Children in Need Week 2021

What is Children in Need?

Children in Need is a BBC charity which raises money for disadvantaged children in the UK. The charity provides grants for young people experiencing disadvantage through poverty, disability, illness, distress, abuse, neglect, and behavioural or psychological difficulties.

This year’s date is Friday, 19 November 2021.

Children in Need hosts an annual telethon airing on BBC channels. The event typically last for several hours and involves special guests, quizzes, short documentary films, and comedy specials. A number of British shows air their own Children in Need episodes before the telethon. Past specials have included Doctor Who, The One Show, DIY SOS, University Challenge, Pointless, and Bargain Hunt.

The charity’s mascot is the beloved Pudsey Bear. Every year, official design contests and children’s activities feature the Pudsey Bear character.

What Events Are Happening in 2021?

The Children in Need telethon will air in November on BBC One and BBC Two. Typically, Children in need is an all-night programming event from 7:30pm until 2:30am. This may not be the case in 2021 depending on safety restrictions; in 2020, the Children in Need telethon was a three-hour, audience-free event. Exact details for this year’s telethon have yet to be announced.

This year, the design contest was to create a new t-shirt featuring Pudsey Bear. While the official contest is closed, the design brief and template are still available on the website.

How Can You Participate?

The official Children in Need website has links to information and fundraising activities for anyone who wants to get involved in fundraising. Pudsey Bear merchandise can also be purchased online.

The BBC website has links to episodes and highlights. The full show and individual specials are available on the Children in Need website.

Twinkl is the official education partner of Children in Need, and has activity packs and resources for children, parents, and schools.

Children in Need Programmes

Children in Need funding goes towards a number of initiatives designed to support children and young people. There are currently three programmes awarding grants to individuals and organisations. The BCC has plans to introduce additional programmes in 2021, including a Youth Social Action Fund.

The Inspiring Futures programme, in partnership with the Youth Futures Foundation, aims to address unemployment among young people aged 18-24.

The Emergency Essentials programme cares for children and young people living in poverty. It provides essential items including food, accommodation, clothing, and basic household items to children and their families. In the past year, the programme has extended funding to cover toys, games, and educational resources to address additional hardships faced by families during the pandemic.

COVID-19 Funding Streams is a Main and Small Grants programme providing up to three years of funding to not-for-profit organisations.

Facts About Children in Need

• Children in Need has been running for over 40 years
• Since 1980, Children in Need has raised over £1 billion
• Children in Need is one of the two best-known BBC charity telethons, alongside Comic Relief
• In Wales, Children in Need is known as Plant Mewn Angen