PUPILS FROM [INSERT SCHOOL NAME], [INSERT LOCATION] GO SPOTACULAR FOR BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

Children from [insert school name], [insert location] went Spotacular for BBC Children in Need [today/ yesterday/ last week].

Bank of Scotland and BBC Children in Need’s exciting new schools fundraising campaign, The Big Spotacular, is encouraging children and teachers to dress up in spots, sell spotty cakes and goods, and take part in spotty themed challenges, to raise more money than ever before disadvantaged children and young people.

As part of [insert school name]’s fundraising plans, pupils [insert details about fundraising activities that happened e.g. hosted a talent show, bake sale, whole school assembly dressed spotty].

[insert teacher’s name], [insert role] said “We’ve really enjoyed raising money for BBC Children in Need this year. The children loved going spotty for the Big Spotacular. The online resources and free fundraising kit really added value to our activities.”

Bank of Scotland and BBC Children in Need have encouraged schools to join the fun by claiming their free Spotacular kit, containing fundraising ideas, resources, and other spotty delights. Pudsey Bear has also travelled the length of the country as part of the Spotacular Pudsey UK Roadshow, to celebrate with some of the schools participating in the campaign.

Stuart Beaver, Director, Partnership & Community Programmes at Lloyds Banking Group said: “Our partnership with BBC Children in Need continues to produce fantastic results, in particular with the brilliant fundraising happening in schools across the country. The partnership continues to form an important part of the Group’s Helping Britain Prosper Plan, with education one of the key pillars in helping to address some of the big issues facing the people, businesses and communities of Britain today.

“Handing the fundraising planning over to the children was a great success last year, and it has been lovely to see so many schools turn their fundraising activity Spotacular this year.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact: [insert details of school contact person]

Notes to editors

About Lloyds Banking Group’s Principal Partnership with BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need is Lloyds Banking Group’s charity of the year for 2015 and 2016. Colleagues are supporting one of Britain’s best loved children’s charities through a variety of fundraising and volunteering opportunities.

In addition, Lloyds Banking Group is proud to be BBC Children in Need’s first ever Principal Partner and exclusive fundraising partner in schools. The three year partnership with BBC Children in Need sits right at the heart of Lloyds Banking Group’s strategy to Help Britain Prosper. Lloyds Banking Group is committed to helping the charity support all UK schools and five million children with fundraising and key skills development.

About Bank of Scotland

Bank of Scotland is part of Lloyds Banking Group. The Group has a combined history that stretches back more than 300 years and a heritage of making a difference within its communities that spans many decades. In 2015 Lloyds Banking Group invested £64m in community programmes, including £17m to its charitable Foundations.

In 2014 the Group launched the Helping Britain Prosper Plan which set out seven public commitments designed to address some of the big issues facing Britain today. The Group has grown its understanding of these issues considerably over the past two years and has evolved the 2016 Plan to ensure it is more relevant for the people, businesses and communities of Britain.

About BBC Children in Need

The BBC Children in Need Appeal is a charity registered in England and Wales (802052) and Scotland (SC039557) whose aim is to make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

BBC Children in Need’s vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential. We will realise this vision by supporting, promoting and publicising work that addresses the challenges that children and young people face and work that builds their skills and resilience.

The Charity is currently supporting 2,400 projects in communities across the UK that are helping children facing a range of disadvantages for example, poverty and deprivation; children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect or disabled young people.