What are our areas of geographic and thematic interest at a local level?

BBC Children in Need operates across the UK, with grant-making teams based locally and informed by sector discussion, insight and research relevant to the local area.

We are proud to be a broad-based funder and want to make sure we support projects that are reaching disadvantaged children and young people not strongly represented through our funding. Geographic and thematic areas of interest help us achieve a comprehensive and inclusive portfolio of grants, representing the diversity of communities and need across the UK.

Put simply, we do NOT want the areas of geographic and thematic interest to become a barrier for organisations applying to BBC Children in Need. Areas of Interest are a part of local plans of action, inform our discussions with the sector and help us to identify issues and barriers to access at a local level. Importantly, we want to reach children and young people not fairly represented in our portfolio at a local level.

We recognise that the funding landscape changes, and the pandemic has resulted in a fast-moving environment for the sector. We monitor and test our areas of interest on an ongoing basis and will adapt in response to the changing environment, informed by our sector discussions and analysis.

Geographic areas of interest

Areas identified as having high levels of children and young people living in poverty, mapped against BBC Children in Need investment in that area.

Thematic areas of interest

Informed by our research work, current investment and knowledge of the infrastructure at a local level.

Find out more

Geographic and thematic interests in England

London

Geographic interests: The boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Havering, Hillington, Hounslow, Merton, Newham and Redbridge.

Thematic interests: Projects supporting young people impacted by domestic abuse, homelessness and care-experienced children and young people.

View all local areas in our London region here.

South West

Geographic interests: Torridge, Mid Devon, Teignbridge, Torbay, East Devon and West Devon, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Wiltshire Unitary Authority Area, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) and the Purbeck and East Dorset areas within Dorset Council.

Thematic interests: Projects supporting children and young people living in poverty or situations of deprivation. Projects representing the diversity of young people living in the region, including organisations with experience of supporting Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

View all local areas in our South West region here.

South East

Geographic interests: Basildon, Colchester, Medway, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Slough, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Swale, Tendring, Thanet, Thurrock.

Thematic interests: Projects representing the diversity of young people living in the region.

View all local areas in our South East region here.

Central

Geographic interests: Bolsover, East Birmingham, East Lindsey (across east coast), Luton, Northamptonshire, Peterborough, Stoke on Trent, Telford, North Norfolk, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Thematic interests: Projects representing the diversity of young people living in the region, including organisations with experience of supporting Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities and refugee and asylum seeking children and young people. Projects supporting children and young people affected by personal harm. Projects supporting Early Years services.

View all local areas in our Central region here.

North England

Geographical interests: Oldham, Middlesbrough, Gateshead, Rotherham, Hull, Central Doncaster, Blackpool, Pendle, Burnley, North Sheffield, Preston, Knowsley, Bradford, St Helens, North and North East Lincolnshire and the Isle of Man.

Thematic interests: Projects supporting children and young people affected by deprivation, increased isolation and mental health issues in rural and coastal communities. Projects representing the diversity of young people living in the region. Projects supporting children and young people’s aspirations and progression to work, in areas of high unemployment. Projects tackling criminal exploitation, gang culture, youth violence, and sexual exploitation.

View all local areas in our Northern region here.

Geographic and thematic interests in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Scotland

Geographical interests: Scotland-wide focus on the best placed organisations in communities.

Thematic interests: Addressing one or more of the themes, identified by our Insight, that show how Covid-19 is affecting children and young people

Northern Ireland

Geographical interests: Children and young people affected by deprivation within Strabane, Coleraine, Newry and Mourne, Dungannon, North Down, Ballymena, Moyle, Magherafelt, Armagh, Fermanagh, Omagh, Carrickfergus and Lisburn.

Thematic interests: Projects supporting young people impacted by domestic abuse and the mental health and wellbeing of disabled young people. Projects tackling rural poverty and isolation including digital poverty. Projects representing the diversity of young people in Northern Ireland.

Wales

Geographical areas: Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Vale of Glamorgan, Ynys Môn (Isle of Anglesey).

Thematic areas: Children of Prisoners and Young Offenders.

Thematic in specific areas: We understand that in Wales there are additional challenges that children and young people face as a consequence of issues around access and isolation. This challenges can include public transport, physical isolation from services, and easy access to affordable and healthy food. We are interested in funding work that directly addresses these needs. Some examples are:

- Detached youth work within an isolated the community by an established organisation based nearby
- Travel services that transport children and young people to services
- Digital projects that allow isolated children and young people to connect with services

BBC Children in Need hosts regular convening events and online funding information sessions at a local level. For further details, please contact your local team.

Welsh/Cymraeg

Am y dudalen Cymraeg cliciwch yma.