Get your dancing shoes on to raise money for
BBC Children in Need
Fabulous fundraising ideas from volunteers
We’re really excited to partner once again with BBC Children in Need!
This year, Children in Need has partnered with BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, and we’re asking Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, volunteers and families across the country to add a Strictly-inspired twist to their fundraising.
Units up and down the country will be raising loads of money for this year’s BBC Children in Need with added sparkle and glitter. The money raised will be split equally between BBC Children in Need and Girlguiding to fund projects all around the UK. So the more we raise, the more difference we can make.
We’ve loved hearing about your plans to fundraise – from dance challenges to hosting a Strictly-themed bake sale. Need a bit of inspiration? Here are some of the brilliant ideas we’ve already heard about.
Keep dancing!
In Yorkshire, Samantha Brown, who leads a Rainbow and Guide unit, is hosting a danceathon.
1st Castleford Rainbows, Brownies and Guides will join 10th Castleford Rainbows and 8th Castleford Rangers to dance non-stop for two hours. The 40 girls taking part will be dressing up and hoping to raise as much money as possible as they boogie.
'I can’t wait for the danceathon', says Samantha. 'We’re hoping to raise a lot of money for BBC Children in Need and raise awareness of Girlguiding in our area whilst having heaps of fun!
'Girlguiding means a lot to me, I love going weekly to see my girls and create memories with them. My units will try their hand at anything. We love crafting, having cook outs and everything in between. My Girlguiding friends have helped me through a lot in life, and they are often the first people I go to for things in and out of Girlguiding.'
50% of the total funds raised will support BBC Children in Need’s projects and 25% will support Girlguiding’s national projects. The final 25% of funds raised will support local Girlguiding.
'We are incredibly excited and proud to be partnering with BBC Children in Need again', says Assistant Chief Guide Emma Guthrie. 'The last two years have been challenging for everyone, especially children. It’s crucial that we do everything we can to ensure that they are not forgotten and have the support they need to thrive'.
Cha-cha change
In the West Midlands, 3rd Blackheath Guides and Rainbows will both be taking on fundraising challenges for BBC Children in Need this year. The Guides are hosting a family quiz to challenge family members on their general knowledge. The Rainbows will be adding some Strictly sparkle to their fundraising and turning Smartie tubes into colourful dancers inspired by Strictly Come Dancing. They’re going to be asking friends and family to put any loose change into the tubes. Together, the two units are hoping to raise £150.
'We get to have fun colouring in the Strictly Come Dancing tubes and then we get to eat the smarties', says five-year-old Rainbow Poppy. 'And we’ll be raising money by asking our friends and family to donate their spare coins'.
Units are getting ready to dance in Durham too. Middleton St George Brownies in Darlington have been challenged to learn ten new dance moves for their unit’s danceathon. Dressed in their sparkles and glitter, the Brownies will be whirling and twirling to raise money.
Shake it all about
1st Didcot Great Western Park Brownies will also be putting their dancing shoes on to raise money. The unit is going to be doing the Hokey Cokey with as many different people as they can, in as many different places as they can in the community and beyond. The challenge will come to an end as the Brownies and local Guide unit come together to take part in a big, group Hokey Cokey in the park.
Catherine Wales, Leader of 1st Didcot Great Western Park Brownies, said: 'I can’t wait for our big Hokey Cokey fundraising event. Hopefully we’ll raise lots of money and have loads of fun.' Catherine also mentions that they will be adding lots of sparkles and glitterballs to get into the Strictly spirt. 'It’s so nice to be able to join together to take part in a big dancing fundraiser for BBC Children in Need and Girlguiding. The girls can’t wait to get their groove on!'
Safe, happy, secure
BBC Children in Need is currently supporting more than 2,500 local charities and projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.
'We are delighted here at BBC Children in Need that for a second year we have partnered with Girlguiding to raise money for children and young people at risk of disadvantage right across the UK', says Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need. 'The past eighteen months have been incredibly difficult, and we would like to send a big thank you to all Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Girlguiding’s volunteers for getting involved again.
It is always brilliant to be able to see the creativity, enthusiasm and generosity from our supporters and for this year’s campaign we are encouraging Girlguiding units to add some Strictly sparkle to their fundraising. The contributions we receive from fundraisers, such as our partners at Girlguiding, show that together we really can change young lives'.
BBC Children in Need hopes to inspire the nation to get fundraising to help make a difference at time when it is needed most. The funds raised from this year’s appeal will help BBC Children in Need to support local charities and projects in communities across the UK who help remove the barriers that are facing children and young people, so that they can thrive. The charity works closely with a whole range of organisations to understand where the need is greatest, ensuring the money raised by the public goes to supporting the young people that need the help most.
BBC Children in Need’s vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.
It’s not too late to fundraise – we can all still donate through this JustGiving page! And don’t forget to watch the appeal night on 19 November, on BBC One from 7pm.
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