Children in Need unpacked: Children in Need appeal show (15 November 2013)

Explores what Children in Need does to help children all over the UK.

by Vicky and Tim Scott

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To explore what Children in Need does to help children all over the UK.

Preparation and materials

• Find out if any children in your school have previously raised money for Children in Need. If so, what did they do? Perhaps get them to come to the assembly and give testimony.
• For more specific information, including the statistics for and charities helped in your area (needed in Step 1 below), visit: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-subindex-whoyouhelp
• Print the information appropriate to your students' age range to be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-subindex-schools
• Work out the total money that could be raised if everyone present at the assembly each donated £10 for Step 3 below.
• Also for Step 3, give some thought to things the students could do to raise money for Children in Need, including using particular search engines (more information is available at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-fundraising-extras).
• Download the trailer for this year’s television show to play as the students leave. 

Assembly

1. It is common for many adults and children alike in the UK to think about poverty and suffering as something that is experienced only in other countries. BBC Children in Need helpfully reveals this is not the case, that there are actually needs right on our own doorsteps.
   
   The Children in Need charity was founded in 1980. Since that time, it has supported children's projects in the UK by raising over £650 million. Its vision is simple: for every child in the UK to have a safe, happy and secure childhood, allowing them to reach their potential.
   
   Children in Need currently supports 2600 projects all over the UK. On its website, there is a breakdown, into geographical areas across the country, that shows who has been helped where. This makes raising and giving money to the charity seem so much more relevant and real. 
   
   Mention to the students the statistics for and charities helped in your area information that you gathered in preparation.
   
   
2. In a world where we often hear of monetary corruption, it is reassuring to learn that Children in Need guarantee every penny raised goes directly to the charity, which is opposed to using money donated to cover high overheads and staff salaries. Instead, such necessary costs are met by means of investments and claiming back tax relief on donations by means of Gift Aid.
   
   
3. This year’s television event is on Friday 15 November. It promises to be even bigger and better than previous occasions. It is supported by numerous celebrities and popular television programmes. 
   
   The success of this annual event, however, is also down to the hard work and effort put in by all the ordinary children and adults who raise money for the charity. The good news is that every little really does make a difference when lots of people join in! If everyone in this room raised £10, which is quite achievable, then you could raise a total of £  . . .  (multiply by ten the number of students and others present at the assembly).
   
   So, how can you get involved? Ask a teacher for a 2013 fundraising pack. Here are a few simple ideas for raising money for Children in Need this year: 
   
   – bake cakes, cookies, sweets
   – do a sponsored walk, run, silence 
   – ask the school to hold a non-uniform day and charge £1 each
   – by simply asking your parent or carer to save one of the search engines called Easysearch, Affilyon or Everyclick as your default search page, you could raise money for Children in Need every time you search for anything online (more information is available at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-fundraising-extras).
   
   
4. Thankfully many of you will have been blessed with good health and caring healthy parents, but this is not the case for everyone. Our modern society often tells us to focus on what we don’t have and what we want next, but it is important that we buck this trend by thinking about what we do have and being thankful for it. By doing your bit this year you will be able to give back to society and help those less fortunate than yourselves. 

Time for reflection

Children in Need helps us to focus on others and their needs rather than ourselves. Why don’t you try to think of ways you could raise a little money this year to help change the lives of others who are worse off than you. If everyone does even a little something, together we will do a lot! 

Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the founders of Children in Need and all those still involved in continuing the charity’s good work. 
Help us to be grateful for all we have and help those in need as best we can.
Amen. 

Show the trailer for this year’s Children in Need show.