STV Children's Appeal raises £3.5m for vulnerable youngsters

The STV Children’s Appeal has raised more than £3.5m for vulnerable children and young people in Scotland in 2020.

A busy year of fundraising despite the coronavirus pandemic culminated in a fundraising show hosted by Lorraine Kelly on Friday evening.

Stars including Andy Murray, KT Tunstall and Ant and Dec encouraged Scots to donate to the Appeal, which raises funds for vulnerable children and young people across Scotland.

A total of £3,530,025 has been raised following the programme, bringing the total amount raised by the Appeal since its formation in 2011 to more than £24m.

The show featured a appearance from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who starred in a recorded sketch alongside comedian Janey Godley, in which she delivered Godley’s iconic catchphrase “Frank, get the door!” for the first time.

Community heroes who did their bit to raise money include 91-year-old Jan Collins from Troon, who raised £8621 by completing 1000 holes of golf in his garden.

Inverness schoolboy Shaun Maclean, eight, ran 200 laps of his garden and raised £966 while postman Gerry Long from Ardrossan cheered up local residents by dressing up as a different fictional character each day to deliver mail – raising £450 in the process.

Corporate supporters of the Appeal include supermarket chain Lidl, with customers and staff helping to raise £73,000 this year – bringing the total amount Lidl has raised for the Appeal to over £500,000.

The Scottish Government has again pledged to match-fund £1m towards the final total raised.

Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “Once again, we are absolutely blown away by the incredible generosity of STV viewers – particularly at a time when donating may be harder to do than normal.

“Their support, along with that of our community heroes and corporate fundraisers, will make a real difference to the one in four children living in poverty throughout the country.

“These young people, who have felt the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic more than most, urgently need our help – and we’re committed to distributing the funds as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“On behalf of everyone at the STV Children’s Appeal, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every person who has supported us throughout this year.”