Rochdale youth theatre project one group to benefit from BBC Children in Need 2018 fundraising total of £58 million

Shobna Gulati at the M6 Theatre Company in Rochdale which is funded by BBC Children in Need

A youth theatre project in Rochdale is one of the groups that has benefitted from the £58 million raised for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal in 2019.

The charity said that the incredible total would not have been possible without the public once again coming together to help raise money to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.   

To mark the total announcement, Oldham-born actress Shobna Gulati visited M6 Theatre Company in Rochdale, to see how the public’s donations are making a difference to disadvantaged young people in the community.

The project uses a grant of £38,731, over three years, to deliver the ‘Act to Shine project’ which is a youth theatre project for children and young people with additional needs in Rochdale which helps to develop their skills, improve confidence and well-being, and encourage independence. During the visit Shobna was able to take part in drama and theatre activities and met with the young people who attend to find out about their experience at the project.  

Following the visit, Ms Gulati said: “It was incredibly moving to visit Act to Shine in Rochdale and meet with the wonderful young people and fantastic support workers that run the project. Chatting to the young people and hearing about what a positive difference going to Act to Shine has made to their lives was incredibly special.

“Without donations from the generous public, projects like this one, and others across Manchester and the rest of the UK, would simply not be able to run.

“I just want to say a huge thank you to every single person right across the UK that fundraised or donated to BBC Children in Need last year, you have made a real difference to young lives.”

The 2018 total is the culmination of the efforts of every single person across the UK who did something to raise money, from rambles, dance-a-thons and duck races, to sky diving, quiz nights and bake sales.

An on-the-night total of £50.6 million was raised, growing to £58 million as donations and fundraising income continued to pour in.

Children in Need’s 2018 Appeal show was an epic evening of entertainment, with live music from the likes of Jamie Cullum, Boyzone and Anne Marie, Appeal films, a Mastermind Special as well as lots of exciting surprises throughout the evening on BBC One. 

BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 3,000 projects across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.

In the last year alone, BBC Children in Need has been able to make a real difference to 580,000 young lives in communities the length and breadth of the UK.