CHILDREN IN NEED UPDATE

In spite of the 'Credit Crunch' Terry Wogan broke all records and raised neary £21 million with his Children in Need TV marathon which ended early this morning. With other money raised by thousands or people across the UK, the total should reach nearly £40 million, which is amazing when so many families are struggling to cope with rising costs, unemployment and job uncertainty.

This has cheered me up after a depressing week reading the horrific details of the extreme cruelty meted out by a mother and her boyfriend to a tragic little toddler Baby P, and the stabbing of 2 small boys by their mother, who lived alone.

Today I attended a Conference Hope 4 Marriage in Bedford organised by the Bedford Community Family Trust who aim to build strong relationships for a better community and prevent relationship breakdown by supporting couples and families.

In recent years it has been fashionable to criticise the institution of marriage but research shows that married couples are far more likely to stay together than unmarried couples. Unmarried parents are 4-5 times more likely to break up. By a child's 5th birthday, 8% of UK married parents have split up compared to 52% of cohabitees, and 25% of those who marry after the birth (Kiernan 1999) Also 92% of 15 year olds want to settle down and marry one day (Sex Under Sixteen, Family Education Trust Research Report 2000).

Having been married and divorced after my husband's desertion when my children were still young I know only too well how hard it is to bring up young children alone. It costs the State a fortune to support lone parents and we must provide more financial support to help families stay together and provide a stable environment in which children can thrive, be happy and develop their full potential.

CHILDREN IN NEED

Tonight Terry Wogan has raised £11.4 million for BBC Children in Need with a long TV Spectacular, including songs from the musicals performed by the cast of EastEnders.
Terry expects to beat last year's TV total of £19 million, and the 2007 total of £37million raised across the UK. This year ASDA staff across the UK have raised an astonishing £2 million. BBC East has raised large sums in previous years and expects to raise more than £1 million in the Region this year.

I am an Employment Tribunal Member and today I dealt with an unfair dismissal case. At lunchtime I went to Bedford Town Hall canteen where the diners were entertained by songs from 2 pensioners and children from Castle Lower School in Bedford - all in aid of Children in Need. Tonight I donated some money through to the Appeal via the Internet.

After reading the tragic case of Baby P and the 2 small babies murdered in Manchester, we are constantly reminded how important it is to help the 4 million children living in poverty in the UK, and other vulnerable children who are abused and neglected and need our support. Have you made your donation yet?

STOP PRESS!

The total raised for BBC Children in Need has gone up to £13,750,000 and is rising.
What are you waiting for?