BBC Children in Need’s Emergency Essentials programme

BBC Children in Need’s Emergency Essentials programme supports individual children and young people living with severe poverty, a lack of basic facilities and additional pressures such as domestic violence, disability or poor health in the family.

The programme provides items that meet children’s most basic needs such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to give them a hot meal, clothing (in a crisis) and other items and services that are critical to children’s wellbeing. Please note that, rather than awarding a grant, the Emergency Essentials programme will provide items to meet a child or young person’s needs.

In response to increased demand for essential goods from families living with severe financial, health and social difficulties which affect children’s wellbeing, BBC Children in Need has increased its commitment to Emergency Essentials to an annual fund of £3 million.

The programme provides items for the most basic needs of vulnerable children and young people aged 18 and under who are:

• Affected by issues such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, estrangement, disability or serious illness, mental health or behavioural difficulties, abuse or neglect, and/or
  
• Living in severe poverty and suffering deprivation as a result.

Funding is available for essential household items, such as (please note that this may not be an exclusive list and other items may be permissible):

• Children’s beds and bedding, including cots.
  
• Clothing.
  
• Electric cookers.
  
• Equipment for babies.
  
• Fridges and freezers.
  
• Furniture, kitchen equipment and small appliances, and
  
• Tumble dryers and washing machines.