If you鈥檝e ever wondered how we make the fundraising films that are broadcast on appeal night on 主播大秀 One each November, here鈥檚 a bit of an insight鈥�
You might think we only start work in about October each year, but our editorial team works throughout the year 鈥� as does the rest of the charity.听 Part of my job is to search through our huge database, which lists all the charities to which we鈥檝e ever given grants.听 That database is fluid, forever changing as old grants expire and new funding for charities that have successfully completed our application process come on stream.听 It鈥檚 therefore a rich source of information and we use that, combined with conversations with our regional grant managers, to work out which charities have current grants.听 Then we contact some of them to find out more about their work and to see if it鈥檚 possible to tell some individual stories about the children and young people they help there.听
So with just two months to go until this year鈥檚 appeal show, things are starting to come into focus here at Pudsey HQ.听 This News Blog is where I鈥檒l be writing about some of the charity projects that your donations have funded, because my role is to find the individual stories that best explain how children across the UK are being supported by grants from 主播大秀 Children in Need.听 听
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主播大秀 Children in Need 2011 filmed at the Autistic Society Greater Manchester Area
This year, we began phoning and emailing projects just a few weeks after the success of the 2011 appeal show.听 We鈥檙e looking for inspiring or moving stories and we鈥檙e guided by the need to reflect the diverse range of issues our* covers in all parts of the UK.听 Every enquiry is informative because as well as the appeal films, we need stories for our , newsletters, for corporate partners to publish on their intranet or in their magazines, for this website, for national and regional news programme, other 主播大秀 TV and radio programmes and for events like Car Fest.
So, once we鈥檝e found out more information over the phone, we then travel the length and breadth of the country, seeing first-hand what goes on at specific projects and meeting individuals who directly benefit from it, taking photos or video clips where we can. 听We鈥檝e visited all sorts of organisations from hospices to hostels, drama groups to drug awareness workshops from Oban in Scotland to Southend in the South East of England听and Abergavenny in Wales to Portadown in Northern Ireland.听
Once we鈥檝e identified a story that clearly illustrates how a disadvantage is being well met; researched what we might be able to film; explained to potential film contributors what they can expect and got consent to interview them, we head back to the office and have regular discussions with the production team at 主播大秀 Television Centre to brief them on those details.听 Then we head out with that team so they can carry out their own 鈥榬ecce鈥� of the different potential filming locations, meet contributors and start writing up a draft film script.听
Once the script has been signed off and a date agreed for filming, we鈥檙e good to go 鈥� weather permitting 鈥� and we accompany the production team, the contributor and their family and/or project staff on the day of filming.听 By the end of the summer, with a bit of luck 鈥� actually, with a lot of luck - the majority of films will have been decided on and there鈥檚 just some fine-tuning to do as we fit the last pieces of the geographical or issue-led jigsaw into place to make sure that not all our films feature projects based in one part of the country or are all about, say, poverty.
Zoe Ball visited the Launch Pad Breakfast Club for 主播大秀 Children in Need 2011
However, some films are harder to make than others.听 First and foremost, our priority is to think of the well-being of any potential film contributors.听 We cannot risk already vulnerable young people being bullied or victimised because they鈥檝e been on the television. 听To avoid this, we know that the charities themselves only put forward those individuals who would like to be involved; who have a lot of support and who they are sure are ready for being in the public eye. 听But if the subject matter is particularly sensitive, we might make one film that involves actors or an animation.
So, the search for our appeal film contributors is a long and very careful process.听 The feedback we had from all the film contributors for both the appeal show and the 主播大秀 Children in Need Rocks Manchester concert last year 鈥� many of whom were able to enjoy being in the studio audience too 鈥� has been very positive. And despite the recession, those events, combined with the efforts of all our corporate partners and many other fundraisers, led to a whopping 拢46 million being donated in total in 2011.
So, wrapped into all this, we hope television viewers are sufficiently inspired or moved by a story that they feel inclined to听reach for their wallet听and donate either听by phone, the number听you need听is 0345 7 33 22 33, or by going to the on this website听
Fingers' crossed we can get somewhere near last year鈥檚 fabulous figure again on 16 November this year, so 主播大秀 Children in Need听can continue to support children and young people throughout the UK to enable them to reach their full potential.
*At the time of writing, 31% of our grants relate to children experiencing poverty and deprivation; 21% for disabled children and young people, 15% for marginalised groups like young carers and 12% for those experiencing distress like bereavement.听 Some of those may also include youth projects, which support NEETs or provide a safe place to hang out, and they make up nearly a quarter of our portfolio. The rest is made of grants to projects supporting children with behavioural difficulties or those who鈥檝e experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, isolation or homelessness.听
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