Thought For The Day – Tuesday 18th November 2025
“Children In Need”
Friday 14th of November 2025 saw the annual “Children In Need” appeal on “B.B.C. One”.
This charity initiative is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
On Friday evening, very appropriately, over £45 million, so far, was raised.
Since its beginning, in 1980, the charity has raised over £1 billion.
“Children in Need” is a charity that raises money to support disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, and children and young people going through very significant challenges, across the United Kingdom.
A diverse range of community projects are funded to support those experiencing economic, emotional, environmental, and mental and physical health challenges.
The charity’s iconic symbol, “Pudsey Bear” is symbolic of such and care compassion and those very resilient children and young people who need such support.
“Children In Need” wishes for every child to reach their true potential.
No child left behind.
We owe this to all children and young people, with their whole life ahead of them.
The Christian theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood against negative prejudice and negative discrimination, and paid the ultimate price in doing so, said:
“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children”.
Though full of many opportunities, and most certainly every generation has its unique challenges, today’s society, local, national, and global, though offering many positive opportunities, can be very challenging for children and young people.
Charity is more than just raising money, important though that is.
Charity is about raising awareness, spending time, spreading love and respect.
In recent times, for example, “Children In Need” has raised awareness of our “emotional backpacks” in their “The Heaviest Backpack” campaign, where well-known people, like Alex Scott M.B.E., pictured above, have talked of their challenges as a young person.
For all young people carry metaphorical, and actual, bags or backpacks around.
All young people show resilience.
For some, and many, young people, these backpacks can be heavy and very burdensome.
There is, and are, a lot in those backpacks. Already.
By all of us helping each other, and sharing any concerns, this load becomes so much lighter.
In fact, with such support, that load may (almost) disappear.
What is in (y)our emotional backpack?
Who is supporting you and us?
Do we fully support others with their emotional backpack?
We share the positive opportunities, and the, at times, very challenging and heavy load, of our life experiences.
Together.
