It’s that time of year when Pudsey Bear dusts off his spotty ears and schools across the UK ask the big question:
“When is Children in Need 2025—and how can we get involved?”
Here’s everything you need to plan your school’s Children in Need activities this year—dates, themes, classroom resources, and tips for linking it to curriculum and wellbeing.
When Is Children in Need 2025?
Mark your calendars, teachers: Friday, 14 November 2025 is the big day.
The BBC Children in Need Appeal Show airs from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on BBC One and iPlayer, featuring music, comedy, celebrity sketches, and, most importantly, stories showing where donations go and how they help children.
This year’s theme, “Challenge Yourself to 25,” is perfect for classrooms.
Pupils can take on individual or team challenges based on the number 25—whether that’s 25 acts of kindness, 25 minutes of reading, or 25 creative tasks—turning fundraising into a practical learning moment.
Why Children in Need Matters in Schools
Children in Need isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s personal for many pupils.
The charity supports local projects that help children living with poverty, mental health struggles, disability, or difficult home lives. With roughly one in 30 children in England officially classified as “in need,” this is an issue that’s often present in our own classrooms.
In 2024, BBC Children in Need raised £39.2 million, funding projects that improved emotional wellbeing, self-belief, and safety for over 132,000 children nationwide.
So when pupils turn up wearing Pudsey ears or pyjamas, it’s not just about fun—it’s about empathy, community, and learning in action.
How Teachers Can Bring It to Life
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “We’ve done cake sales to death,” — you’re not alone. Here are some fresh, curriculum-linked ways to make Children in Need 2025 feel meaningful and fun:
Classroom Ideas for Children in Need 2025
| Theme | School Idea | Curriculum Tie-In |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge Yourself to 25 | Pupils take on 25 acts of kindness or 25 minutes of reading for sponsorship | PSHE / English / Citizenship |
| Data Detectives | Explore Children in Need fundraising totals in maths lessons – charts, averages, percentages | Maths / Numeracy |
| The Power of Storytelling | Write persuasive letters or “impact stories” for Children in Need awareness | Literacy / English |
| Social Awareness Week | Explore issues CiN supports: mental health, poverty, family resilience | PSHE / Sociology / Assemblies |
| Student Leadership | Create student-led fundraising committees | Leadership / Enterprise / SMSC |
Challenge Yourself to 25
Data Detectives
The Power of Storytelling
Social Awareness Week
Student Leadership
Teaching Through Children in Need
This is more than an event—it’s a teachable moment.
- Link to PSHE: Use stories from the appeal to discuss empathy, inclusion, and community.
- Use it for data literacy: Pupils can graph national fundraising totals or track their own class donations.
- Reflective learning: Older students can write short reflections on how small actions create collective change.
- Wellbeing focus: Build the week around kindness, mental health, and belonging—perfect for term-long pastoral activities.
Where the Money Goes
BBC Children in Need doesn’t just run the telethon and move on. Ongoing grant programs support grassroots projects across the UK:
- Mental health support and resilience programs
- Family outreach and mentoring schemes
- Community sport, music, and arts projects
- Youth inclusion and confidence-building initiatives
Since 1980, the campaign has raised over £1 billion for children and young people. Every Pudsey ear, sponsored silence, or bake sale contributes to real change.
Can Schools Apply for Funding?
Yes! Schools and education-based organisations can apply for grants, either directly or with a local charity partner. Key streams include:
- Project Costs: Specific activities or new initiatives
- Core Costs: Essential, ongoing work supporting children
Tip: The next Expression of Interest deadline is 15 April 2025, before a short pause until October. Full details: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/grants
This is worth flagging to pastoral leads, SENCOs, or local authority partners involved in wellbeing and outreach.
What Pupils Learn by Taking Part
Participation isn’t just fundraising—it builds:
- Empathy and leadership
- Numeracy and communication skills
- Teamwork and planning
- Belonging and shared purpose
And let’s be honest—the joy on pupils’ faces when they see the national total tick higher on the live show is priceless.
Final Word
This November, lean into Children in Need 2025. Get pupils moving, making, baking, coding, debating, or dancing through a “Challenge Yourself to 25” campaign.
You’ll be teaching far more than fundraising—you’ll be teaching empathy, resilience, and the power of collective good. And in 2025, that might just be the most valuable lesson of all.
