BBC Children In Need NI special programme with local stories set to air this weekend

Nadia Breen
·3-min read
Join Holly Hamilton, Pudsey Bear and Connor Phillips for this year’s BBC Children In Need 2024 in Northern Ireland on Saturday (November 16) on BBC One Northern Ireland and on BBC iPlayer
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


A special BBC Children in Need programme featuring local fundraising stories in Northern Ireland is set to air this weekend.

Hosted by Holly Hamilton and Connor Phillips, it will be air on Saturday, November 17, at 3.55pm on BBC One.

Filmed at Goal Line Youth Trust in Portadown, there will also be special reports from charities who benefit from BBC Children in Need funding.

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They are joined by Pudsey, Hugo Duncan and Brooke Scullion who hit the road to find out more about the fundraisers, organisations and schools making a difference in local communities.

Hugo Duncan and Brooke Scullion joined forces this week to visit some of the many groups fundraising for this year’s BBC Children in Need in Northern Ireland. They stopped off at the LIV student accommodation in Belfast to cheer on some of the students pedalling away for Pudsey
Hugo Duncan and Brooke Scullion joined forces this week to visit some of the many groups fundraising for this year’s BBC Children in Need in Northern Ireland. They stopped off at the LIV student accommodation in Belfast to cheer on some of the students pedalling away for Pudsey -Credit:BBC

Some of the fundraising organisations visited include Ballybeen Women’s Centre, Down High School, Holy Trinity Kids Club in Enniskillen, and LIV Student Accommodation in Belfast.

The BBC Children in Need NI Choir is back with a special performance of the Bill Withers classic ‘Lean on Me’, filmed at Randalstown Viaduct with pupils from schools in the local area.

The swimming team from BBC Radio Ulster who completed their 24 miles as part of the national Thousand Mile Challenge. They are, from left (with Pudsey Bear), Cate Conway, Anne Marie Wallace, Mark Simpson and Connor Phillips. They completed their challenge at the Templemore Baths in Belfast over five days last week -Credit:BBC
The swimming team from BBC Radio Ulster who completed their 24 miles as part of the national Thousand Mile Challenge. They are, from left (with Pudsey Bear), Cate Conway, Anne Marie Wallace, Mark Simpson and Connor Phillips. They completed their challenge at the Templemore Baths in Belfast over five days last week -Credit:BBC

A statement added: "And there’s a chance to see how BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle presenters faired taking part in The Thousand Mile Challenge, which took place from November 4 to 8, and so far has raised more than £135,000, which saw presenters from each radio station across BBC Local Radio in England team up with their colleagues from BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru 2, BBC Radio nan Gaidheal, BBC Radio Shetland BBC Radio Scotland, to form special swim teams in an attempt to collaboratively complete the epic distance. Each radio station was set the challenge of completing a total of 24 miles.

"Locally the ‘mammoth challenge swim team’ was made up of presenter Cate Conway, Mark Simpson, BBC News NI’s Community Correspondent; presenters Connor Phillips and Anne Marie Wallace, and supported by other colleagues."

BBC Children in Need 2024 In Northern Ireland airs Saturday 16 November at 3.55pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.

A statement continued: "Last year’s national on the night total was £33.5 million and the overall fundraising total for the 2023 Appeal was £48.8million. Here in Northern Ireland the appeal has currently 106 grants to projects to a value of more than £4.9m, reaching 19,000 children and young people."

Further information on BBC Children in Need and how to get involved can be found at bbc.co.uk/pudsey.

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