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Tuesday, May 26, 1998 Published at 10:43 GMT 11:43 UK

Pudsey bear says a big thank you
image: [ Gaby Roslin co-hosted the 1997 Children In Need Appeal ]

Gaby Roslin co-hosted the 1997 Children In Need Appeal

Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin revealed this week that the BBC's 1997 Children In Need appeal raised Ł19.7m.

[ image: Ł23,375 for Barnet Play Association in London]
Ł23,375 for Barnet Play Association in London
The appeal raised Ł18.7m in 1996 but it exceed all expectations and by the time all donations have been collected in the autumn it is expected to break the Ł20m barrier for the first time since 1991.

Barnet Play Association in north London is typical of the 3,000 charities which have received grants from last year's appeal fund.

Special adventure playground

The association has been given Ł23,375 to fund three specialist sessional workers who will help disabled and able-bodied children play together on a special adventure playground.

[ image: Roslin: backed Barnet Play Association]
Roslin: backed Barnet Play Association
Children In Need has received applications from around 7,000 organisations and has approved payments varying from Ł98 to Ł500,000.

Other grants include:

Ł78,395 to Changing Faces, a charity which helps children with facial disfigurements.
Ł8,856 to supply wheelchairs and specialist seating for the Brittle Bone Society.
Ł12,000 to the Sequal Trust, to help with speech therapy.
Ł4,200 to the Children with Aids Charity, to help towards transport costs.
Ł156,250 to NSPCC for help with child sex abuse casework.
Ł112,560 to Women's Aid Federation, to fund work with battered women's children, many of whom have been assaulted as well.

[ image: Pudsey bear has visited thousands of youngsters]
Pudsey bear has visited thousands of youngsters
Children In Need is almost unique among charities because administration costs are paid for out of the interest the donations earn in the bank rather than being borne by the public.

Set up in 1927

The fund was set up in 1927 as a radio appeal but really took off in 1980 when it transferred to television and was given a whole evening on BBC ONE.

Each year tens of thousands of people give up their time to raise money in a variety of odd ways.

Many companies encourage their employees to join in - Midland Bank staff raised Ł500,000 last year - and BBC TV and radio stations from Shetland to the Channel Islands dedicate many hours of broadcasting.

Last year for the first time Children In Need had its own website and next year people will be able to make contributions via the Internet.

Making children smile

[ image: Pudsey: instantly recognised by most children]
Pudsey: instantly recognised by most children
Throughout the year Pudsey bear, the Children In Need mascot, travels around the country visiting charities which have benefited and simply making children smile.

Unfortunately there are a handful of fundraisers who take advantage of Pudsey to raise money fraudulently.

Children In Need staff always co-operate with the police and have procedures for checking whether money has been received from people who claim they have donated cash to the appeal.


	Relevant Stories 21 Nov 97 \| UK Lou Reed and Pudsey aim to raise Ł20m



	Internet Links Children In Need NSPCC Children With Aids Charity The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.