BBC Children in Need thanks the public and supporters for helping to change the lives of children and young people facing disadvantage in communities across the UK

• The fundraising total is the culmination of the efforts of fundraisers and donors across the UK who supported the charity’s annual Appeal in November 2021
• Thanks to donations from the UK public, over the past year BBC Children in Need has awarded over 1,600 grants at a value of £49million to local charities and projects supporting children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK

Tuesday 26 July, 2022 – BBC Children in Need has today announced its fundraising total for its 2021 Appeal, £51million.

BBC Children in Need exists to ensure that every child or young person has the opportunity to thrive and be the best they can be, and aims to achieve this by helping them to overcome any challenges they may be facing. Thanks to the generosity of the British public and the charity’s supporters, over the past year BBC Children in Need has awarded 1,600 grants at a value of £49million to support local charities and projects addressing a range of issues affecting children and young people. This includes £11m in funding to support young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health and £9.8m in grants to support those facing increased financial uncertainty. In addition to the £49m allocated to local charities and projects across the UK, BBC Children in Need administered a further £11.65m of funding for phase one of the Government’s Youth Investment Fund (YIF), awarding 418 grants which will benefit over 290,000 children and young people in England.

The 2021 November Appeal total grew to £51million as donations and fundraising income continued to pour in following BBC Children in Need’s 2021 Appeal show last November, which culminated with an on-the-night total of £39million.

Highlights from the 2021 Appeal include:

• BBC Breakfast and BBC North West Tonight’s weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans, taking on a mammoth challenge to drum, constantly for 24 hours. The challenge, which was streamed on iPlayer, raised a truly whopping £3.8m
• The One Show’s Surprise Squad for BBC Children in Need, which saw five inspirational young people delivering surprises to support local communities and BBC Children in Need funded projects across the UK with the help of The One Show’s presenters, Alex Jones, Jermaine Jenas and Ronan Keating, which raised a remarkable £1.8m
• The DIY SOS team, joined by presenter Rhod Gilbert, transformed a 2.5 acre overgrown site into a purpose-built adventure campsite for St Michael’s Youth Project (St Mike’s) in Hull, raising £0.5m along the way
• The 2021 Ramble special, which saw Countryfile presenters and inspirational children and young people rambling in six breath-taking locations across the UK, contributing to Countryfile’s incredible 2021 fundraising total of £5.1m
• The Great Rickshaw Relay Challenge which saw Matt Baker and a team of incredibly inspiring young people, all of whom who have all been supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects, take on a relay-style ride across the UK, raising a phenomenal £2.3m
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor undertook an epic Kitchen Disco Danceathon which saw her dance for 24 hours for Radio 2’s BBC Children in Need Challenge 2021, contributing to BBC Radio 2’s overall total of £1.3m

Elsewhere, BBC TV and radio stations across the Nations and Regions threw themselves into fundraising, and programming, including Dr Alex George’s powerful documentary, Our Young Mental Health Crisis, whilst the charity’s corporate partners, including Asda, DFS, Greggs, HSBC UK and McDonald’s UK, once again galvanised customers and staff to help make a difference to young lives. And of course, hundreds and thousands of fundraisers across the UK came together to support the charity in many different ways, including thousands of schools who got together to support children and young people facing disadvantage.

Speaking of the 2021 total, Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “After several years of immense challenge and uncertainty for children and young people facing disadvantage, we couldn’t be prouder of this total, and what it means for children and young people across the UK. This money really will change young lives and leave a lasting legacy. Our incredible supporters have shown once again that we will always be here for the children and young people across the UK that need us.  Thank you.”

For more information about BBC Children in Need, please visit bbcchildreninneed.co.uk

~ENDS~

For further information please contact Henni Cardy, BBC Children in Need: [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

• BBC Children in Need’s 2020 Appeal raised £57m (£57,119,501).
• The 2021 total is unaudited and subject to change as BBC Children in Need finalises year end accounts.
• BBC Children in Need’s financial statements will report an overall income of £63m for Appeal 2021, including the £11.65m from DCMS for phase one of the Youth Investment Fund (YIF).
• The 2021 On-the-Night total was £39million (£39,389,048), which rose to £40m (£40,370,010) as announced during the charity’s highlights show on Sunday 21 November 2021. This total grew to £51million (£50,991,355) as donations and fundraising income from across the UK was paid in subsequent months.

About BBC Children in Need:

BBC Children in Need’s vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential. The charity will realise this vision by supporting, promoting and publicising work that addresses the challenges that children and young people face and work that builds their skills and resilience.

BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 2,300 local charities and projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.