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The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has been running a children's charity campaign since its inception in 1927 when there was an inaugural Appeal on Christmas Day.

Last year's ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Children in Need Appeal raised a record-breaking £37.8m with a staggering £20,991,216 raised on the night, through the generosity and support of the British public.

For every penny donated to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Children in Need, a penny will go towards projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. This promise is possible because the charity uses its investment income and Gift Aid to cover all operational costs raised.

Pudsey made his television debut in 1985 when Terry introduced the new brown cuddly mascot to the audience. He was designed by Joanna Ball, a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ graphics designer, who named him after the West Yorkshire town where she was born.

Pudsey proved very popular and returned as ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Children in Need's official logo the following year with his design amended to that of a yellow bear with a red spotted bandage. Pudsey had a makeover in 2007 to become today's familiar and much-loved bear.

Children in Need provide support in the form of grants to organisations working with children who have mental, physical or sensory disabilities; behavioural or psychological disorders; are living in poverty or situations of deprivation; or suffering through distress, abuse or neglect.

The size and scale of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Children in Need Appeal makes it possible to fund a huge range of projects, from small organisations which don't have the resources to fundraise for themselves, to large national charities. Some development grants are also awarded to organisations that require extra support in reaching the stage where they can deliver a successful project.

Voluntary committee members, based in each region, draw on their expertise and local knowledge to advise the Children in Need board of Trustees on which projects should receive grants, and funds are allocated geographically to ensure that all corners of the UK get a share of the money raised.