raise as much money as possible and make it fun too, proving himself to be a true ��tv Children in Need Hero.

And in doing so he gave his family, friends and local community in Kent the opportunity to fundraise too - right on their own doorsteps!

Guests who pitched their tents in the back garden for the August festival were treated to a talent show, a dance-off, karaoke, a treasure hunt, waterslide and much more - all thanks to George.

“He organised entertainment for the children for the whole weekend,” says Carol. Campfest 2014 raised £358.87 for ��tv Children in Need, but his hero duties aren’t over yet: he’s busy planning Campfest 2015!

No matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for us makes you a true Hero.Sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub to access lots of tips on how to raise money for Appeal 2014.

Rob’s Helping Hands

2014-10-01T08:35:52+00:00

When an accident left fitness fanatic Rob Groves a paraplegic, he had to come to terms with a whole new way of life. Now he’s cycling from Edinburgh to London to raise money for ��tv Children in Need – using just his hands!

Handcycling

Hero Rob will start his epic challenge at ��tv Edinburgh in Midlothian on 9 November, and will hand-cycle for six days – sometimes overnight - to reach London.

The 414mile journey is the culmination of two years of intense training for 57-year-old Rob, who hopes to inspire others to challenge themselves with his fantastic feat. “Finishing this ride will definitely be the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” says Rob. “But it’s not about me, it’s about raising funds for ��tv Children in Need and sending a positive message to anyone who’s lacking inspiration - to tell them they can achieve anything they put their minds to.”

All Heroes get nervous from time to time and Rob admits he feels a little apprehensive as he counts down to the intense physical challenge. But when raising just £5 means a 5-year-old boy in hospital and anxious about his treatment can giggle and laugh at a magical entertainer, nerves disappear.

And he has plenty of motivation to keep him going - not only does he have a support vehicle and a motor home of helpers travelling alongside him, but he also has the stories of the many less fortunate children he met during his recovery to spur him on.

“Since becoming a paraplegic, I have met so many children who were born with a disability,” he explains. “I met a 14-year-old girl recently while I was out raising awareness about spinal injuries and she said to me: ‘You don’t know how lucky you are - I’ve never walked.’”

Before the accident that changed his life eight years ago, our Hero Rob was a fitness instructor with his own health club and was passionate about keeping fit.

“Afterwards I ballooned to 17 and a half stone,” he recalls. “I went into a dark place and I wouldn’t go out, nor accept a wheelchair. I was desperate to get my mojo back and knew that something had to change.”

In need of inspiration, it was only when the qualified nutritionist was watching the 2012 Paralympics that he was finally encouraged to start training again – and he decided to give hand-cycling a try.

Rob heroically threw himself into training and slowly began to get back into shape.

“I have been training solidly for two years to get ready for this,” says true superhero Rob. “Five times each week and for three hours at a time, I lift weights and use a crank cycle to build up my strength and stamina. I also regularly go out and cycle to prepare myself for the challenges of the open road. I’m currently able to cover at least 14 miles an hour.”

Back on track and with his strength returning, Rob was quick to turn his attention to helping others through raising money – something he was no stranger to in the years before his accident. “I used to do a lot of fundraising and I was keen to take it up again,” he says.

Rob chose to raise money for ��tv Children in Need after seeing how the projects we fund can truly make a difference. “A friend’s child recently died of leukemia and another friend’s baby died at birth from a brain haemorrhage,” Rob explains. “I know that ��tv Children in Need helps both the family as well as those who suffer from these terrible illnesses.”

Rob’s six-day challenge will see him pass through ��tv studios in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford before he arrives to a Hero’s welcome at ��tv Broadcasting House in London. Pudsey himself will be there to congratulate the champion!

“At least I have experienced being an able-bodied person,” says Rob. “It’s that thought that spurs me on every day.”

Our Hero Rob is undertaking an epic challenge for ��tv Children in Need. But no matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for us makes you a true Hero. Just £1 could prevent a child from going hungry at breakfast time for a week.

Sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub for exclusive news, fundraising tools and tips that will help get your heroic activities off to a flying start.

To keep updated on Rob’s progress check out his fundraising page.

CATS for Kids

2014-09-22T14:03:51+00:00

CATSYPP after-school groups are so in demand that they have over 60 young people on their waiting lists. But the 55 lucky young people who already attend each week won’t be giving up their places any time soon – because the clubs have literally changed their lives.

The young people at Children on the Autistic Spectrum Young People’s Project have all been diagnosed with high-functioning autism. And as such they have difficulties communicating, making friends and managing their emotions. Supported by ��tv Children in Need funds, the CATSYPP clubs – nicknamed CATS - are so much more than places for them to go to enjoy themselves: they also help improve their social skills and confidence and increase their level of independence in a safe environment.

Many of these young people would lead largely isolated lives without CATS: it was set up by Wendy Williams and her colleague Rob in response to the concerns of parents of high functioning autistic children of mainstream ability, who found they were excluded from an after-school social life because of their immature social, interaction and communication skills.

One of the original members of the CATS group in Reading is Tom, a 15-year-old adrenaline junkie who loves filmmaking and experimental cookery, inspired by wacky chefs like Heston Blumenthal.

Thomas

Tom – himself now a proud peer mentor at one of their two clubs - is not only dealing with the social and communication difficulties inherent in Asperger Syndrome but faces further education and health challenges. Tom is dyslexic and struggles with co-ordination and inattention, making reading, writing and concentrating through the school day extremely difficult. In addition, Tom has a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1, which means that throughout his life, tumours will grow along the nerves inside his body and on his skin. He currently has several tumours in his chest. And while the inspiring teenager continues to cope well with his numerous daily challenges and hospital appointments, Mum Nicky says that before he began attending CATS he had no real social life outside of school. As a result, it has been a lifeline for Tom - and his whole family.

“It is so much more than respite care for the parents and family,” says Nicky. “It’s a place that young people with autism feel part of; where they can have fun, enjoy going to and feel 'normal'.”

CATS and its peer-mentoring programme aims to support as many autistic young people as possible and has been a huge success.

“They identify which areas the teenagers are struggling with, such as communicating with the opposite sex, listening, boundaries and what is appropriate,” explains Nicky. “They explain how to do everyday activities that a 'normal child' would either pick up automatically or would learn from 'hanging out' with friends and peers. These are all things which our autistic children don't pick up and don't do - either because they generally have no friends or because their common sense, safety, or appropriate communication skills are so lacking, they would not be safe doing these things without an adult present.”

CATS guides Tom and his friends in all these key areas whilst making it fun and social so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

CATS founder Wendy says she has seen a huge change in Tom. “Tom has come on brilliantly in the three years I’ve known him in terms of social confidence and independence but the biggest change I’ve seen in him is that he now consistently shows an interest in the thoughts and needs of other people and how to engage appropriately with them."

“So he might now ask his mum about her day rather than expecting just to talk about himself. The positive feedback he gets from this has been a huge boost to his self-esteem.”

Tom is also extremely proud of his job as a mentor at the club, and for the support he receives from his own mentor, Dan. As Nicky admits: “Having a 'cool' teenager to learn from rather than 'mum' - there's no contest!"

A grant from ��tv Children in Need, made possible by your donations, funds the costs of running two CATS groups in Reading and Maidenhead.

“If it wasn’t for CATS, Thomas would be playing on his computer at home most of the time and I would be incredibly fearful about his future,” says Nicky. “Last year he turned to me and said: ‘I have a very full life don't I mum?’ For a child who had no life outside of school, apart from trailing around after Mum, this is nothing short of a miracle.”

Thomas Rockclimbing

Supporting ��tv Children in Need, no matter how big or small your contribution, makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people right on your doorstep.
Sign up to our Hero Hub at www.bbc.co.uk/Pudsey to gain access to exclusive news and fundraising tools.

��tv Children in Need is back, and asking Britain to get baking!

2014-09-08T19:48:59+00:00

��tv Children in Need is back, and is asking Britain to get baking one of the Nation’s favourite cakes to help make a difference to young lives right here in the UK.

Which team will you join?

Stars from across British television and radio including Sir Terry Wogan, Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw, Tess Daly, Matt Baker and Alex Jones have joined forces to galvanise the nation to become baking heroes for ��tv Children in Need by baking one of the nation’s favourite cakes.

��tv Children in Need’s six celebrity friends are each championing one of the nation’s favourite cakes, and are asking the public to be a baking hero by getting behind their team and holding a bake sale with their chosen cake to support the 2014 Appeal.

Backing #TeamLemonDrizzle is ��tv Children in Need’s Lifetime President Sir Terry Wogan who said of his team: “My own wife's lemon drizzle cake is a thing of beauty, so, I am asking you, the Great British public, to get behind me and bake, bake, bake, to make a lemon drizzle to remember, for ��tv Children in Need this year! Think of all the money we can raise together for disadvantaged children and young people all across the UK.”

A Baker by name, Matt Baker is fronting #TeamFruitCake, he is calling on his baking friends to join his team and bake a delicious fruit cake: “Come on Britain, I want you to join Team Fruit Cake! What could be easier to raise lots of money for ��tv Children in Need?”

Baking enthusiast Fearne Cotton is calling on the Nation to join #TeamCarrotCake, Fearne said of her team: “Come on everyone, I want you to join me in baking a delicious carrot cake for ��tv Children in Need this year! It’ll be fun to throw on an apron and get a bit messy whilst becoming a baking hero for Pudsey, every penny your carrot cake raises goes straight to projects supporting children and young people right here in the UK.”

Swapping her Strictly ball gown for an apron, Tess Daly is captaining #TeamVictoriaSponge, Tess called on bakers across the UK saying: “As a nation we all love a slice of Victoria Sponge Cake, so I am asking you to join Team Victoria Sponge and become a baking hero whilst raising money for ��tv Children in Need. Victoria Sponge has it all – it’s light, it’s jammy and it’s perfect with a cup of tea. So come on everyone, be a hero and bake for ��tv Children in Need this year!”

Typically calling on the public whilst they are enjoying their breakfast, Nick Grimshaw is asking the public to pop down their cereal and join his team, #TeamChocolateCake: “Come on Britain; I want you to join me in baking a delicious Chocolate cake for ��tv Children in Need this year! We all know Chocolate cake is better than Sir Terry’s favourite, Lemon Drizzle, so join me and together we can help make a difference.”

Baking hero Alex Jones is taking the helm of #TeamBattenberg and is asking for people up and down the UK to bake a classic Battenberg, for ��tv Children in Need this year, she said of her team: “Baking for ��tv Children in Need could not be simpler, pick one of the nation’s favourite cakes and put on a bake sale! I want you all to join Team Battenberg, but whatever team you decide to join will go on to help make a difference, so thank you.”

David Ramsden, Chief Executive of ��tv Children in Need says: “There are thousands of children and young people right here in the UK who urgently need our help and we can only be there for them thanks to the incredible generosity, imagination and commitment of our supporters. This year we hope that everyone will have fun and raise money that really will change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people by baking or doing lots of other amazing things!”

To date the Great British public has raised over £740 million for children and young people across the UK and the Charity is calling on people to once again pull out the stops and start baking to help raise money to change young lives!

A Visit to Music 4 Life in Devon

2014-09-01T14:13:28+00:00

We hope you had a great summer – all of us at ��tv Children in Need certainly did. Each year, we spend a part of our summer visiting projects all over the UK, meeting the people helped by your money.

This year, we visited an inspiring project full of young people spending some time away from their homes and their normal routines, enjoying their school holidays.

The band in action at Wren Music!

For some children and young people who might not otherwise have that experience, ��tv Children in Need currently funds more than 130 organisations that provide school holiday activities or residential weeks and weekends.

One of those is the Music 4 Life project run by Wren Music in Devon. Staff there use a range of different musical instruments to promote self-confidence, positive communication and behaviour amongst children from two different schools in Barnstaple and Exeter.

Community musicians David and Becki run each session which includes playing instruments, singing, forming a band, composing new music, drumming and song-writing. A grant of £30,624 over three years helps fund their salaries and the cost of some of the instruments. So children aged between five and 15 get to have a go on the drums, keyboards, squeeze boxes or concertinas, fiddles, autoharps and rare species like the mandolin.

They have weekly sessions during term time and two four-day workshops during school holidays at a local youth club. But the young people don’t have to have the ability to read music or the skills to play. They have a go at exploring and playing all the different instruments, learning and developing musical skills, learning parts and rhythms that go together like a musical jig, sometimes the music is for listening to and sometimes they even play for a dance! They’re also provided with a healthy snack; they set their own ground rules and often adapt existing songs – like Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ to make them more relevant to the group.

Older teenagers Josh and Cody helped out the younger children who soon made a beeline for their favourite instruments, while Alfie amazed everyone with his rapping skills!

Becki said: “One child we have worked with over the three years really struggled to focus in the music sessions and consequently was quite disruptive. His co-ordination was poor and he found it very difficult to remember patterns on the instruments. Over time, he has become a real key player in the group. He now can remember chord sequences on the guitar and when he is taught a new pattern he will sit quietly and practise it until he has perfected it. His rhythm has developed and he always plays in time with the group. He still struggles sometimes with being part of a bigger group but on the whole his concentration seems to have improved immensely and he is confident. He is also quick to praise others for doing well and works really well in a pair. This year he has been taken off the Special Educational Needs register.”

Thank you for helping to support projects like Music 4 Life.

If you'd like to read about more of the projects your money helps to support, visit the Who You Help section on our website.

Helen & Douglas House Hospice

2014-08-27T12:24:16+00:00

As adults, we know that things don’t always go to plan, and sometimes we have to deal with the unexpected. In these situations, the support and kindness of others can make a real difference to everyday life. Helen & Douglas House is a very special children’s hospice in Oxford that offers this support and kindness at times like these, when families need it most.

Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice and Douglas House was set up in 2004 to provide the same care to young adults with life-limiting conditions, as well as their families. They offer specialist symptom and pain management, medically-supported short breaks and end-of-life care, as well as counselling and practical support for the whole family.

We’d like to tell you about Evie and Thomas, two very special children helped by Helen & Douglas House.

Evie and Thomas

Thomas’s story

Thomas is eight, and lives with his mum, dad and older brother Morgan. Morgan is 10, and has a very rare condition called Dravet Syndrome, which only affects 150 people in the UK. It means that Morgan has regular seizures, often in his sleep. When he was four, a particularly serious set of seizures caused him to lose all the abilities he’d learnt as a young child. He’s since begun to move and walk again, but he still can’t communicate very well. He has no awareness of speed or danger and so he gets about in a wheelchair to keep him safe. Morgan needs a lot of care, and parents Michele and Robert have to be very watchful.

Thomas cares deeply for Morgan. He knows how to give Morgan his oxygen, how to call for an ambulance and what it means to have a seizure. Thomas knows that sometimes he can’t spend as much time with his parents as he’d like. This means that he has had less time to do the things children his age want to do, but he’s very grown up, and he understands why.

Helen House gives Morgan 14 nights respite care a year, allowing Thomas valuable time with his parents. They also run residential breaks for the siblings of children being cared for at the hospice and that’s where he met Evie and made other new friends in similar circumstances.

Thomas and his new friends.

Thomas’ mum Michele was initially wary about seeking support from a hospice, but a visit to Helen House soon changed her mind:

“The word hospice made me apprehensive so it took a year for me to visit, but we watched a DVD about the place and it made me think again. When I went there and saw the children smiling and laughing, I realised that this is the sort of place where anything goes. I vividly remember seeing this one little girl who wanted to dress up as a fairy but she couldn’t because she was in a wheelchair so the costume wouldn’t fit her properly. So the male nurse made her a fairy costume by cutting up something else that was in the dressing up box. It was brilliant. She was able to be a fairy after all.

Where’s there’s normally a ‘no’ from a parent to a child or a ‘we’ll do it tomorrow’, at Helen House they just do it. And siblings in particular get a lot of ‘no, we can’t because your brother can’t do it’ so it’s great for Thomas.”

Evie’s story

Evie’s also eight, and lives with her mum, dad and older sister Mabel. She loves music (she’s particularly fond of a certain boy band!), making things and playing with friends. But recently, she and her family have been through a difficult time after her youngest sister Beatrice, just a year old, died.

When Evie’s mum, Elizabeth, was pregnant, everything seemed fine. When Beatrice was born, however, medical staff soon realised that her brain hadn’t formed properly, and because of this she was partially deaf and blind. Doctors struggled to diagnose her condition. She had to be fed through a tube and was dependent on oxygen. It was clear that Beatrice would need lots of specialist care.

A little later, doctors told the family about Helen & Douglas House. Elizabeth arranged to visit the house for a brief respite; she planned to stay with Beatrice while Mabel and Evie took part in activities organised by the care team. It was at this time that Beatrice, having always been susceptible to chest infections, caught pneumonia, and passed away. She was just under a year old.

Elizabeth said: “After Beatrice died in hospital, we were able to bring her to Helen House and stay with her for seven days while family and friends came and said their goodbyes. Meanwhile, the staff were doing things like our laundry and helping us to make funeral arrangements. We were moving house that week as well so it was an incredibly stressful time. But the care from the staff at Helen House was just amazing. It made saying goodbye a lot more humane and bearable in an unbearable situation.”

Beatrice’s passing had a big effect on Evie and Mabel. The girls had been so excited at the thought of having a little sister to look after, but ended up dealing with something completely different. They both took up the offer of counselling from a support worker, Laura, at Helen House. Laura worked with the girls once a week at their school, also giving them one-to-one support. Mabel and Evie also joined the Elephant Club, a support group for siblings at Helen House. The friends they’ve made there have been an important part of the grieving process for the girls.

Elizabeth told us: “One day, the girls came home from Elephant Club and said to me ‘we met a girl today and she’s got a sister in heaven as well.’ It was great for them to see that they are not alone and that they weren’t to blame for anything.”

A ��tv Children in Need grant of £113,000 over three years funds four sibling workers at Helen & Douglas House. For three decades, these hospices have helped children like Evie and Thomas to make sense of their experiences, and to understand that they’re not alone. Your money means that whatever happens, children and families in unimaginable situations will always be able to turn to places like Helen & Douglas House.

Taking a bus for the Bear!

2014-08-15T08:37:49+00:00

Just in case you’ve forgotten what a glorious country we live in, there’s no better way to become reacquainted with the beauty of Britain than a Summer ride on one of the UK’s many scenic bus routes. There’s nobody that knows this better than Steve Gibbs, a determined fundraiser from Wigston currently in the midst of an epic fundraising journey across the UK.

Powered on by his pacemaker, 74-year-old Steve is currently en route from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and back again - all by bus! That’s a two week journey covering over 2000 miles, on 66 buses - and it’s all for free with a bus pass! With a huge £5,000 fundraising target, Steve’s determined to prove himself a Hero, and we’re certain he’s going to succeed.

The challenge is now well underway – Steve arrives back at Land’s End on Sunday 17 August. We were lucky enough to catch up with Steve shortly before he caught his first bus to ask him some questions:

��tv CiN: Hi Steve, can you tell us a little bit about your challenge?

Steve: The aim is to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats and return using only local bus services and concessionary bus passes or sponsored tickets, so basically for free. It has been done before but to make it different this time we’re including the crossing and tour of Ronald’s way in the Orkneys which will make it much longer - and unique!

The other special part of the trip is that, at 75 on my next Birthday, I will be the oldest person to do it and the first powered by a pacemaker!

��tv CiN: Sounds great! How did you come up with the idea?

Steve: The idea came to me in December last year after a very vivid dream one night. In the morning I mentioned this to my wife who just said “well, why not do it then!”

��tv CiN: It’s a pretty big challenge – how are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?

Steve: The prospect of catching so many buses is rather daunting but the prize is to pass through so many beautiful parts of the UK and, of course, to cross to the Orkneys, which otherwise would not be possible for me.

Steve taking the helm at the start of his challenge.

��tv CiN: How have you prepared for the challenge?

Steve: I have some fantastic sponsors including the medical company who made my pacemaker, bus companies, work-wear suppliers, not to forget friends and family along the route who are putting me up overnight in Exeter and Derby - or my long suffering wife! I do intend to use this challenge to meet people and to recognise especially the part that the bus drivers will be playing to get me there and back. I hope that they will all have a photograph with Pudsey who will be with me all the way and give me some interviews.

��tv CiN: You’re going to be on a lot of buses – how are you going to keep yourself entertained?

Steve: There must be so many interesting people to meet during such an epic journey, so most of my time will be spent talking and finding stories to tell afterwards. I hope that Pudsey will oil the wheels and get drivers and passengers to reveal all. I will also be accompanied on some legs by family and friends so I won’t be a “Lone Ranger” all of the time.

��tv CiN: We hear you’re taking Pudsey along with you - what part of the challenge do you think Pudsey will enjoy most?

Steve: The best thing for Pudsey will be at the end when he can hand over the money so that the children he loves so much can be made happier.

��tv CiN: Why did you choose ��tv Children in Need?

Steve: We chose ��tv Children in Need as our beneficiary as wherever we are in UK, people will be happy to give knowing that somewhere in their region children are benefitting from their contributions.

��tv CiN: How can people keep updated with your challenge?

Steve: If anyone wants to see our progress we will be updating our website during the travelling with photographs and comments.

The brave and defiant Steve setting off at Land's End.

If you want to find out more about Steve's challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page, or take a look at his website and facebook page. And don't forget to follow ��tv Children in Need on Facebook and Twitter too, for regular updates about all our heroic fundraisers!

The 5 Nation 48 Challenge for ��tv Children in Need

2014-07-18T11:17:48+00:00

On August 1 2014, an all-star football team led by veteran fundraiser Barry Donegan will be embarking on a very unusual challenge. The team will be playing 5 football games… in 5 nations… within a 48 hour time period! It’s all part of The 5 Nations 48 Challenge, the brainchild of Barry and his friend David, all in aid of ��tv Children in Need! It’s not going to be easy, but if they succeed, they could even end up with a Guinness World Record!

However, these aren’t just any football teams – professional footballers and stars from the nation’s favourite soaps are all giving up their time to make the challenge work! Ex-footballers such as Lee Sharpe and Gary Bennett (just two of many) will be taking on soap luminaries such as Nick Pickard and Alan Halsall, all to have a bit of fun and raise a bit of cash.

The Route

It all starts at 6pm on August 1 2014. The first game will be played at Gretna Football club in Scotland. The team will be facing a strong side made up of ex-Carlisle United players.

After this dramatic start the team will then cross the water over to Northern Ireland for their next game at 10am the next morning, taking on a team including Jim Magilton and Stephen Robinson.

A whirlwind day then sees the (by now probably quite tired) team travelling south into Ireland to face off against a team headed by Boyzone's Keith Duffy. Kick off starts at 5pm at Peamount United Football Ground. Keith's put together an all-star team of ex-footballer and celebrities, so this should be a great game to see.

The following morning finds the journeying back over the water to Wales for a challenging game against Pen-y-cae FC, with a kick off at 10am at Pen-y-cae FC's ground.

The fifth and final game pitts a tired but determined team against the 'TV Select; team at Nantwich Town Football Club at 2.30pm. This game matches our charity team against a squad made of players from popular TV soaps. Some of the names confirmed include Danny Miller from Emmerdale, Nick Pickard and Nico Mirallegro from Hollyoaks , Jamie Lomas from Eastenders, and TV favourite Ralph Little.

A photo from Barry's previous star-laden football tournament!

Fancy getting involved, or simply feel like watching the beautiful game? You can help Barry and the gang reach their £20,000 fundraising target just by attending a game at the locations above - all of the games look set to be good fun! Alternatively you can donate a little something to Barry and the boys - you can find their donation page here. Of course, every penny they raise will go towards helping children and young people right here, in the UK. Good luck Barry, and a big thank you from everyone here at Pudsey HQ!

Going the Extra Mile for Pudsey Bear

2014-07-17T15:05:56+00:00

Summer is upon us! This may mean that, in true British fashion, the weather rotates between overcast and rainy with rare and fleeting bursts of proper sunshine, but it’s still summer nonetheless! It also means that a lot of keen Brits are fastening their laces, hitting the road, and running races for charity all over the UK. In case you were thinking of running for ��tv Children in Need this year, we wanted to share the story of an inspirational group of fundraisers with you. Who knows, it might just give you the inspiration to embark on your own fundraising challenge…

The Gump Challenge

Last September, a truly heroic group of firefighters from Tamworth took to the road for an epic challenge – all in aid of ��tv Children in Need. The Gump Challenge, a 9-day, 280 mile circular run through the hilly terrain of Staffordshire, saw the brave group running over a marathon every day!

The Gump Challenge looking chirpy on the first day of their challenge

The group had planned their journey carefully, and as the journey went on, the increasingly beaten and battered Gumpers bunked down every night in a different Fire Station along the way. Once they finished for the day, the group would have a chilly ice bath before bed, waking up ready to hit the road again for another demanding day. By the time the group crossed the finish line they’d run 280 miles through gale-force winds, piercing rain, sweltering highs and freezing cold lows.

In true Forrest Gump style, the team encouraged members of the public to get their kit out and join them on their challenge. It might seem like having the occasional stranger on your run might be slow you down, or be a distraction, but for The Gumpers it proved to be the opposite.

When we asked group leader Matt how he and his colleagues stayed motivated throughout the run, he told us that it was the amazing and inspiration people they met from all over the county that kept the group running all the way to the finish line.

And a little later, a wet but happy team.

It was an amazing challenge - and an incredible physical undertaking. But at the end of the day, when all the money was collected in, it proved to be well worth it. The brave and bold Gumpers raised over £5,590 for charity. Half of this money was given to a very grateful Pudsey Bear, - every penny will go towards helping disadvantaged children and young people. The other half will be given to The Fire Fighter’s Charity.

Feeling inspired? Well, if you and your colleagues, or your friends and family feel like proving your mettle and stretching your legs, we’ve asked Matt, main Gumper, for his top tips on how to have a good running challenge. He kindly offered the following sage advice:

1. Invest in a suitable pair of running trainers! Your local running shop will be able to advise you on the right pair for you, this could be cushioned or more 'structured' for support. A good pair of trainers will help to protect you against the possibility of running related injuries.

2. Don't be afraid to walk! Just because you are setting out on a running programme doesn't mean that you can't take a walk-run approach. Building in some walking breaks will enable you to build your endurance more quickly than if you run for longer and then stop to get your breath back.

3. Use the 10% rule! It is easy to get carried away when you are enjoying something new and seeing improvement. Increasing your mileage too quickly can lead to injury, so a good rule of thumb is not to increase your distances by more than 10% each week.

4. Keep well hydrated. Make sure you drink plenty throughout the day so you start your run well hydrated - if you feel dry you are already dehydrated. Fruit and vegetables have a high water content, so a healthy, balanced diet will help you to keep well hydrated.

5. Remember to stretch! I personally prefer to stretch after I run, rather than before. Muscles are best stretched when they are warm and pliable, rather than cold and short. Build yourself a little routine, where you slow your pace at the end of a run or walk a few hundred metres, then stretch your main muscle groups - back, quadriceps (front of your thigh), hamstrings (back of your thigh), calves and shoulders.

Feeling ambitious? Think you could organise an even better challenge? Well, then, give it a try! Whatever you do, don’t forget to let us know. You can email us on this page here, or tag us on Facebook @officialpudsey or Twitter and Instagram @��tvCiN. Go on, Be a Hero!

��tv Children in Need's reach

2014-07-03T08:14:11+00:00

��tv Children in Need currently awards grants to more than 2,700 projects that support disadvantaged children and young people all over the UK.

Your donations make such a difference to those who are struggling for whatever reason. And it’s not only the children and young people that benefit – the funding we provide supports siblings, parents and whole communities.

Just a stone’s throw from where you live, there’s likely to be someone who either benefits from or contributes to the ripple effect of ��tv Children in Need funding. Read about some of those people and what our funding means to them.

School children, like these pictured who are from Ravenscote Primary School in Camberley, raise hundreds of pounds for Children in Need each year.

A teenager from Wales: “I fell out with my mum and ran away. But life in a homeless shelter was much tougher than I’d imagined. ��tv Children in Need paid for a support worker who helped me work things out. Now I’m reconciled with my mum.”

A parent from Northern Ireland: “My little boy is going to a mainstream school in September and this would not have been possible without the help of the organisation that’s helped him learn to communicate.”

A games and dance session for children at White Lodge

Annie, Project Leader at White Lodge Trust in Surrey: “I would do this job even if I wasn’t paid. But the small grant we receive makes such a difference. We support disabled children holistically but it’s often such a struggle for their parents to cope with the exhaustion and all the hospital appointments, that they reach breaking point. They might come to us feeling desperate but they always leave laughing.”

Wendy, Project Leader at Speech, Sign and Song, Nottingham: “The funding is vital – we wouldn’t exist without it. We were about to shut down and tell all our children and parents that we were closing, and then we were awarded our grant. The sessions mean so much to so many families - it was an incredible relief for everyone.”

Lily and Katie

Lily, 11-year-old at The Outlook Trust for the Visually Impaired, Yorkshire: “I only have about 10% sight. This means it’s harder for me to do everyday things and sometimes I miss out on taking part in sports. It can be tough being different to other young people. Sometimes I get tired of being left out. I started going away for weekends with The Outlook Trust where I got to do loads of different activities that I wouldn’t normally have thought possible. I’ve been sailing, rafting, canoeing and camping. I never feel like the odd one out, and they’ve shown me I can do anything! Thanks to everyone who donated!"

Katie, teenager at Barking & Dagenham Progress Project, Essex: “I have Williams’ Syndrome which means it can take me longer to do everyday things, and I need a bit more support and understanding. It was hard for me to go along to youth clubs because not everyone understood I needed more support, so I spent most of my time at home. Then someone invited me to Barking & Dagenham Progress Project. It made me really happy! Now I’m always out and about and have got loads of friends. It’s the best place ever! Thanks to everyone for giving money to ��tv Children in Need this year. Your money helps people like me have fun, social and make new friends.”

Sam Taylor, Head of Childrens and Young Peoples Services: “The funding has allowed us, in partnership with Girlguiding Scotland, to open the inclusive Rainbows and Brownies pack for children with disabilities and complex communication support needs at our accessible resource base in Glasgow. The pack has been a great success and is becoming increasingly popular. The children are thoroughly enjoying activities from arts and crafts to games and singing.”

Here's a reminder of where your money goes

John, 14-year-old at from Kings Foundation, Liverpool: “For the first time in my life I was playing sport and making friends in a place where no one teased me because of my disability. I absolutely loved it. I got my confidence back. I’m now a sports camp leader and help the younger children. Your money helps young people like me change their lives for the better.”

Mum, Norfolk: “Three generations of my family have been supported by Nelson’s Journey since my brother died in a car accident. They helped us cope with the shock and explained complex things to us so that the children could come to terms with what happened. They’ve been amazing.”

Young woman, Portsmouth: “Without my counsellor I’d be in despair. She helped me to rebuild my life after I was abused. I’d be a broken girl if it wasn’t for her.”

Stevie Spring

Stevie Spring, Chair of Trustees at ��tv Children in Need: “Achieving our highest ever appeal total in over 30 years of telethons took an amazing amount of dedication from ��tv colleagues, corporate partners, heroic fundraisers up and down the country and, of course, our dedicated staff and volunteers. It means we can fund even more projects next year and help even more disadvantaged children and young people. So it’s worth it. On behalf of the Board a heartfelt thanks to everyone who played their part.”

Mark Coburn, Scottish Grants Committee: “With so much child poverty in Scotland it has been rewarding beyond all my expectations to be able to help out at a grass roots level. Visiting some of our funded projects has been the highlight for me – so many people making a difference across communities all over Scotland."

Boots fundraisers

Colette Phillips, CSR Manager, Boots UK: “2013 was the 10th year of partnership with ��tv Children in Need and we saw an amazing team effort that spanned the company. We were delighted to raise an incredible £1 million for this great cause and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in all corners of the UK.”

Alan Taylor, Community and Social Responsibility Manager, Post Office: “Our people and customers love to get involved supporting Pudsey every year knowing that their fundraising efforts and donations make a huge difference to help change young lives across the UK. The Post Office, like ��tv Children in Need, is at the heart of the community which is just one of the reasons why we’re incredibly proud to support ��tv Children in Need.”

2013 ��tv Children in Need Campaign hits £49.6 million!

2014-07-02T19:13:32+00:00

We're really happy to announce that the final total for our most recent appeal has raised a record-breaking £49.6 million.

The success means we have raised more than £740 million since the appeal launched in 1980, with every single penny raised going towards projects helping disadvantaged children and young people here in the UK.

From children and young people to project workers and families, read about what ��tv Children in Need means to people like you.

The final total comes as donations continued to pour in following our televised appeal in November, which also saw record-breaking success as it secured a total of £31.1 million on the night.

At present, we work with more than 2,700 projects across the UK, all of which support disadvantaged children and young people.

Speaking of the result, Life President of the charity Sir Terry Wogan said: “Each year we’re amazed by the generosity of the Great British public, it’s just brilliant. 2013 was far from an easy year, but thanks to their on-going support we’ve been fortunate enough to have another record-breaking total. When we hosted the first televised appeal in 1980, we were delighted with the £1 million raised. I don’t think any of us could have dreamed how far it would come.”

Chief Executive for ��tv Children in Need, David Ramsden, added: “Everyone who has supported us should be really proud. It’s a fantastic result and will allow us to do even more to ensure that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.”

The next ��tv Children in Need Appeal will reach its climax on the ��tv on Friday 14 November.

Lauren and Signpost Young Carers

2014-06-11T12:45:09+00:00

“I don’t really get a chance to go out playing, I usually spend my time in the house looking after my brother and sister and my mum. It would be nice to have more time to socialise, and to have time for myself.”

Lauren is 14 and from Stockport. Her mum has non-epileptic attack disorder, resulting in attacks similar to epileptic fits which can leave her unable to get out of bed. This means Lauren helps her mother carry out everyday tasks such as dressing and cooking, whilst also helping take care of her younger siblings.

Always one to look on the bright side, Lauren is quick to notice the positives of her caring role, saying that: “being a young carer has made me more mature as I have had to grow my responsibilities. I’m more respectful of others now as I can feel for what they are going through.”

Despite this bright outlook though, her responsibilities have had an impact on her own education as she sometimes misses school to care for her family. It's also had an emotional impact and Lauren knows that she sometimes misses out on childhood experiences as her caring responsibilities come first.

Since 2010, Lauren’s been attending a group at Signpost Young Carers in Stockport which is funded by ��tv Children in Need. Signpost works directly with young carers to provide support, respite and life skills, as well as the chance to meet other young people from similar backgrounds.

Activities include sports and team-building games as well as work helping young people to cope with their caring roles. Signpost also helps organise residential trips and breaks for young carers, which Lauren has hugely enjoyed.

In the four years that she’s been with the group, Lauren’s gone from strength to strength. She’s become much more confident and has built a strong friendship group.

Talking of the benefits, Lauren says: “It is important to meet with other young carers because it helps me to understand that I am not isolated and there are also other young carers who are in the same situation. It’s comforting to know that you’re not in the situation alone.”

A pillar of support both in her family and to other young carers, she is often found supporting fellow attendees at the project who need someone to talk to. Lauren has also taken a proactive role in raising the profile of young carers, recently delivering a talk to members of her school. She is the first to admit that, had she not been in the position herself, she probably wouldn’t understand what a young carer was, and is committed to raising awareness.

Looking forward, Lauren is positive about her future, but she’s got advice for other young carers in the same position: “Don’t hide away and keep it to yourself; there’s support there for you so don’t be afraid to ask for it!”

It’s estimated that there are almost a quarter of a million young carers in the UK. Sadly, in reality these figures could be even higher. The term young carer refers to anyone under 18, who looks after someone unable to care for themselves. Typical tasks they might help with include cooking and cleaning, and helping someone to get showered, dressed and move around.

All too often the hard work of carers doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, which is why Carers Week was set up. Now in its twentieth year, Carers Week is a chance for people to learn more about the roles of carers and the great differences they make.

Thanks to your donations we're able to support 87 young carer projects.

For all news from ��tv Children in Need, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Father's Day from Pudsey

2014-06-10T13:00:28+00:00

People of all ages love stories and for children storytelling is really important for their development and to fuel their imaginations.

But some families struggle to find the time to sit down and read stories with their children, especially if they are facing other challenges in life.

Thanks to your donations, The Polka Theatre company in London is putting on storytelling sessions especially for children and their dads on Saturday mornings.

For Jon who works long hours full time, it's a great chance to spend precious time with his two-year-old twins Hannah and Adam while giving their mum some respite. It's also an opportunity to get to know people in his neighbourhood. His children love playing with other children and he likes socialising with other local dads too.

He said: “One time we built a tent and played out the story in the tent and it was really easy to set that up at home too for story time. So it gave me some ideas for activities we could do together. We have an older daughter too and my wife tends to be the primary carer. It was really nice to do an activity that was just me and them. This gave me a reason to make the time to do something separate and it was a good way of getting that started. I was a bit sceptical about going initially but it was good fun.”

Luke and Layla acting out the story they're reading

For Luke and his daughter Layla, who’s two, it was also about dad time, having fun and creativity.

He said: “There’s not a lot going on in Wimbledon, especially after all the cuts, so this was really good. There were a good mix of stories and playing as well. We loved getting involved. Sometimes the storyteller drew a picture or we acted out roles. Layla was one of the youngest there at just two, but she enjoyed it in her way.”

It was also extra special for Megan, who’s six, because her global developmental delay meant that she felt she fitted in with the younger children attending.

Dad Peter said: “I really enjoyed the sessions and I think Megan did too. I spend a lot of time with her anyway because her mum works but it was a lovely environment and nice to see her interacting with the other children. Sometimes the team from the theatre company get us all sitting in a circle and we pass round a bag containing different objects. We have to take something out of the bag, then the next part of the story we tell develops depending on what each person pulled out of the bag.

“I made friends with the other dads too and we found we were all struggling with similar things like teaching our child to ride a bike or watching similar children’s TV programmes.”

The Stories for Dads sessions cater for families living in an area where many speak one of 160 different languages and where there are few facilities.

Keyur went along with his daughter Udi and said he enjoyed the sessions, which ended with a special World Stories Event performance. He works late into the night so often has to catch up on sleep during afternoons when his daughter wants to play. This gave them an appointment to play together. At just 22 months old she was one of the youngest children there but he found it a good place for her to meet other children and for him to chat to other dads about common problems and how to solve them.

He said: “The sessions involve music as well and the stories were really brought to life by being made into a play.”

A grant of £24,714 over three years from ��tv Children in Need enables the project to run creative storytelling workshops for pre-school age children and their fathers. The money pays for the salaries of a support worker and professional storytellers as well as their materials and transport costs.

Happy Father’s Day to all those dads out there and thank you for supporting ��tv Children in Need so more children can enjoy story time.

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