It’s that time of year again, one of the most popular charity campaigns in the UK: Children in Need. It’s a night of entertainment and heart-wrenching stories that urge us to donate to charities both at home and overseas. Since its origin in 1927 as a 5 minute radio broadcast, the appeal has grown every year, with the public raising over £800m.
But how is the money spent in Lincolnshire?
Children in Need (CiN) is funding 19 projects throughout Lincolnshire.
Boston Women’s Aid (BWA) is an organisation that offer support and advice to women and their families who are experiencing domestic abuse, this could be in the form of safe houses as well as practical and emotional support.
BWA have been running the project ‘Great Days Out’ since October last year. With the help of CiD, this project gives children experiencing domestic abuse the opportunity to have “educational and fun” days out says Marie Chapman, who is the Funding and Development manager at Women’s Aid Boston.
“These children miss out on things in life that most of us take for granted.” Explains Marie. Circumstances in the home mean that many of these children will have poor attendance and miss out on school trips. Children are given the chance to feel normal and the opportunity to learn.
‘Every Child’s Chances’ is another project being launched at BWA as helped by CiN on 1st December. Children who are fleeing domestic abuse will be offered practical support and helped to return into education as well as develop their social skills. To aid with this, a new part time support officer will join the team.
“It’s an amazing thing Children in Need does” gushed Marie.
Acts Trust at Alive Church in Lincoln and Gainsborough Adventure Playground are also organisations that benefit from funds raised through CiN.
To raise money this year, BBC Radio Lincolnshire are hosting an event at the New Theatre Royale. Melvyn Prior and Sue Taylor, presenters from BBC Radio Lincolnshire will go to war in a lip-sync battle. Children’s TV presenter Barney Harwood, who is starring in Lincoln’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, will be among the panel of judges. All proceeds from this event will go back into the Children in Need fund.
Click here for a full list of CiN Grant Funded Projects in Central and Eastern England.