Post Office unveiled as BBC Children in Need’s official cash partner

Post Office and BBC Children in Need have Thursday announced that Post Office is the official cash partner of BBC Children in Need after collecting over £870,000 of customer donations for the charity last year, with 95 per cent of the total coming in as cash across the counter.

Post Office’s charitable donations facility helps BBC Children in Need ensure that every child and young person is given the support they need to thrive and be the best they can be. With 4.2 million children living in poverty according to the ONS and over 1 million children receiving emergency food parcels from the Trussell Trust in the year to March 2023, the reasons to support BBC Children in Need have never been stronger, Post Office noted.

Building on the success of last year when Post Office mobile branches supported BBC Children in Need’s community fundraising through their Rickshaw Challenge, this year Post Office is going even bigger and hitting the road in August with CarFest, the largest family fundraising festival in the UK. Post Office will also promote BBC Children in Need through the branch network in the run up to Appeal night on 17 November.

“We are really proud to be the official cash partner for BBC Children in Need. Cash is playing an increasing role in helping families manage their budgets and the Everyday Banking services available to 99 per cent of all UK banking customers at Post Offices, including the ability to withdraw the exact amount of cash they need, means everyone can help raise money for this vital charity,” Mark Cazaly, head of corporate responsibility at Post Office, said:

“In fact, recent research showed 42 per cent of the UK population donate to charities in cash and 1 in 3 people are using cash to help them manage their budgets so cash still has a really important role to play, even more so in light of the rising cost of living.

“We’re looking forward to getting stuck into the appeal this year and will be involved with a range of activities to help raise funds for BBC Children in Need in the run-up to Appeal night and make sure everyone knows they can drop off donations at their local Post Office.”

Claire Hoyle, director of income generation, marketing & communications at BBC Children in Need added: “BBC Children in Need are delighted to be announcing Post Office as our official cash partner this year. We know that cash continues to play an important role in communities across the UK and are thrilled to be working with Post Office to ensure that it’s easier than ever for supporters to donate at their local branch. Our new partnership means that supporters can easily pay in their fundraising, or make a cash donation, to help children and young people across the UK to thrive and be the best they can be.”

Post Office’s role in providing cash services to every community is growing each year, in June alone Post Offices handled £3.35 billion of cash for customers and businesses in the UK.

With customers increasingly relying on cash to help them to budget, donating notes and coins is a great way to make sure charities still get the vital funding they need to support their work. Customers can donate in branch by dropping off counted and bagged coins and notes, as well as by card or cheque.

BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 2400 local charities and projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.