BBC Children in Need Feed

Happy St David's Day!

2014-02-28T14:19:27+00:00

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!

As it's St David's Day we thought we'd tell you about an amazing project in Wales that your money has helped - Cwmavon and District Boys and Girls Club!

It’s sad that prospects for many children and young people depend on the postcode in which they live. But the sports-mad children who attend this club, near Port Talbot in south Wales, are doing their best to buck that trend.

Operating in a highly deprived area, the club offers children the chance to get involved in sports like football, rugby and cricket. This helps them get healthier, improve their confidence and self-esteem, and better engage with employment and training.

The club has had it fair share of success stories. Several youngsters have been picked out by talent scouts for the local Premier League teams Cardiff and Swansea and started playing for their academies. Veteran Welsh boxer Darren Edwards started out at the club and so did rugby player Sean Holley who was Head Coach for Ospreys for nine seasons and now a BBC Wales rugby commentator. His two sons now attend the club.

Since several other youth clubs in the area lost their government funding, Cwmavon has been inundated with children travelling from further away to get to their sessions, currently around 175 attend.

The Club has been run by volunteers for years but, thanks to your donations, a BBC Children in Need grant of £8,600 now means they can now pay for Sports Development Officer Nigel Gage.

Nigel says: "Some kids here have a rough start in life but the club gives them routine and something to fight for. The talent within these walls is unbelievable.”

Looking back at our fundraising heroes!

2013-11-28T15:39:41+00:00

Now that our Appeal Night is almost two weeks past, we’re indulging in a lovely bit of nostalgia and reminiscing on the highlights of our 2013 Appeal. It goes without saying, of course, that our favourite part of all our Appeals is seeing all the wonderful things our amazing fundraisers get up to, and that’s certainly been truer than ever this year.

First up, a very excited Pudsey Bear has asked if we can say a big hello to four very special little fundraisers who gallantly took to the streets of Shenfield to sell their expertly baked wares in the name of BBC Children in Need.
With a little help from their parents, Ruby, Max, Toby and Jocelyn cheerfully took their Pudsey-inspired cakes to the hungry (and very generous) residents of their neighbourhood, and they proved to be a big hit! Much like those metaphorical hot cakes we've all heard so much about, these Pudsey cakes flew off the shelves too, raising £108.50!

Ruby, Max, Toby and Jocelyn take to the streets with some very tempting cakes!

The whole team at Bassetts Honda Swansea got involved in some top-quality fundraising this year. How could we not give a shout-out to this team when they have such epic fancy dress (the cowboy is our particular favourite). They even held their own ‘Where’s Wally?’ competition, featuring their very own Wally – the eagle-eyed among you will have already spotted him in the picture below! There were also games and snacks on the day, bringing a whopping £3794.38 for disadvantaged children and yound people all over the UK. Leanne from the team got in touch to say what a great time the whole team had fundraising, and it sounds like she’s already thinking about how next year could be even bigger! A very heroic team indeed!

The staff from Bassetts Honda Swansea show off their excellent taste in fancy dress.

Staff and pupils at Meadow View Primary School in Rotherham had a brilliant Pudsey-themed day on 15 November, raising money a variety of ways including a bake sale and a groovy disco, as well as weaving a little bit of Pudsey magic into the curriculum as well, bringing the yellow Bear into the classroom to not only educate but also to entertain. Also, very impressively, the whole school put their pennies together to fill in this giant penny Pudsey on the floor! Overall the school raised £450.00 - an amazing effort, so a huge well done to all involved at Meadow View!

Staff at Meadow View Primary School must have found a lot of pennies behind their sofas!

That's a crazy amount of stuff going on for a good cause, we’re sure you’ll agree - and there's more! The awesome students at York Student Television (YSTV), York University’s very own campus TV channel, put together a great BBC Children in Need-themed broadcast featuring all the characteristics of the charity’s annual Appeal show and giving them a distinct York University twist. Two students, Grace and Matt, presented the show which featured live music, onesie mayhem, broken eggs and funny sketches! You can check out the show here, and of course, a huge thank you to all at YSTV for going to such a huge effort to raise money!

Did you do something heroic this year? If so, make sure you tell us about it so we can say thanks and, quite possibly, feature you in an upcoming article on this very blog. If you’d like a mention, just get in touch and tell us about all your fundraising. Simply email your local address on this page, and tag us @BBCCiN on Twitter and Instagram or @Pudsey Bear on Facebook. It’s easy. So go, help us celebrate your decision to #BeAHero!

Who You Help: Classical Cuties

2013-10-28T15:29:15+00:00

Classical Cuties is a music-based afterschool club run by Leigh Underwood and is based at a primary school in Tonyrefail in the Rhondda Valley. With the help of BBC Children in Need, a grant of just under £10,000 has paid for some of the instruments the children play. Previously, the pupils aged between four and eight, made do with cardboard tubes, yoghurt pots and egg boxes and other bits of recycling. Now they can play on drums, percussion instruments, recorders, little keyboards, ukuleles and xylophones. But the beauty of Classical Cuties is that there’s so much more to it.

Classical Cuties

Leigh is passionate about music but even more passionate about ensuring the children she cares for have ambitions and aspirations. She says many of their parents are very humble and say that they are ‘just’ from the Valleys, where unemployment has been a problem since the coal industry started to decline 40 years ago. So she aims to ensure that the children gain confidence while learning other aspects of the school syllabus in a music-themed way.

So they get to know the life stories of famous composers like Elgar, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Holtz and Mozart. They also learn about the countries involved and their cultures and languages - while being bilingual in Welsh anyway. They also role play or retell the story of a composer’s piece of work, like The Magic Flute for example, so this is helping their comprehension skills. They're being creative by making magic flutes out of the silver paper, cotton buds and recycling that Leigh still has to hand. They’re also practicing their numeracy skills by playing to a rhythm and learning to keep time. And there’s a record of everything they’ve done in each child’s scrapbook where they practice their literacy skills and handwriting. Leigh documents everything meticulously in personalised scrapbooks, including photos, pieces of writing, drawings and stuck in question and answer booklets.

At the end of each session, Leigh also teaches the children to evaluate their own behaviour using an innovative method involving musical notes. The children are asked to rate how they think they behaved during the session and then their classmates comment on whether they think that’s fair. So if you’ve been a crotchet, that gets the fewest points because it's the shortest note. But if you’ve been good that’s a minim or dotted minim. An absolute angel merits a semi-breve!

The proof of the effect that Classical Cuties has on the children is there for all to see. For group members, Hollie and Abi, it’s an afternoon of fun each week where they can really come out of their shell. Mason, five, beams with joy when he gets a tune right all the way through. Meanwhile, Kieran, Jack and Elliot, beat out a tune on the drums or the keyboard.

The group, who live up to the Cuties in their name, have featured on the Paul O’Grady show & local news, and they’ve met the Prince of Wales and Katherine Jenkins. They also won a Rising Stars award from Community First.

So thank you for donating to BBC Children in Need and enabling children like the Classical Cuties to learn, achieve, grow in confidence and enjoy enriching experiences.

Fundraising Heroes - Wales

2013-09-18T08:46:37+00:00

Over the past few weeks we’ve been all over the UK celebrating our fundraising heroes, and this week we’re crossing the border to say a big ‘bore da’ to our supporters in Wales. Our Welsh fundraisers are often some of our most impressive and we’re eager to see if the same is true for this year’s batch of heroes.

There were some majestic sounds ringing out of south Wales this weekend, as The Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers presented ‘The Really Big Sing!’ at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli. The hotly anticipated concert was a sell-out smash, and those lucky enough to get a ticket were treated to stunning giant choruses and huge sing-a-longs. The Great Welsh Male Chorus also made an appearance, bringing the total number of vocalists involved to over three hundred. This all took place under the artistic direction of the world-renowned composer John Hywel Williams, and was held in aid of BBC Children in Need. To all the performers involved, we want to say a huge 'diolch’.

The Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers prepare for the âThe Really Big Sing!

Moving a little along the southern coast, we’re very pleased to hear that Little Dre, an up-and-coming young rapper from Port Talbot, is very kindly using his popularity to raise money for BBC Children in Need this year. Not only has he recorded and uploaded a new song in aid of the charity, but Dre will also be shaving his head. A big thanks to Little Dre for all of his efforts; we’re sure his fans will help make his fundraising efforts a success. If you’d like to show your support for Little Dre, you can make a donation here.

Methyr College is a large college catering to all post-16 students in the Methyr area, and this year, over six hundred students from the college will be undergoing a Dragons Den-style challenge this October as part of their studies towards the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.

Students will be divided into smaller groups of ten and asked to pitch for a fundraising activity of their choice. Each group has been challenged with producing a different fundraising idea and the best ideas will be recognised and awarded. Each group has also been tasked with raising at least £100 for BBC Children in Need! With students of such a high calibre and potential as these, there’s certain to be some genius ideas produced, and we can’t wait to see some of these and celebrate some new fundraising heroes!

There were almost too many heroes to talk about this week, but we just want to give a special mention to Joshua Ormesher. Last year Joshua and his friends dressed up as superheroes and walked from Llanelli to Swansea (approximately 26 miles) raising a whooping £1,121.73 for BBC Children in Need, and they’re hoping to raise even more this year. They’ll be walking the same route on Saturday 2 November, but now dressed as cartoon characters. The walk takes about eleven hours and begins at 8.00am, so if you happen to see a group of cartoon characters strolling down your street, there’s no need to pinch yourself – just make a donation to them instead!

A huge thank you to our heroes – every donation helps children and young people right here in the UK. If you’re currently fundraising or just in the brainstorming phase, let us know! Just email your local address on this page to tell us what you’re up to. You can also get in touch by following us on Twitter, tagging @BBCCiN, and using our campaign hashtag, #beahero. We can help you to promote your fundraising events and maybe, just maybe, you could be a BBC Children in Need Fundraising Hero! Cymru am byth!

Who you help: Connor and Cerebra

2013-09-16T10:26:37+00:00

Five-year-old Connor is severely autistic. His family was told that he would never speak. He avoids eye contact with people and finds it difficult to interact with others. But with the help of sensory toys that capture his attention, he is able to communicate and play with his older brother Ethan, who’s seven, and with his mum. He also says a few words now.

With the help of a BBC Children in Need grant, Connor was able to get help from the Sensory Toy Library at Cerebra in Carmarthen, Wales. Cerebra is a charity for brain injured children and young people and they supply just the sort of toys and equipment that benefit children like Connor. To make it easier for families who struggle to go out shopping and who might find the cost of buying toys expensive, parents from all over the country can browse and order a range of toys online. They are then delivered to their home by courier at no extra charge and can be returned by freepost too.

Connor’s mum Sabrina says: “As soon as you find out your child has a disability you go out and buy a load of stuff to help them and it costs a fortune. But thanks to Cerebra, we can borrow things and see what he likes. Then buy it if he gets on with it well. The best thing we’ve borrowed so far was the dark room projector and UV lights. I also realised by borrowing some of the musical toys, that Connor just wanted a bell. But it could be something as simple as a slinky, which is very cheap, and we don’t even pay the postage.

“I got in touch with Cerebra when Connor was getting diagnosed. It was a bit of a nerve-wracking time and they were so helpful. Not just with the toys that Children in Need fund but with other things too. Their sleep therapist came out and I got help with completing the complicated disability benefits claim forms so now we’re on a higher rate.”

Sarah Robey from Cerebra says: “Children with disabilities think, learn and develop in their own way. Sensory toys enable children with different abilities to have the opportunity to play in a way that suits them. We have about 2,500 library members and 60 items of sensory toys and equipment. The sensory toys and equipment offer stimulating or relaxing play for children with disabilities. Such toys are often too expensive for families to afford. Delivery and collection of the toys is arranged and paid for by Cerebra. Toys are loaned for one to two months at a time. The most popular sensory items have resulted in lengthy waiting lists.”

The charity says that of the 700,000 new babies born in the UK each year, one in four develops a neurological problem. These problems manifest themselves in conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, learning difficulties, attention deficit, behavioural and emotional problems or developmental delay.

Your donations help Cerebra to provide a lending library of specialist toys and equipment which enables children with different abilities to have the opportunity to play and learn in a way that best suits them.

You can see the full list of toys and games on offer, and read more about Cerebra's work on their website.

Disabled Young People get together for Fun and Friendship

2013-03-22T16:39:00+00:00

We're carrying on our tour of BBC Children in Need funded projects in the UK by looking at two events in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Disabled young people have been getting together in the two countries for 'Fun and Friendship' events.

The Fun and Friendship Programme was designed to increase the opportunities for disabled young people across the UK to make new friends and to socialise more independently.

Cardiff City Stadium was the venue in Wales for the event which brought people together to talk with each other about some of the challenges that disabled teenagers face when they want to go out and have the sort of social lives that most young people take for granted.

Twelve young people from the two organisations in Wales that are participating - Mencap Cymru’s Play Our Way Project and Whizz-Kidz ‘Kidz Together Now’ Project - talked with participants from schools, Sports Disability Wales, Children in Wales, the Community Police and the transport industry, to name but a few. We were also delighted that representatives from our Corporate partners at Cineworld and Boots were able to join the lively conversations.

Some very practical solutions were identified that would help making getting out and about easier and more enjoyable for disabled young people. For example, would it not be possible for travel identity cards - which have proved to be so helpful in Gwynedd - to be issued to all disabled young people in the whole of Wales?

Discussion was upbeat and constructive, but one young man struck a chord with everyone when he said, very matter-of-factly, that whenever he went anywhere he went with the, often realised, expectation that he would not be accepted.

Guests included Junior Minister Jennifer McCann

In Belfast invited guests including Junior Minister Jennifer McCann and Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley Mooney.

Whilst describing some of the many barriers that often make it difficult for disabled young people, solutions were also proposed. Young people from Compass’s S.INC Project demonstrated the power of peer buddying, and all the young participants had some very practical suggestions to make to the Translink representative about how public transport might become more user friendly.

The young people had lots to say and the opportunity to share their ideas. Most importantly they were able to share them with people who were really listening and who are committed to making real and positive change.

The most resonating message was that the changes that matter most are changes in attitudes and understanding. Practical difficulties can often be overcome if everyone takes a little bit more time to listen to and understand each other. Those who were there all identified things that they could easlily do in their personal of professional lives which would make a positive difference.

Imagine the scale of the change that could be made if we all did the same.

Darllenwch yn Gymraeg

Find out more about who BBC Children in Need help in your area by clicking here.

Watch our appeal films by clicking here.

Paralympics honour for BBC CiN Project in Cardiff!

2012-08-29T16:10:36+00:00

Eight young people participating in Mencap Cymru’s Play Our Way! Project were invited by Disability Sports Wales to lead the lantern procession that followed the Paralympic Torchbearers in Cardiff Bay on Monday.

Young people from the Play Our Way! project became Paralympic Torchbearer guards this week

The flame has now left Wales and yesterday was united with flames from the 3 other UK nations at Stoke Mandeville. It is this flame that will be used to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony tonight (Wednesday), marking the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

'Play Our Way!' is one of ten projects from across the UK that is taking part in BBC Children in Need’s Fun and Friendship Programme. Its purpose is to help to create and enhance opportunities for disabled young people between the ages of 12 and 18 to meet friends and have a good time as independently as possible.

Five hundred young people are now taking part in the Fun and Friendship Programme which runs from 2010 to 2013.