Fireworks, fun, and festivities were in order last Friday at the Boots Support Office in Nottingham, as it kicked off fundraising for BBC Children in Need at its annual bonfire and fireworks spectacular and fundraising – this year set to a fun ‘Go Bright’ theme.
On the night, the Boots UK team put the children who benefit from the important funds raised at their heart, by also inviting children from a local project supported by BBC Children in Need, Snienton Play Centre to join in the ‘Go Bright’ fun and meet Pudsey Bear.
Una Kent, Director of Communications and CSR for Boots UK, comments: “We are so pleased that the children and their families from Snienton Play Centre could join us. We love hosting the bonfire each year – not only is it a chance to invite all of our colleagues and their family and friends to an event with real Nottingham community spirit, but it also has a greater purpose – supporting a very special charity, BBC Children in Need, and the projects like the Snienton Play Centre which do amazing things to build children’s confidence and wellbeing.”
BBC Children in Need has funded the Snienton Play Centre’s Healthy Living Project (HLP) for the last four years, supporting them to make a big difference to children's lives. The HLP was set up in response to obesity levels in the local area. The project runs workshops and outings that support children to learn the skills needed to lead a healthy life. This includes:
- gardening workshops in their city garden to grow fresh produce
- cooking workshops to cook the produce and to cook popular food in a healthy way (e.g. home-made chicken nuggets)
- culture specific healthy cooking workshops
- trips to outdoor play areas where children learn the importance of physical play including den building
- working on an allotment
- visiting a farm
- physical workshops such as dance and indoor sports
Sneinton Play Centre, comments: “Our grant from BBC Children in Need, has helped us make a huge difference to the lives of children in our community through the Healthy Living Project. What’s best is that the project is child-led, which means that they get to have a say in the design of the project and helps tailor it to their immediate needs. We were delighted to take part in the Bonfire night, and help kick off fundraising in our area whilst saying a huge thank you to everyone who helps make this funding possible!”
The theme this year for the firework and bonfire event at Boots was ‘Go Bright’, where families were able have their own bright makeovers, and the fireworks will be set to bright and colourful classics.
Across the UK and in Nottingham, Boots colleagues and customers have been going bright all day today, with Pudsey Parlours popping up in stores and beauty halls at exclusive Boots Go Bright events. No7 beauty advisors have using inspiration from bold and beautiful colours to give customers bright makeovers with all donations going towards BBC Children in Need.
It is fundraising events such as Go Bright and the annual bonfire at Boots for BBC Children in Need, which go on to help make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. In 2017, money raised by Boots for the charity will go on to support projects which help disadvantaged children and young people better cope with the adversity they face by building their confidence and resilience. Through the funding, the projects will help the young people to reach their full potential by encouraging them to better believe in themselves and what they can achieve in life.
Here are some of the pictures from the night:
