Anna McNuff and Pudsey Bear get their groove on at dance-athon

In the lead up to BBC Children in Need’s Appeal Night on 18 November, Girlguiding Ambassador Anna McNuff and Pudsey Bear, surprised the 16^th Gloucester Brownies at their dance-athon fundraiser to help raise £500 for Girlguiding and BBC Children in Need.

Anna McNuff, Girlguiding Ambassador:

“I loved visiting the 16^th Gloucester Brownies and getting involved in their sponsored dance-athon to raise money for Girlguiding and BBC Children in Need. Both organisations do fantastic work to support young people across the UK, and there couldn’t be a more fun way to fundraise this year when all you need to do is take something you love (like having a good old boogie!) and adding fundraising twist.

“Whether you do it on your own, with family or friends or as a Girlguiding unit I’d encourage everyone to get involved. And don’t forget there is also a special badge too available to show your support.”

Brownie Jasmine, 9-years-old from Gloucester said: “I really enjoyed seeing Pudsey Bear and Anna and all the dancing. I’ve raised nearly £100 to give to Girlguiding and BBC Children in Need.”

The fundraising challenge is one of many being taken on by Girlguiding’s nearly 370,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and volunteers. Girlguiding members up and down the country are being encouraged to supercharge their fundraising by choosing an activity they love and getting together with friends, family or as a unit to make it longer, faster or bigger than ever before. From read-athons, skip-athons to juggle-athons and walk-athons – the possibilities are endless. All donations are being collected via the unique page www.justgiving.com/campaign/GirlGuiding2022

Now in the third year of partnership, the annual joint fundraising campaign is a firm favourite in Girlguiding calendars, with this year’s set to follow the success of previous years in raising much needed funds to help empower the lives of young people.

All money raised will be split equally between BBC Children in Need and Girlguiding and will go on to make a difference to young lives across the UK. For Girlguiding the money raised will support at a local and national level to benefit girls and young women the length and breadth of the UK, and will enable the charity to continue supporting their wellbeing by providing a space where they can be themselves, have fun, make brilliant friendships, build confidence, and gain valuable life skills at a time where many need it the most.

For BBC Children in Need money raised will help to support local charities and projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of challenges, whether that is those living in poverty, providing emergency support to families in crisis, providing comfort to children feeling sad, lost and alone, helping children overcome social injustice and supporting children to feel safe and secure again.

Claire Hoyle, Director of Commercial at BBC Children in Need said: “We are delighted to be working with Girlguiding again this year & we can’t wait to see all the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and volunteers having a lot of fun whilst taking part in the Dance-athon challenge, whilst raising vital money that will make a huge difference to countless other young people all across the UK.”

To mark this year’s challenge, Girlguiding has also launched a special BBC Children in Need 2022 Pudsey badge to represent both organisations, and their mission and commitment to helping children and young people in the UK.