Make a difference

A whole host of celebrities are supporting this year’s Children In Need campaign. You can do your bit, too, by raising cash for a worthy cause.

It’s almost Children In Need time again, and the BBC and some of the nation’s biggest stars want you to help raise money and make a difference to the lives of children all across the UK.

And it really does make a massive difference. Thanks to the support of the public, the BBC’s UK corporate charity is able provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged.

The charity currently supports 2,400 projects throughout the UK, helping children facing a range of disadvantages including poverty and deprivation and children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect, as well as disabled young people.

The BBC Children in Need Appeal Night takes place every year in November, and last year the campaign raised a staggering £50,168,562, which was the highest on-the-night total to date.

This year’s Children in Need telethon will take to the air on Friday, November 16, across BBC One and BBC Two – but before we get there, a host of famous faces are calling on people to get involved and show their support.

Tess Daly, Alex Jones, Carol Kirkwood and Ore Oduba are among the celebrities supporting this year’s Children In Need fundraising campaign.

They will be joined by broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Stacey Dooley, The Saturdays singer Mollie King and TV presenter Rochelle Humes who are also encouraging people to get behind this year’s campaign.

You’ll find plenty of inspiring fundraising ideas on the Children In Need website (www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk) – and here are a few of our own suggestions:

Hold a bake sale – make some cakes, then sell them. Simple, effective.

Dye or shave your hair – getting sponsored to dye or shave your hair off is a great way to raise money.

Hold a quiz night – get friends, colleagues and whoever you can together for a Children In Need quiz night. Smartphone cheats pay a fine!

Give something up – get sponsored to give something up – such as drinking, smoking, social media, or treats at work.

Fancy dress competition – hold a pay-to-play fancy dress competition.

Walk or run to work – get sponsored to walk or run to work for the week.

Get a swear jar – a classic that’s great for the workplace. All you need is a jar, and you’re sure to raise s***loads of money.