Children in Need appeal for 2009

The campaign helps thousands of children each year

Hundreds of organisations are using grant money from Children in Need to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

Despite the economic conditions, the 2008 Appeal raised a record breaking £37.8m which has helped more than 700 projects across the UK.

In Leeds more than £1.26m has been awarded to 24 projects in local grants.

This year, Friday 20 November 2009, marks the 30th BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Children in Need banner unfurled

For more information on how to be a part of Children In Need 2009 visit the official website.

One project that will benefit is Pyramid of Arts who run arts groups for people with learning disabilities and non-disabled people throughout Leeds.

The groups come together to make large-scale sculptures, paintings and installations with professional artists. They also make music together and explore movement, dance and drama.

Most of all, they allow people with and without disabilities to share their interest in the arts, make friends and have fun. The Children In Need grant will go towards funding creative arts sessions for children between the ages of 14-18 years with learning disabilities. The sessions will run once a week during term time at the Burley Lodge Community

See what Graham Liver is doing for CiN

What you're doing

Children In Need relies on all the great work done by YOU, the public, who go to great lengths to raise funds in a fun and entertaining manner.

Here's some of the fun activities you'll be getting up to in order to raise money:

Andrew Meeks of Leicester will be doing 35 laps of the cross country ski track at Stockeld Park in Wetherby on CIN night (Friday 20 November 2009). That's the equivalent of a marathon - over 26 miles!

Zoe Cardiss of Rawdon will be part of a group of seven ladies who are doing a five mile sponsored walk in wacky pyjamas along the Leeds/Liverpool canal.

Maureen Callaghan of Garforth, who's 58, will be shaving her head on CIN night.

Carol Newbould of Otley is making a professional DVD of her young ballet pupils which will be sold to the parents. All profits donated going to CIN.

Staff and pupils at Wigton Moor Playschool will come in on Friday 20 November in fancy dress.

Jennifer Beckles and her colleagues from the office at the Headingley campus of Leeds Metropolitan University will be selling scones and pastries for morning coffee as well as West Indian food (Curry Goat, Rice & Peas) and Indian food (Chicken Masala, chickpea curry, lentil curry) and of course a vegetarian option for staff at work during lunch time plus various cakes at other times.

Caroline Davies of Armley will be doing a 10 mile walk around Leeds on Saturday 28 November.

Lucy Greenwood of Lawnswood will be collecting donations and doing Guess the Bear, 50p a go - donors get a Pudsey activity pack, made by Lucy. She's also selling key rings and collecting donations at her school with a sponsored silence.

A group of students from Leeds West Academy are baking cakes and biscuits to raise money for CIN on Wednesday 18 November, and the results will be sold on Friday 20 November.

Staff and students at Leeds College of Building are getting involved in a number of activities to help raise money for CIN, including a penalty shoot out, male students getting their hair shaved off and legs waxed, selling students work that's been handcrafted in the plastering and joinery departments plus voting for a member of staff to be dressed up in a silly costume for the day and have wet sponges thrown at them.