Club helps Pudsey kick-off BBC Children in Need Appeal

With only a few days to go until this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal Night, Pudsey, the charity’s iconic mascot,  paid a visit to Hotspur Way to have a kick around with players Ben Davies, Michel Vorm, Kieran Trippier and Fernando Llorente.

BBC Children In Need is encouraging football fans and the general public to get involved with this year’s Do Your Thing fundraising campaign by channelling their passions and hobbies to raise money for the charity.

During the visit, the players showed Pudsey some of their training techniques before taking on a crossbar coconut shy challenge with him. The players also took the time to ‘Get Their Ears On’ for Pudsey, posing in the mascot’s trademark headpiece for a selfie.

BBC Children in Need currently supports around 2,600 projects working with disadvantaged children and young people across the UK and in the past year alone has made a positive difference to almost half a million disadvantaged young people.

Below: Selfie time for Pudsey with Fernando, Ben, Kieran and Michel

One project which receives funding from BBC Children in Need  is the Club’s official charity partner, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

Noah’s Ark receives a grant from BBC Children in Need of £82,420, over three years, to deliver specialist care to children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions in their home and in the community.

Nurse-trained Specialist Carers look beyond a child's medical conditions to explore their strengths, their likes and dislikes and what makes them smile; developing their confidence and resilience and helping them to live as children, rather than as patients. Through the two-year partnership, the Club has been raising awareness of the work delivered by Noah’s Ark and encouraging the recruitment of volunteers.

Ben Davies said: “We’ve had a great day with Pudsey, he certainly needs to work on his football skills but it’s been great fun having him here.

“The Club’s official charity partner, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, receives funding from BBC Children In Need and we’ve witnessed first-hand the difference this makes to the children and families they support in North London.

“We hope everyone across the UK is encouraged to Do Your Thing for BBC Children in Need this year.”

From fun runs to sponsored football matches, bake sales to keepy-uppy challenges, there are many ways for the public to ‘Do Your Thing’ and raise money to help ensure that BBC Children in Need is able to continue to support disadvantaged children and young people in communities across the UK. The official fundraising pack is available for download now from bbc.co.uk/pudsey and has lots of ideas to inspire the public ahead of the 38th Appeal show on Friday 17 November.

To date the UK public has raised over £909 million for children and young people across the UK.

To find out more, visit bbc.co.uk/Pudsey.