Home town youth club truly special, says Vernon Kay

Be The Change can be life changing for young people, says founder Daniel Sukula

BBC broadcaster Vernon Kay said it was "truly special" to visit a youth project in his home town and see how BBC Children In Need has helped young people there.

Ahead of the charity's appeal show next week, the BBC Radio 2 presenter paid a visit to Be The Change, an organisation in Bolton that offers young people a space to meet friends and enjoy art and sport sessions.

It has received a grant of £60,000 from BBC Children In Need over three years to deliver youth club services.

Kay, who helped raise £6m for the charity last year through his Ultramarathon challenge, said the project made a "massive difference" to young people in the community.

Vernon Kay says he can see why young people love going to Be The Change

The 50-year-old said: "I always love being back in Bolton, but this visit was truly special.

"I had never quite realised how many projects BBC Children In Need fund until I took on my ultra ultra marathon challenge for Radio 2 last year, and being able to visit one of those in my home town doing such impactful work that makes a massive difference to young people in the community was really special.

"Meeting with the young people and chatting with them I could really see why they love going there."

He added: "I did take part in a little bit of their football session too, and I was impressed to hear that a lot of them were [Bolton] Wanderers fans."

Kay also met the project's founder Daniel Sukula, a refugee who grew up in Bolton wanting to create something that would ensure a better future for young people in the area.

Mr Sukula said: "It was great to have Vernon come and visit us and share a bit about what we do here with him.

"I think he was really impressed, and the young people were excited to be able to chat with him.

"At Be The Change we offer huge support to children from across Bolton, when lots of youth services have been cut.

"We are able to give them a safe space to come and socialise and we also encourage our young people to get involved with community initiatives. Coming here can be life changing for them."

Kay will be presenting this year's BBC Children In Need show from 19:00 GMT on 15 November along with Paralympian Ade Adepitan, comedian Mel Giedroyc, former Saturdays star Rochelle Humes, comedian Chris Ramsey and actor Lenny Rush.

Vernon Kay joined in a football session and was impressed a lot of the youngsters were Bolton Wanderers fans

Last year, Kay said the "knee-ruining" run from Leicester's Victoria Park to Bolton Wanderers' football stadium was "one of the toughest things [he'd] ever done", so he was "thrilled" to be joining the audience "from the comfort of MediaCity this time".

He added: "Children in Need is such a special charity, changing lives in the most amazing ways, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this year’s big night."