Rotary clubs across Great Britain & Ireland are well on target to raise £125,000 for BBC’s Children in Need.
Rotary has long been a supporter raising funds for the BBC telethon, which looks to change to lives of disadvantaged children and young people across these isles.
The annual show, which was broadcast live from the BBC’s Elstree Studios, was kicked-off by Rotary polio ambassador, Ade Adepitan, along with co-host Tess Daly, before Mel Giedroyc and Graham Norton rounded off the evening.
This year’s show raised close to £48 million, and that figure will increase over the coming weeks.
£47,886,382. Wow 💛
Thanks to you we'll continue to change young lives across the UK. Thank you #ChildreninNeed pic.twitter.com/afUKzgd9ZJ
— BBC Children in Need (@BBCCiN) November 16, 2019
Paul Fisher from Rotary Misbourne Matins in Buckinghamshire, and who has been Rotary’s co-ordinator for BBC Children in Need since 2014, described the response from Rotary clubs this year as ‘magnificent’, with close to 60 clubs across the country hosting activities and events during appeal week.
He said: “We have pledged £125,000 this year which I am very confident we will make.
“Last year, Rotary raised £138,500, but that was partly down to an unexpected £8,000 from a swimming relay organised by Maidstone Riverside, which was had not expected.
“The £125,000 is a conservative estimate, but we fully expect to hit that target.”
I'm at @HeathrowAirport all day helping to collect for @BBCCiN with 200 of my closest @rotary friends! #Pudsey pic.twitter.com/FTcb2l69NK
— Paul Fisher (@rp_fisher) November 15, 2019
Newent & District Rotary in Gloucestershire were featured on BBC Children in Need’s Friday night programming with a short clip about their Countryfile ramble which is expected to raise close to £3,000.
One of the biggest fund-raisers takes place at Heathrow Airport when a number of Rotary clubs join forces to collect from passengers in the terminals. This year, they raised around £25,000.
A similar collection took place at City Airport in London, organised by Newham Rotary, while Rotary clubs in Reading raised £4,000 from a collection at the town’s train station, and along with visits to a number of schools in Berkshire, the final amount is expected to reach £20,000.
Club members are out in force today collecting at Heathrow Airport in aid of @BBCCiN. If you're heading in that direction you may even get to meet THE Pudsey Bear! pic.twitter.com/v2QGn5KRjQ
— Windsor&Eton Rotary (@werotary) November 15, 2019
Paul Fisher said that Children in Need was an important part of the Rotary calendar since it re-emphasised Rotary’s credentials as a community organisation.
“Children in Need is a terrific cause, and Rotary clubs have a lot of fun supporting the cause and raising lots of money. Of course, Rotary wants to increase its exposure, so events such as Children in Need give us great public relations,” added Paul.
“But it is clear that Rotary clubs get a lot out of the event in the community too by being allied to large charity event.
“For some of our clubs, it gives them the opportunity to go into schools for the first time, but we’re also visiting various organisations, holding collections in shopping centres and people are finding out about what Rotary does.
#Pudsey had a wonderful time visiting @StauntonCorse, thank you Teachers, Parents and Children for making me so welcome. pic.twitter.com/UarDndlMxm
— Newent and District Rotary Club (@NewentClub) November 15, 2019
“Children in Need gives Rotary an excellent opportunity to reach out to the younger generation and to tell them what Rotary does, besides raising tens of thousands of pounds each year for an amazing cause.”
To find out more about Rotary Children in Need, email Paul Fisher on volunteer@rotarycin.co.uk.
