Friday 28 October  – BBC Children in Need has today announced an immediate £3million funding response to help tackle the impact of the cost of living crisis on children, young people and the  charities and community organisations which support them, and is calling on the sector to join them in their commitment.

A recent survey of 776 BBC Children in Need funded projects, carried out by nfpResearch, shed light on the urgent need for support to meet rising demand and changing needs:

• 61% of BBC Children in Need funded projects have recently provided basic essentials (food, clothing, toiletries etc.) to their children and young people in response to the cost of living crisis
• In this time of crisis, 91% of BBC Children in Need’s projects would struggle to pay an increased bill or expense.
• 60% of BBC Children in Need funded projects say that demand has never been higher than it is right now.
• 84% of BBC Children in Need funded projects will have to apply for more funding than usual over the next 12 months as a result of the cost of living crisis.

With a clear need for urgency in light of the growing demand for support for children across the UK, BBC Children in Need made this £3million commitment to further help children, young people and the charities and community organisations which support them during this time of crisis. The £3million commitment to help alleviate the most urgent issues includes an immediate funding increase of £500 to BBC Children in Need funded projects, totalling an overall commitment of £1million. The £500 booster grant has been allocated to projects with immediate effect and can be used for both core and project expenses to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand, this could include keeping youth centres warm and lit, fuel for outreach and trips or increased staffing hours to support children and young people when they need it most.

In addition, an immediate £500,000 increase has been allocated to BBC Children in Need’s Emergency Essentials programme which annually provides £3million worth essential items, such as a bed to sleep in, a washing machine for clean clothes, or a cooker for hot meals, to children and families living in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Furthermore, the charity has made a £500,000  commitment to deliver more meals to children and families across the UK through additional funding for organisations who provide food banks and community kitchens. As part of this commitment, a £100,000 award has been granted to The Felix Project who collect fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold and deliver it to charities and schools so they can provide healthy meals and help the most vulnerable in our society.

 And to provide wider support to organisations the length and breadth of the UK, an additional £1million will made available to projects applying for BBC Children in Need funding to help meet growing demand and increased costs. 

Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, commented: “We have spent months listening to the sector, the children and young people we support and our grassroots charities and projects across the UK, and were alarmed by what we were hearing, so I am proud to make this £3million commitment today, but am very aware that so much more is needed, and we wish we could do more. Our Emergency Essentials programme has a funding gap of £1.4million – £2million, and we know our incredible 2,200 projects, who are working tirelessly to support children and young people across the UK, are facing demand like they have never seen before.

“Having a safe, warm and secure home, enough food and opportunities to have fun and learn are all fundamental to a happy childhood and healthy mental wellbeing and we need to be there for the children and young people across the UK that so urgently need our support, and that’s why today we are calling on our colleagues across the sector to join us in our commitment, or reach out if there are ways we can collaborate to help make a difference. We have the networks, skills and expertise to deliver funding across the UK quickly and efficiently, so we would love to hear from any organisations that might be able to help us make a difference to even more children and young people across the UK when they need it most.”

For further information on BBC Children in Need’s funding programmes and grant making, visit: www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk.

~ENDS~

Notes to editors:

nfpResearch’s fieldwork took place between 29^th July and 22^nd August 2022.

About BBC Children in Need:

BBC Children in Need believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive and be the best they can be.

BBC Children in Need’s ambition is to create lasting, positive change across the UK for the children and young people who need it most. Together with the BBC and partners, BBC Children in Need aim to inspire the nation in support of their work.

BBC Children in Need’s 2,200 local charities and projects work tirelessly in every corner of the UK to help children & young people overcome the additional challenges they currently face, including supporting children and young people living in poverty, providing emergency support to families in crisis, providing comfort to children feeling sad, lost and alone, helping children overcome social injustice and supporting children to feel safe and secure again.

Further information can be found at www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk