Pudsey........

This is Pudsey Bear the symbol of

Children in Need (BBC)

The BBC Children in Need Appeal is a registered charity.  The charity operates all year round, not just the months leading up to Appeal night, and staff around the UK process thousands of applications for funding. Every year the funding requests exceed the amount of money raised so all applications are carefully assess to ensure that grants are targeted on areas of real need. Voluntary committee members, based in each region, draw on their expertise and local knowledge to advise the board of Trustees which projects should receive grants, and funds are allocated geographically to ensure that all corners of the UK get a share of the money raised.   In 2007 the BBC Children in Need Appeal raised over £37 million.

As you probably know I work in a school and when Children In Need day comes around (November 14th this year) all the school is involved in raising money for this worthwhile charity.    One of my colleagues and I hold a Teddy Creche, where the students bring in their beloved teddies for us to look after for the day. We charge the students 20p per teddy but they get a raffle ticket to win another teddy, which we provide, and we charge 50p for staff teddies


We feel very priviledged to be trusted to look after cherished teddies, a couple of the staff’s teddies were 30 years old!

Each teddy has a label showing the teddy’s name and it’s owner and we take photographs during the day of the teddies doing various activities i.e. being read a story by one of the teachers, going for a walk etc.  At the end of the day each teddy is given a report saying things like

‘Really enjoyed the games and made lots of friends’

‘Very well behaved. Welcome back any time.’

‘Took time to settle but then had a good day.’

‘Spilt milk but otherwise very good indeed.’

‘Enjoyed story time and snacks.’

‘Missed parent at first but soon joined in the fun.’

‘Made new friends easily, had a good time.’

‘Was a little tired so had a nap then joined in the fun.’

‘Very well behaved and friendly.’

The students love the reports and pop in at break and lunchtime to make sure their teddy is OK. We write ‘special’ reports for the staff teddies, this year one of the Form Tutors brought her teddy in but had forgotten to tell her students to bring in theirs, so her teddy’s report read:

“Seems unable to follow simple instructions!”

Another member of staff told us we’d put Teddy Creche on Friday not Thursday on the email we'd sent round and she doctored the email prove it, her teddy’s report said:

“Bit of a practical joker, and a little naughty.”

This year we made £32 to give to Children in Need, it is usually more but we had to do it on the 13th instead of on the 14th and a lot of students got confused so didn’t bring their teddies in.

I’ve put together a little slide show of the Teddies and what they got up to.

If you'd like to read more or make a donation to Children in Need just click on the link under the picture of Pudsey at the top of this post.

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Do you remember my Christmas Carol Quiz last year?    Well I'm doing another one next week if you'd like to join in and win a nice badge for your sidebar.    

I'll give you a list of initials which represent the first line of Christmas Carols and Songs.

Here's an example:

O.I.R.D.C. - Once In Royal David's City - get the idea?

I'll give you 6 days to Email (through my profile) your answers to me then I'll post the answers and the
winner(s).

All those who get any right can claim a swish badge for their blog.

I hope you'll join in.