An update on COVID-19 from our CEO
Firstly, I hope that you and those close to you are safe and well.
As a member of the BBC Children in Need family, I wanted to let you know that we will be doing everything we can to help disadvantaged children and young people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our aim is to help disadvantaged children and young people at times when they need it most. Right now is clearly one of those times.
Thanks to your support we are currently funding over 3,000 charities and projects working in the heart of communities right across the UK delivering much needed support to children and young people. Equally, our Emergency Essentials programme supports children and families in crisis. Our work is needed now more than ever and whilst we are taking steps to keep our staff safe we remain resolutely focused on this important charitable purpose.
The COVID-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will also have an impact on the organisations and projects we support and fund, and we have already offered reassurance to them that we stand with them during this time. These are challenging times for the local projects we support, which often rely on a small number of staff and volunteers. We will support them over the coming weeks and months so that they can focus on the vital work of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We can only do this because of your kindness and generosity so thank you!
We will be announcing in the coming days and weeks specific additional measures to support these charities and projects and the children and families that need their help.
Please do take care and a big thank you for your continued support.
Simon Antrobus
CEO BBC Children in Need