Children In Need and Asda work together to combat food poverty

BBC Children in Need & George at Asda have announced their second collaboration with world famous children’s author and illustrator Liz Pichon, famed for her illustrated best-selling Tom Gates book series, to create this year’s Official T-Shirt, which will raise money for the charity.

This unique unisex t-shirt features BBC Children in Need’s iconic Pudsey Bear character in Liz’s signature doodle style. 

This is the second t-shirt Liz has designed for BBC Children in Need and Asda. This year, all money raised through the sale of the t-shirts will go to support children and young people facing food insecurity, as part of Asda and BBC Children in Need’s Fuelling Potential campaign.

Throughout the summer holidays, Asda have been offering £1 meals to all children who visit the Asda café and half price adult meals from 3pm each day. In selected Asda Stores they have also been hosting Pudsey Clubs – where children have been able to take part in fun and creative activities.

Over the next three years Asda & BBC Children in Need aim to support 100,000 children by helping to make sure they have access to nutritious meals while having fun at BBC Children in Need funded holiday sessions that help boost their mental health and physical wellbeing.

Liz and a group of Community Champions from Asda stores across Manchester recently hosted a special session for children and young people to teach them how to doodle and encourage them to get fundraising for BBC Children in Need this year.

Liz Pichon said: “I'm absolutely thrilled to have been asked to design the BBC Children in Need T-shirt for the second time!

“Pudsey is iconic and last year's design was all around Pudsey, this year it's mostly inside with a slightly retro feel, lots of gorgeous colours PLUS we've added gold disco foil! I'm really proud to be part of this year's launch and want to encourage everyone to buy one…you can even colour the design in and get extra creative!"

Claire Hoyle, Director of Income, Marketing & Communications at BBC Children in Need said: “It is an absolute pleasure to have collaborated with the wonderfully talented children’s author and illustrator, Liz Pichon, for the second time on our Official T-Shirt with George & Asda this year. Liz’s design is fun and creative, and we know that our supporters will love it. This t-shirt will raise vital funds for children and young people across the UK when they need it most!”

Vicki Radford, Buying Manager, George at Asda said, “We are delighted to have Liz Pichon on board for the second year running to design the Official BBC Children in Need T-Shirt for George & Asda. It’s a joy to work with Liz who really brings her creativity to life through these designs and we know they are going to be really popular with our customers, these are now on sale from as little as £5.”

The Official T-Shirt is available to purchase now online at George.com and in stores soon, in both adult and child sizes (£5 - £10) with all profits from the sale of the t-shirt going to BBC Children in Need.

Besides the Official T-shirt, Liz has also designed a mug (£2) and a tote bag (£3) featuring her doodle Pudsey design which are also available to purchase in store and online at George at Asda from 26th October.

George at Asda also have a fully adaptive wear range of clothing for children which includes a baby bodysuit, a sweat jogger and top set and also an adaptive version of Liz Pichon’s official design jersey top. The range has been created for children who need extra assistance when dressing, and have reduced mobility - all garments have been thoughtfully designed to make dressing easier and more accessible. 

The range has been designed with peg feeding tube holes, fully opening hook and loop fastenings at the neck, waist and ankles, higher backs on all trousers for wheelchair users. In addition, all garments are suitable for those with sensory issues as they all use soft threads and the scratchy care labels have been replaced with printed ones.

There is also a Pudsey tee which features a Braille and sign language graphic across both children’s and adult sizes - with the children’s style featuring the adaptive credentials too. The adaptive range is available from £4.50 for the baby bodysuit starting from 1st size and the children’s clothing starts at £4 for the jersey top - available from age 1-16yrs - with a minimum of 20% of the price of each product goes to BBC Children in Need charity.

Asda have been a partner of BBC Children in Need for 23 years raising over £31 million.

Liz Pichon’s new book, Tom Gates Five Star Stories has also been launched. Get ready for the ultimate FIVE STAR read and find out what happens when Tom and other fan-favourites in his class are challenged to write their funniest story.

www.asda.com

Asda and BBC Children in Need work together

BBC Children in Need and Asda have launched Fuelling Potential, which is a brand-new campaign to ensure that no child is ever held back by food insecurity. 

Over the next three years Asda & BBC Children in Need are aiming to change the lives of 100,000 children by helping to ensure they have access to nutritious meals while having fun at BBC Children in Need funded holiday sessions that help to boost their mental health and physical wellbeing. 

The campaign is part of Asda’s broader Better Starts campaign, the aim of which is to improve outcomes for five million young people over five years.

As part of the campaign, BBC Children in Need have released findings of a new Censuswide survey which sheds light on how children and their parents are feeling in the lead up to the summer holidays, about food insecurity and their ability to entertain their children throughout the holidays.

The nationwide survey found that:

79% of parents surveyed say that rising costs are likely to affect their plans this summer

63% of parents surveyed are concerned about being able to provide food for the family this summer

66% of parents surveyed have cut down on spending on activities and trips due to the rise in the cost of living

63% of parents surveyed have changed the type of food they buy

A quarter of children surveyed (25%) worry at least once a week about having enough food to eat

1 in 5 (22%) of children surveyed say they have missed or had a smaller meal at least once in the last month because their family didn't have enough food.

BBC Children in Need’s CEO Simon Antrobus, said: "We're obviously enormously grateful to our longstanding partner, Asda, for their continued backing and support and their commitment to making a difference to young lives. 

"Over the next three years Fuelling Potential will help us support even more local charities and projects working to combat food insecurity in communities all over the UK, helping more children and young people to thrive and be the very best they can be."

As part of the Fuelling Potential campaign, Asda will offer £1 meals to all children who visit the Asda café throughout the school holidays during the summer and half price adult meals from 3pm daily. And throughout the school summer holidays, selected Asda Stores will be hosting various Pudsey Themed activities and summer clubs.

Jo Warner, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility and ESG at Asda, said: "We know this year will be particularly hard for families facing increased costs over the Summer holiday period, so we’re really delighted to partner with BBC Children in Need to provide meals and activities over the summer holidays. Also, low-cost meals will be available in Asda cafés throughout the summer, with a family of four being able to access a hot, nutritious meal for as little as £8.50."

Supporting the campaign, Rachel Stevens said: "It's vital children and young people aren’t held back by food insecurity, which is why I’m delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need and Asda’s Fuelling Potential campaign. 

"Providing children with a positive start in life is key to their development and overall wellbeing and ensuring their basic needs are met with a nutritious meal helps them thrive. I’m calling on families, colleagues, and customers to get behind this campaign and help make a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people in local communities across the UK."

For details please visit https://rb.gy/n4wv1.