Children in Need 2025: The Ultimate Guide to the Appeal, Fundraising & Impact
It’s a Friday night in November. A yellow bear with a spotted bandana is on TV, families are settling in, and across the UK, thousands of bake sales, quiz nights, and pyjama days have come to a close. This is the shared, nostalgic experience of BBC Children in Need.
But it’s far more than just a beloved TV show. It’s a year-round UK charity, a cultural institution that has spanned generations, and a vital lifeline for over 1,500 local projects supporting children and young people in every corner of the nation.
For many of us, it’s an event we’ve grown up with. But with a new theme, a fresh lineup of presenters, and new challenges, 2025 is set to be one of the most important years yet.
Whether you’re looking for the 2025 show details, need genuinely good fundraising ideas that go beyond a simple collection tin, or want to know where your hard-earned money actually goes, this guide has you covered.
What is Children in Need 2025? (All You Need to Know)
This is the central hub for the 2025 appeal. Here are the essential facts for your diary.
When is the Children in Need 2025 Appeal Show?
The main event, the live telethon, will air on Friday, 14th November 2025.
The broadcast begins at 7:00 pm on BBC One and will be broadcast live from MediaCityUK in Salford, Manchester. It’s an all-evening event packed with exclusive performances, comedy sketches, and powerful appeal films.
Who are the 2025 Presenters?
A fresh and dynamic team is hosting the 2025 appeal show. The confirmed lineup for the main telethon includes:
- Mel Giedroyc
- Rochelle Humes
- Vernon Kay
- Paddy McGuinness
- Lenny Rush
- Big Zuu
This team will guide viewers through the night of entertainment, celebrating the fundraisers and sharing the stories of the children the charity supports.
What is This Year’s Theme?
The official theme for 2025 is “Challenge Yourself.”
This theme is a call to action for everyone in the UK—individuals, schools, and workplaces—to step out of their comfort zones and take on a personal challenge to raise money. This could be anything from a sponsored silence or a digital detox to a team-based fitness goal.
The charity is particularly promoting the “Challenge Yourself to 25” initiative, encouraging people to base their challenge around the number 25, whether it’s 25 miles, 25 cakes baked, or 25 songs performed.
What TV Specials Are On This Year?
The 2025 appeal show promises a huge night of entertainment, blending comedy, music, and heartwarming moments. Confirmed segments for the night include:
- A Strictly Come Dancing Special: A new set of celebrities will take to the dancefloor for a one-night-only trophy.
- A Gladiators Takeover: The new generation of Gladiators will star in a special, high-energy segment.
- A Celebrity Apprentice Special: Lord Sugar will put a new group of famous faces through their paces in a Children in Need-themed task.
- The BBC Children in Need Choir: The choir returns for another emotional performance, connecting singers from across the UK.
5 Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work (And How to Do Them)
This is the core of our “Experience” and “Expertise.” Anyone can list “bake sale,” but after years of participating, we know what really works. Here are tips that go beyond the generic.
For Schools: The “Great Spotacular” Bake Sale (That Sells Out)
Everyone does a bake sale, but most end with a pile of leftover, slightly soggy fairy cakes at 4 pm. The key is presentation and “Pudseyfication.”
Pro-Tip (From Experience): Don’t just make brownies. Make “Pudsey’s Paw-print” cookies. They are incredibly simple: a basic digestive biscuit, a layer of yellow icing, and four chocolate buttons for the “paw.” They cost pennies to make, you can sell them for 50p, and they always sell out first because they are perfectly on-brand.
Also, always bring a “float” of £20 in 50p and £1 coins. Nothing stops a fundraiser faster than not having change.
For Work: The “Challenge Yourself” Sweepstake
The “guess the total” sweepstake at the end of the night is a classic, but it’s not very engaging. This year, use the “Challenge Yourself” theme to your advantage.
Pro-Tip (From Experience): Run a sweepstake on one of the official celebrity challenges, like Sara Cox’s “Great Northern Marathon Challenge.” Create a sweepstake sheet with 30-minute time slots for her finish time. It’s more engaging, creates a buzz all week, and is much easier to manage than a vague “final total” guess.
For Everyone: The Easy Win Pyjama/Spotted-Outfit Day
This is the easiest fundraiser in the book for a simple reason: it requires minimal effort for maximum participation.
At a school or office, set a fixed donation amount (e.g., £1 or £2) to wear pyjamas, onesies, or a “spotacular” (spotted) outfit. The key is to get everyone involved, from the pupils to the headteacher, from the new apprentice to the CEO. The group photos alone are worth the £2 donation.
How to Get Your Official Fundraising Pack
To make your event look the part, you need the official branding. The BBC Children in Need website provides a free digital fundraising pack.
[BBC Children in Need Official Fundraising Pack]
This pack is essential. It includes:
- Printable bunting (with Pudsey and Blush)
- “Challenge Yourself” posters
- Social media graphics and “totaliser” images
- Sponsorship forms
Using the official pack not only makes your event feel more professional but also builds trust with donors, showing them it’s a legitimate event.
How to Pay in Your Fundraising Money
This is the most critical step, and one many people get wrong. Don’t let your hard-earned cash sit in a bucket for weeks. The charity has made it simple to pay in your funds.
- Online: The easiest way is to use the official website. You can make a one-off payment of the total amount you collected.
- At a Bank: You can pay in your cash or cheques at any branch of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, or Barclays by using a pre-printed giro slip (which you can get from the official website).
- By Post: You can send a cheque (payable to “BBC Children in Need”) to the address listed on their website.
[Official Guide to Paying in Your Money]
Always try to pay your money in as soon as possible after your event so it can be counted towards the 2025 appeal.
How to Donate to Children in Need
If fundraising isn’t for you, donating directly is a fast, powerful way to show your support. Here are the primary methods.
Text to Donate
This is often the most popular method during the live appeal show. The official 2025 text numbers and donation amounts will be announced on the night and promoted heavily on BBC One.
(Note: Text numbers are typically for specific amounts, e.g., “Text GIVE to 70701 to donate £10.” These will be updated here as soon as they are live.)
Donate Online
The simplest and most secure method is to donate online via the official portal.
The Official BBC Children in Need Donation Portal
This portal allows you to make a single donation or set up a regular monthly gift. It accepts all major credit cards and digital payment methods.
A Note on Gift Aid: How to Make Your £10 Donation Worth £12.50
This is a piece of expertise that is crucial for donors. When you donate, you will see a checkbox for “Gift Aid.”
What is Gift Aid? If you are a UK taxpayer, the government allows the charity to reclaim the basic rate tax on your donation. This means for every £10 you donate, Children in Need can claim an extra £2.50 from the government, making your donation worth £12.50 at no extra cost to you.
It’s a simple checkbox that adds 25% to your donation. Always tick it if you are eligible.
Where Does Your Money Actually Go? (The Impact)
This is the most important question for any donor. It’s easy to see the millions on the “totaliser,” but what does that number mean?
To show this, we looked at the charity’s official reports and the data registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (a “Trust” source). Children in Need is not a service provider; it’s a grant-maker. It gives your money to small and large projects in local communities across the UK.
From Your £10 Donation to Real-World Impact
Your donation doesn’t just go into a giant pot. It is broken down and distributed to projects that can prove their impact. Here’s what your donation can actually become:
- Your £10 donation isn’t just “money”; it’s the £10 phone card that allows a young carer to stay connected to their dedicated support worker for a week.
- Your £25 donation becomes the art supplies for a weekend bereavement support group, helping children who have lost a parent express their feelings in a safe environment.
- Your £50 donation is what keeps the heating on at a local disability sports club during a cold winter evening, allowing children to have a place to be active and social.
This is the tangible impact. Your money pays for utility bills, art supplies, transport, food, and the salaries of vital support staff at the grassroots level.
The Types of Projects We Fund
According to its official mission, Children in Need funds projects in four key areas:
- Mental Health & Resilience: Supporting projects that help children manage their mental health, build resilience, and cope with trauma.
- Poverty & Inequality: Providing essentials and support for children living in poverty, ensuring they have food, warm clothes, and a safe place to be.
- Local Youth Clubs: Funding community projects that give children a safe, supportive space to play, learn, and build friendships.
- Families & Young Carers: Supporting families in crisis and providing respite and resources for young people who have to care for a sick or disabled relative.
The Legacy: Pudsey, Wogan, and 40+ Years of Giving
To understand the 2025 appeal, it helps to understand its history. The first BBC Children in Need telethon was in 1980, but the mascot and the man who defined it came later.
Who is Pudsey Bear? The Story of the Mascot
Pudsey Bear is one of the most recognisable brand mascots in the world. He was created in 1985 by a BBC graphic designer named Joanna Ball.
She named him “Pudsey” after her hometown of Pudsey, West Yorkshire, where her grandfather had been mayor. The original Pudsey looked a little different, with a red bandana and downward-pointing buttons. He was redesigned in 1986 to the yellow bear with the spotted bandana we know and love today.
The Sir Terry Wogan Era
You cannot talk about Children in Need without talking about Sir Terry Wogan. As the host from 1980 until 2014, he was the heart and soul of the appeal.
It was Wogan’s gentle humour, empathy, and ability to connect with both the celebrities and the public that established the telethon’s unique tone. He built the “Trust” that the charity relies on today. His legacy is the reason the event is not just a TV show but a national institution, and he is the reason the “Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year” award is one of the most emotional moments of the night.
FAQs
Are the celebrities and presenters paid for Children in Need?
No. According to the BBC, all celebrities, presenters, and performers who take part in the Children in Need appeal show give their time completely for free.
How much has Children in Need raised to date?
Since its first telethon in 1980, BBC Children in Need has raised over £1 billion for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
How do I apply for a grant from Children in Need?
If you are a registered charity or non-profit organisation working with children in the UK, you can apply for a grant. The process is managed through the official website. There are different funds (like the Core Costs Fund and Project Grants) available, each with its own criteria.
What is the difference between Children in Need and Comic Relief?
This is a very common question. The main difference is where the money goes. Children in Need focuses exclusively on projects within the UK. Comic Relief (which runs Red Nose Day) splits its funds between projects in the UK and projects internationally.
How can I buy official Pudsey merchandise?
You can buy official Pudsey ears, t-shirts, and other merchandise from the official “Pudsey Shop” online. [The Official Pudsey Shop]. All profits from the shop go directly to the charity.
What is the official Children in Need single for 2025?
(Details on the 2025 single will be added here as soon as it is officially announced by the BBC.)
Can I donate by post?
Yes. You can send a cheque (payable to “BBC Children in Need”) to the official address, which is listed on their website. Please do not send cash in the post.
Your Role in the 2025 Children in Need Appeal
From a single appeal night in 1980, Children in Need has grown into a year-round force for good, proving that when the UK comes together, small acts of kindness, silly challenges, and a whole lot of bake sales can create transformative change.
The most powerful part of Children in Need isn’t the final total that flashes on the screen at the end of the night; it’s the experience. It’s seeing a local community centre, a school hall, or an office cubicle transformed by spots, pyjamas, and a shared, powerful desire to help.
You’ve seen the 2025 details, you’ve got the expert tips, and you know the incredible impact your donation will have.
Now, it’s your turn.
Get your free fundraising pack or make your 2025 donation at the official BBC Children in Need website.
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