BBC Gladiator star visits Merseyside primary school for Children in Need

A BBC Gladiator star visited a primary school ahead of Children in Need this week. Gladiator Steel met children at Woodlands Primary School in Formby as part of a week-long schools tour across the UK, to help fundraise ahead of ‘Pudsey Day’ on Friday, November 15.

The Gladiators met with each class in the school and taught his ‘Movement and Motivation Masterclass’ to the children, where they went head-to-head in a challenge of who could do the most star-jumps in sixty seconds. Steel also taught the children to "have confidence like a gladiator" and helped them to think of their own unique Gladiator superpower, such as being kind or helping others.

He said: “I was thrilled to meet all the brilliant children and faculty at Woodlands Primary School in Liverpool today to challenge them all to move like a Gladiator.

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“I am honoured to be touring the UK with BBC Children in Need this week as it is an amazing opportunity to inspire the next generation to get active, improve their wellbeing while raising money for Pudsey.”

The primary school won the visit by entering a competition through signing up for a free Schools Fundraising pack with Children in Need, which addresses how schools across the UK can do their part to raise money for the cause. The school is set to host its own ‘Wear Spots to Raise Lots’ event for the charity, which will include a Gladiators-style obstacle course on the school field.

Headteacher at the school Jayne Nel said: “It is so special that Steel has stopped by the school on his tour to put on an incredible session inspiring the children to be motivated, energised and to be confident like a Gladiator.”

On Friday, the BBC will stream a Gladiators themed live event as a thank you to all the primary schools who fundraised this year. The schools will be able to join a live stream and watch the Gladiators complete school-game inspired challenges, as well as get the chance to ask the cast questions and vote for their favourite Gladiator.

Last year, schools across the UK raised nearly £4million for Children in Need, which went towards supporting 30,000 children and young people facing challenges circumstances. Currently, across the North West alone, the charity fund 124 projects that support the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young people in the area.

In a statement, Children in Need said: “The need has never been greater as right now the charity is only able to help one in eight of the organisations who apply for funding. Only with the support of the UK public can we continue to lighten the load for hundreds of thousands of children when they need us most.”

The money raised this year will go towards continuing work in communities across Britain, including providing funding for family centres, community spaces, youth clubs and refuges, homeless shelters, hospices and helplines. You can watch BBC Children in Need’s Night of TV on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm tomorrow night.