For some children and young people who might not otherwise have that experience, 主播大秀 Children in Need currently funds more than 130 organisations that provide school holiday activities or residential weeks and weekends.

One of those is the听听run by Wren Music in Devon.听听Staff there use a range of different musical instruments to promote self-confidence, positive communication and behaviour amongst children from two different schools in听Barnstaple听补苍诲听Exeter.

Community musicians David and Becki run each session which includes playing instruments, singing, forming a band, composing new music, drumming and song-writing. A grant of 拢30,624 over three years helps fund their salaries and the cost of some of the instruments. 听So children aged between five and 15 get to have a go on the drums, keyboards, squeeze boxes or concertinas, fiddles, autoharps and rare species like the mandolin.

They have weekly sessions during term time and two four-day workshops during school holidays at a local youth club. 听But the young people don鈥檛 have to have the ability to read music or the skills to play. They have a go at exploring and playing all the different instruments, learning and developing musical skills, learning parts and rhythms that go together like a musical jig, sometimes the music is for listening to and sometimes they even play for a dance! They鈥檙e also provided with a healthy snack; they set their own ground rules and often adapt existing songs 鈥� like Adele鈥檚 鈥楽omeone Like You鈥� to make them more relevant to the group. 听

Older teenagers Josh and Cody helped out the younger children who soon made a beeline for their favourite instruments, while Alfie amazed everyone with his rapping skills!

Becki said: 鈥淥ne child we have worked with over the three years really struggled to focus in the music sessions and consequently was quite disruptive. His co-ordination was poor and he found it very difficult to remember patterns on the instruments. Over time, he has become a real key player in the group. He now can remember chord sequences on the guitar and when he is taught a new pattern he will sit quietly and practise it until he has perfected it. His rhythm has developed and he always plays in time with the group. He still struggles sometimes with being part of a bigger group but on the whole his concentration seems to have improved immensely and he is confident. He is also quick to praise others for doing well and works really well in a pair. This year he has been taken off the Special Educational Needs register.鈥�

Thank you for helping to support projects like Music 4 Life.

If you'd like to read about more of the projects your money helps to support, visit the section on our website.

His mum and dad, Nicola and Andrew, eventually discovered that he had a very rare skin condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum. 滨迟鈥檚 an hereditary condition that means the skin cannot repair itself after being damaged by UV radiation. It affects just one in 250,000 people in the UK today and means they are 1000 times more susceptible to skin cancers.

Recently, many of us have been relishing the first sunshine of the year, but children with XP avoid going outside in daylight. If they do, they apply high factor sunscreen to their skin every few hours, wear long sleeves, gloves and a protective hat with a special visor that blocks out UV light. The windows of their homes, schools and nurseries are fitted with the same special film called Dermaguard which filters out UV rays and they have regular check-ups at a specialist clinic, at least every six months.

Eddision鈥檚 family have a zero tolerance policy to UV so he has a device听to measure the invisible UV rays from things like lighting. His family has raised funds to build him an indoor garden at home. There, he and his younger brother Raife can kick a football around on the astroturf surface, play on the swings and care for his pet rabbit.

Aside from the isolation and frustration of not being able to play outside, children and young people with XP may also experience difficulties making friends because they are different as well as teasing and self-consciousness.

But since 2002, 主播大秀 Children in Need has been helping to fund the XP Support Group so that it can provide information, fun and friendship to the 100 or so families in the UK affected by the condition.

Founder Sandra Webb set up the group after her son Alex, now 19, was diagnosed. A grant of 拢9,500 contributes towards the cost of activities and volunteers at the Owl Patrol Camp of 2014 which was held at St Katharine鈥檚 House in Freith near Henley-on-Thames in mid-February.

滨迟鈥檚 an annual residential held at the same location each year because CiN funding previously paid for specialist UV film to be fitted to all the windows. CiN has also paid for equipment, toys, games and art supplies. 滨迟鈥檚 a weekend when newly-diagnosed families can get information and support or those who know each other through the Support Group can meet up, talk to each other, and get advice or give feedback on their experience to the foremost experts in the field.

Sandra said: 鈥淓ach year our camp is themed and activities are chosen in line with the theme and we decorate the rooms to match. For 2014 it was 'Heroes & Villains'. All the arts and crafts activities are available to children and adults. We also invite doctors and experts in the field to talk to them. The camp treats XP patients and their non-affected siblings equally. We believe that siblings also need support as they often feel that more attention is paid to their affected sibling than to themselves.鈥�

The house has enough rooms for around 35 families, 40 per cent of whom are new to the group, like Eddison, and who are helped to adapt to the diagnosis that comes as such a shock in the beginning.

Ahmed, who鈥檚 11, had been counting the days until returning to Owl Patrol Camp after enjoying so much last year. For him, his mum, his brother and sister, it meant a nine-hour journey from Bradford because of transport issues caused by the recent floods and storms. But once at the house, Ahmed showed off his superb origami and indoor football skills. The experience also included an early evening swim, the chance to take part in a karate session, the opportunity for teenagers to make a podcast or leaflet of top tips and advice to younger children with the condition, all washed down with good food and friendship.

Ahmed said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like wearing my hat and visor and it keeps breaking. But my friends at school know why I have to and it鈥檚 OK. I鈥檝e had a small bit of skin removed near my mouth that doctors were a bit worried about but you can hardly see it. The main problem I鈥檝e got at the moment is round my eyes.鈥�

Sandra introduces families to specialists like ophthalmologist Susie Morley, so they can talk to her about the latest research on eye protection. She carries out regular checks on children like Ahmed because exposure to sunlight can damage the surface of the eyeball and if they are affected by neurological damage it can affect eye movements.

They can also meet nurse Sally Turner who works on an outreach basis, visiting families at home or children at school to educate teachers and ensure that buildings and school clothing are UV safe. And there are also dermatologists, a geneticist and clinical psychologist who all specialise on the condition.

滨迟鈥檚 Professor Alan Lehmann from the University of Sussex whose team diagnoses most cases of XP in the UK.

He explained: 鈥淲e analyse the skin biopsy and either find that the skin cells can鈥檛 repair UV damage or that they can鈥檛 copy the DNA that carries out that function.鈥�

These are all the people that families of children with XP are likely to meet at the clinics they attend in either Birmingham or London. To have a one-stop shop for them once a year where they can also make friends and have fun is invaluable.

Thank you for donating to 主播大秀 Children in Need so we can continue to fund residential stays for children with rare diseases like XP.

Their surfing courses are run by the Wave Project, which is supported by 主播大秀 Children in Need, and are for local children and young people aged 8 to 18 with exceptional difficulties in their lives. Some of the children who attend are facing challenges associated with abuse and neglect, exclusion, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, eating disorders and bullying.

Staff have seen how surfing can play a part in turning these children鈥檚 lives around, helping them overcome anxiety, depression and build up their self-confidence.

The courses have become so popular that the Wave Project is set to launch three new surf club branches in the spring after trebling in size in less than a year!

Joe Taylor from the Wave Project says: "It has been amazing how many young people have joined the club this year. When we launched in 2012, our aim was to provide one session a month for young people who had completed one of our therapeutic courses. Now we are trying to cater for over 120 members, many of whom want to go surfing every week. And because we offer one to one support, we have to make sure we have enough staff available for each session. 滨迟鈥檚 a big logistical challenge!鈥�

The club plans to open branches in west, mid and north Cornwall, which will deliver a free surfing session once a week in the summer season, with individual support for members who need it.

Harry, who's听10, came on a Wave Project course in September 2013 and loved it so much he joined the Surf Club straight after!听

He says: 鈥淚 love going to The Wave Project because it鈥檚 good, and I like going out with other people like me. 滨迟鈥檚 lots of fun. I had a bit of confidence before doing The Wave Project, but I鈥檝e got more now!鈥�

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Perhaps the most unexpected character we came across was Bobby, a rare Greyface Dartmoor sheep from Somerset. Although Bobby lives a busy life on his farm, he鈥檚 also managed to find time to become the star of a series of books! Written by Bobby鈥檚 owner Enid Barnfield, the Bobby Our Sheep series of books recount some of Bobby鈥檚 many adventures since he arrived on the farm. The books are sold in aid of 主播大秀 Children in Need and look set to be a big hit with younger audiences. 滨迟鈥檚 good to see a simple sheep really get into the fundraising spirit!

And talking of spirits, we鈥檝e caught work of a Berkshire group embarking on a very special paranormal investigation. Spirit Explorers is a popular ghost-hunting group who visit haunted hot spots all over the UK looking for a glimpse of something ghostly, and on Friday 15 November they鈥檒l be visiting the infamous Hellfire Caves in High Wycombe for Pudsey鈥檚 Paranormal Pursuit -all profits from the event will be donated to 主播大秀 Children in Need. As well as ghost hunting and some spooky challenges (a lone vigil in the Inner Temple 200 feet below ground!) there will also be a raffle and a chance to meet and swap stories with other enthusiasts. If you鈥檙e over 18 and have a taste for terror you can book on to the event via .

Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to Simon Walker and his team of fundraising superstars from the Air Division at QinetiQ in Salisbury. Simon and the team have raised a huge 拢3648 through a variety of events such as cake sales, barbecues, auctions, Friday ice cream runs and more. From the sounds of it everyone involved had a great time and deserves a big congratulations for donating such an impressive amount!

A huge thank you to everyone getting involved this year 鈥� every donation will help support children and young people . If you鈥檝e been fundraising or you鈥檙e currently working on your genius plan, get in touch! . You can also get in touch on 听by following us and tagging @主播大秀CiN. We can help you to promote your fundraising and perhaps you could be the next 主播大秀 Children in Need fundraising superstar!

She said: 鈥淚t was the worst feeling in the world to see my new-born baby going through all this pain and suffering.听 This was the time we were supposed to be excited that after nine long months of waiting, our precious baby was here.鈥�

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The seizures continued 鈥� sometimes Ethan had 15 a day 鈥� and he began to lose the skills he had gained in the early days, like the ability to smile and focus on his parents and objects around him.听 It was heart-breaking.听 By 18 months, his seizures were more controlled and he was only having a few a week.听

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A few days before his second birthday, genetic tests showed that he had the condition ARX 鈥� aristaless related homeobox.听 This causes epilepsy and affects development.听 His mum and dad were upset to be told he would have the condition for the rest of his life but they were determined to make that a full and happy time.听 Naomi asked around and a friend told her about an organisation called BIBIC in Somerset.听听 She read some of the stories on their website and arranged an appointment.听 She met an experienced therapist, whose position is funded by a grant from 主播大秀 Children in Need.

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The therapist observed that Ethan, who was then nearly two, couldn鈥檛 support his own head, his hands were bunched into fists and his development was delayed in all areas.听 But he loved listening to nursery rhymes, he paid attention to various lights in the sensory room and make loud noises to show that he wanted an activity repeated.听 He loved rough and tumble play and would giggle infectiously when he was swung around in his dad鈥檚 arms.

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The therapist drew up a regime of exercises and activities for Ethan to practice for half an hour every day and Naomi and her family carried out the new 鈥榳orkout鈥� routine methodically 鈥� often involving Ethan鈥檚 grandparents if they were looking after him for the day.听

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Within four months, Naomi could see a difference in Ethan鈥檚 mobility.听 Instead of having closed fists, he was more relaxed.听 He started to be able to control his head and hands.听 After playing with sensory toys, he could now open his hand and grasp听objects for a short while.听 He relearnt to lift his head after playing while lying on his tummy on a sloping board. 听He could make a wider range of noises and stand with support.

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Naomi was delighted to see her son progress and said: 鈥淚 am over the moon that I can help my little man to finally start to develop.听 Who knows, I might even see him sit up or walk in the future.鈥�

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Ethan鈥檚 programme is continually revised and new goals are set as he grows older.听 A two-year grant of 拢68,848 contributes towards the salary of full-time therapist Graham Valentine at BIBIC so he can set up a personal development programme for children like Ethan, to enable them to reach their full potential and enjoy the world around them.听

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To find out more about how your听money makes a difference to children and young people all across the UK, please visit our section.听

So has Tye, also three, who was fitted with cochlear implants when he was 19 months old. His mum remembers the awesome moment when his implants were switched on and he turned his head towards a noise for the first time. Background noise sometimes makes it difficult for children like Jacob and Tye to mimic the words they hear and this can affect the development of their speech. They are two of the 45,000 deaf children in the UK today, according to figures from the National Deaf Children鈥檚 Society.

Since the NHS established the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme in 2002, early diagnosis has been possible, so while some families opt to communicate as a family by signing, others have the option of accessing hearing aids or cochlear implants for their child if suitable. Being able to access communication skills during the crucial language acquisition phase of brain development in the first two years of a child鈥檚 life can greatly improve speech and vocabulary development. With the right support, they can listen and talk as well as their hearing peers.

One place that offers that support is in Hampshire, a national charity set up by parents Shirley and David Metherell in their home in 1981 to help their deaf daughter Elizabeth learn to speak. 30 years on, it has evolved into a purpose-built facility with a sister unit in Bradford. It runs nursery and pre-school sessions for children aged 0 to five as well as 主播大秀 Learning classes for families who can鈥檛 access the facility.

主播大秀 Children in Need funds speech and language therapist Frances Clark who works there. She carries out one-to-one sessions to help 70 children a year learn to speak, to make friends and participate in a classroom environment. In the sessions, children like Jacob are asked to tap out the number of syllables in each word they say using a toy drum and drumstick, to help them understand word structure. They are asked to describe objects and scenes shown to them on cards and tablets. In Jacob鈥檚 case, Frances was particularly keen to ensure that he pronounced the end of each word, such as the 鈥榚d鈥� of 鈥榮cratched鈥�.

In the classrooms, built with optimum acoustics, the task is to cut out pictures of farm animals and glue them into the correct farmyard pen. Teacher Rachel communicates with the children better because she wears a radio device that eliminates background noise for those children wearing a similar radio aid 听鈥� the same sort of device they will use when they start school. For some, this makes the difference between them accessing mainstream education rather than attending a school for children with special needs.

Cameras in each classroom record the sessions so that at the end of their time at the Foundation, parents can see what and how they鈥檝e been taught and also have a keepsake of their child鈥檚 progress on DVD. Outside the classroom there is plenty of space to play and ride around on bikes.

As a result of this head start, Director of Children鈥檚 Services Julie Hughes said 12 out of the 13 children who left the Elizabeth Foundation in 2012 to start school were found to have abilities ahead of the average for all children their age range.

Jacob鈥檚 mum Beth says: 鈥淭he work that Frances has done with Jacob this year has been brilliant. 滨迟鈥檚 so important that Jacob and all deaf children do not feel inadequate or unable to achieve because of their hearing loss and I believe that The Elizabeth Foundation helps deaf children to achieve their potential but also helps them and their families feel supported in a way that makes them feel 'normal' and that their hearing loss should not hold them back.

鈥淚f we hadn鈥檛 had the input from The Elizabeth Foundation I think the prospect of 'big' school would be a lot more scary!鈥�

Your donations have helped 主播大秀 Children in Need to fund nearly 60 projects to a value of more than 拢2,300,000 that support children with sensory impairments like deafness.

滨迟鈥檚 St George鈥檚 Day, patron saint of England, and 主播大秀 Children in Need is proud to be funding 1265 projects across England to a value of more than 拢35 million. From Cumbria to Cornwall, children up and down the country are benefitting from donations made by you.

Some of those children are pupils from St George鈥檚 School on the Isle of Wight. All the students have learning difficulties and physical disabilities, so it鈥檚 really important to them that they get to have the same experiences as other children.

They are able to have tons of fun on the water thanks to the 鈥業sland Youth Water Activities Centre鈥� which is funded by Children in Need.

滨迟鈥檚 all go on the water with powerboat driving, sailing and kayaking, giving everyone the chance to do something new and exciting. Without even realising it, these young people are improving their co-ordination whilst gaining heaps of confidence.

滨迟鈥檚 an opportunity for Hannah (pictured above) who has some mobility problems and poor field of vision, to enjoy water sports because most of it can be done sitting down.

Centre manager Mike Acton says: 鈥淭he activities have helped her to improve her balance and co-ordination.听 Hannah has a sense of freedom on the water and enjoys all of the sensations it brings. No matter what the weather听or activity, Hannah is always smiling and always chatting.鈥�

Today (Friday 28 September), a group of eager cyclists from B&Q in Southampton have begun an epic bike ride - a 240-mile commute all the way to Lille in France!

In total, 15 colleagues from B&Q, their sister companies (Kingfisher, Brico Depot)听and sustainability partner (BioRegional) have set off on their "commute", raising money for 主播大秀 Children in Need every single mile after aching mile...

The bike ride will take the charity cyclists up to Paddington where the Kingfisher colleagues will join the group, followed by stops at B&Q Gillingham and B&Q Dover on Saturday where the riders will be fundraising in-store before their ferry ride over to France. It will take the team until Monday morning to reach their final destination in Lille, with the aim of having raised over 拢6,000.

Matt Sexton, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for B&Q said:

"This year we鈥檙e aiming to surpass last year鈥檚 fundraising total with the help of our charity commute. Although many of us cycle to work, cycling over 250 miles in under four days is no mean feat and we hope that supporters along the way will dig deep and donate to help B&Q smash the target of 拢6,000. We鈥檝e even got Pudsey as our mascot to cheer us on which will help boost morale along the way."

Well we're incredibly impressed by your efforts, everyone - and we're thrilled to be able to say that by lunchtime today, the team had already raised a fantastic 拢4,700 for 主播大秀 Children in Need. Good luck with the rest of the journey everyone - or should that be 'Bon Voyage'?

As I'm sure you already know, CarFest was dreamt up by Radio 2 DJ and all-round good egg Chris Evans, as a fun and exciting way of raising lots of money for 主播大秀 Children in Need. And the results - well, they're way beyond even our wildest of expectations.

In fact, it was only five months ago that Chris came up with the idea for CarFest听- a two-day family-friendly听festival combining听high-octane action from an amazing array of racing, classic and supercars, fabulous food plus live music from top bands. And right now we're only just over a week away for this year's second spectacular CarFest event, CarFest North - to be held over the weekend of 8/9 September at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire.

鈥淐arFest South done and dusted. And absolutely brilliant!鈥� said Chris this week.听

"Historic fly-pasts overhead, aerobatic displays from The RN and The Blades and The RAF Red Arrows, more fab live music than might be good for one person and the thousands of kids present self-policing the event. It was awesome.

Thank you to the local council, the local constabulary and all those wonderful Overtonians who came along and joined in the fun. And fun that thus far has raised at least 拢750,000 for 主播大秀 Children In Need. I say! We'll done everyone 鈥� now bring on CarFest North!"

CARFEST NORTH - 8/9 SEPTEMBER

The packed line-up of exciting events taking place at听CarFest North includes:

MUSIC: Texas, Paloma Faith, The Proclaimers, Counterfeit Stones, Razorlight, The Magic Numbers, Merrymouth and Ultimate Eagles

CARS: Chris's own 'Magnificent 7' Ferraris, European Supercars, US Supercars, Far East Supercars, Motorsport, 7 cars worth 拢1million, Anniversaries, Group B Rally Cars, Historic F1s, Vintage, Celebrities鈥� cars, Design Classics, Gorgeous and Unusual Collection.

FOOD & FAMILY: Fabulous organic festival food from a wide range of local and national suppliers, the legendary Cakes vs Pies competition, judged by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood from The Great British Bake-Off, Air Displays, Arena Shows, Hot Air Balloons, Jousting, Fireworks and much much more...

A small number of tickets for CarFest North are still available.

Did you go to CarFest South? Why not tell us all about your experiences by leaving a comment below!听 Or are you looking forward to CarFest North? What part of the event are you most excited about. Let us know!