Our mission is to make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. Our vision is a society where each and every child and young person is supported to realise their potential.
In 2009, The BBC Children in Need Appeal raised over £39 million which will be used to support projects across the UK and for every penny you gave the charity, a penny will go towards projects helping disadvantaged children in the UK. We are able to make this promise because the charity uses its investment income and Gift Aid to cover all running costs. Every year, thanks to public donations and the amazing efforts of fundraisers, schools, businesses and our corporate partners, we are able to provide support to thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under.
We provide this support in the form of grants to organisations working with children who may have experienced mental, physical or sensory disabilities; behavioural or psychological disorders; are living in poverty or situations of deprivation; or suffering through distress, abuse or neglect.
The size and scale of the BBC Children in Need Appeal means that we're able to give grants to hundreds of different organisations, some of which are very small and don't have the resources to fundraise for themselves.
The charity operates all year round, not just the months leading up to Appeal night, and our staff around the UK process thousands of applications for funding. Every year the funding requests exceed the amount of money raised so we carefully assess all applications to ensure that grants are targeted on areas of real need. Voluntary committee members, based in each region, draw on their expertise and local knowledge to advise our board of Trustees which projects should receive grants, and funds are allocated geographically to ensure that all corners of the UK get a share of the money raised.
(Above text and photos copied from BBC Children In Need website)
MJ facts:
Michael donated 10,000 pounds to the Children in Need Appeal Fund in Britain.