BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need 2021

BBC’s Children in Need returns this November 19th with its annual fundraising event broadcast live on BBC One. Expect big names, light-hearted comedy skits and smashed fundraising targets.

And, as donations roll in on November 19th, you might feel like donating some money yourself.

Except it’s been an expensive month. Christmas is coming up, and that spooky Halloween costume wasn’t cheap (but it was terrifying).

The budget just isn’t there for a donation, large or small. It never even crossed your mind that charitable donations sometimes need to be budgeted for.

Intentionally setting aside money for charity means that when you do donate, it’s not a spur-of-the-moment impulse, and you can realistically afford to do it. It might make donating an even more rewarding feeling, because you’ll have planned it out.

How can I budget for charitable giving?

When the time comes for your monthly budget, first things first is to decide where the money is going to come from. For instance, will you donate from the pile of cash you would usually spend on things like a trip to the cinema, a nice new jumper or that fancy artisan coffee you have every Monday? Or, maybe you’d rather denote charitable giving as an expense – like shopping or utility bills? Whichever way you see it, and however it makes sense to you, you may need to re-jig your budget.

To read more about budgeting, see our walk-through guide to financial wellbeing.

Alternatively, you could check out some budgeting apps that can do all the leg work for you. Monzo, for instance, is an app that conflates budgeting with banking directly, where your Monzo current account uses budgeting features to track your spectacular – or sporadic – spending. Other apps include Emma, Money Dashboard and Yolt. To get a quick idea of what might work for you, check out this Guardian article that weighs up the pros and cons of budgeting on your phone.

More than a budget

We’re passionate about charitable causes and community support at IMI. We made donations to Italian hospitals during stressful periods, and to the Birmingham Nightingale Hospital to help fund the treatment of COVID-19 patients. But sometimes, getting actively involved might make more sense. Taking part in fundraisers can really provide a sense of action instead of simply donating. You’ll also get to enjoy an activity that maybe you wouldn’t have done before. Charities often have all sorts of fundraisers going at any time. You might want to run a marathon, for that feeling of supreme accomplishment. Maybe you’re super-competitive, and like the sound of doing a 24-hour videogame extravaganza? Or, being a social butterfly, you’d rather attend a coffee morning. The choice is yours.

Children are in Need

It’s been a despairing 18 months for children and young people. From staccato school schedules and confusing exam scores, to stifled social lives that just seem to never get going. And, for the most disadvantaged children, whose lives are challenging even at the best of times, these 18 months have been even more demanding.

On November 19th, BBC Children in Need returns. And it’s probably never been more needed.

To help change the life of children across the UK, follow this link: https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk