Posted on 25th February 2010
The BBC’s Children in Need appeal has announced the first of four rounds of grants for this year. It has awarded £9.3m to community groups and organisations that support disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
The television appeal, which takes place in November each year, has so far raised £20.3m and more money is still to be collected. The appeal raised a record £38m from its 2008 appeal.
Since November 2009, BBC Children in Need has received thousands of applications for funding, which have been assessed by eight committees who pass on their recommendations to the trustees of the charity.
The average amount awarded to a project this grant round is £37,362 with grants ranging in size from £500, to the largest single grant of £379,850. The grants are allocated geographically to ensure a spread across the UK.
Grants this year include £30,000 to the Alcohol & Drugs Advisory Service in Harlow, Essex, which provides therapeutic support to under 16's coping with parental substance abuse and domestic violence, and £42,691 to West Cumbria Carers. This project is designed to increase confidence and self-esteem of young carers by providing respite from their caring responsibilities.
David Ramsden, BBC Children in Need chief executive, commented: "It is the incredible generosity, imagination and commitment of our supporters that makes it possible to change lots of young lives."
