Children in Need funds 'crucial' for charities

Pudsey has been touring schools in the island to support children raising money for Children in Need

People across Guernsey are raising money for Children In Need.

Pudsey has been making his way around the island to help people with their fundraising.

Charities on the island have spoken about how important the money raised is for children and young people in Guernsey.

Fiona Naftel, from the charity Safer, said the money received by the charity from Children in Need was "crucial" to its work.

Pudsey the Bear visited pre-schools and schools in Guernsey, including Hautes Capelles Primary School, where parents were invited to take part in the activities.

Head teacher Sue Coughlan said parents and children alike had had "so much fun" taking part in this year's fundraising efforts.

Sue Coughlan said the children at the school had been taking part in a burpee challenge all week, trying to reach 1,000 burpees per class

The Sports Commission said its Street Sports sessions would not be able to run without the support of Children In Need.

Every week the commission runs a sporting session at the Genats estate for the children in the area.

Nicky Will, from the commission, said the funding enables more than 20 children to take part.

She said: "We wouldn't be running street sports without the support from Children in Need at the moment.

"It pays for our staff, it pays for our equipment, and the children who come along... they absolutely love it, and the joy of it - it's right on their doorstep, so it's completely accessible to them, they just have to run across from their houses to take part."

'Crucial'

With the funding raised for Children in Need, Safer is able to employ an additional member of staff who works with young people affected by domestic abuse.

Fiona Naftel, chair of the charity, said it meant it could help educate children and break the cycle of abuse.

She said: "Without that funding, we would struggle to do this work.

"So as well as working with the children, it also helps in terms of education, and trying to break the cycle of abuse.

"What we get from Children in Need is crucial for our service."