BBC Children in Need’s 2020 raised £3.4m more than the previous year, according to latest overall fundraising total figures.

The telethon event in November 2020 has raised £57.1m. This includes £37m on the night pledges and a further £20m from subsequent donations and fundraising.

The final tally for 2020 has exceeded 2019’s overall fundraising total of £53.7m but is still down on the previous two years.

The event in 2018 raised £58.2m and in 2017 the final total was £60.7m.

BBC Children in Need has also revealed that during the Covid-19 pandemic it awarded 2,700 grants worth £73m to good causes.

This includes £35.1m to tackle the impact of isolation on on emotional wellbeing and mental health, £18.7m to tackle poverty, £1.9m to support bereaved children and young people, £11.8m in grants to support disabled children and young people and £9.8m in funding for child protection.

In addition, since the beginning of the pandemic, BBC Children in Need has handed out grants worth £3m to tackle digital exclusion.

We're so grateful to announce our 2020 Appeal fundraising total, £57 million 💛

Thanks to each & every one of you who made this possible. Your support continues to change young lives across the UK 👏 pic.twitter.com/z5vvWUe3Ca

— BBC Children in Need (@BBCCiN) July 15, 2021

“Our supporters across the UK can be incredibly proud of this total, and the vital impact it’s making, “said BBC Children in Need chief executive Simon Antrobus.

“After a year of immense challenge and uncertainty for children and young people facing disadvantage, this is a testament to the kindness and generosity of the great British public that over the course of the pandemic we have delivered £73million to help children and young people navigate through the challenges of COVID-19, providing a lifeline when it was needed most.”

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