SHOW YOUR SPOTS - LET'S RAISE LOTS!

All around the country, our students have been joining in National Talking Week! to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

Spotty children raise money for BBC Children In Need

 New Principal in St. Helens and Warrington, Andrea Williams, emailed HO at the weekend:

"I would just like to tell you about my week. This week children have taken part in National Talking Week! Their subject was: 'If you found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, who would you give it to?'  One child came up with a fantastic idea of creating a Children in Need Wishing Well; I think we should have one in every city!  The whole lesson was really fun. Students made up their own plays about Children In Need and one group performed it to the parents. As you can see in the picture, we made them all spotty with face paint. Parents were thrilled with our performance and very supportive of our fundraising."
Congratulations to Andrea on a great week. So far, she and her students have raised a massive £255 with sponsorship still coming in.

NATIONAL TALKING WEEK 2012!

Once again the Academy is raising funds, through National Talking Week!, for BBC Children In Need. Around the country, children, their parents and friends and their teachers are 'putting their money where their mouth is' and talking up a storm!

In Somerset, children as young as three joined in the fun during their Kindy classes. Their current topic is 'The Jungle' and, with the help of finger puppets, the students talked about Pudsey Bear for two whole minutes!

Kindy students talk with their animals and sea creatures to help raise money.

The panda has a great conversation with the crab!

The fish were all talking in big, fat full sentences!

All of the children took home a special Pudsey Bear certificate so parents could see they had mastered the challenge and now the sponsor money will be collected!

Well done to all those Kindy children!

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED 2012

It's that time of year again! Tomorrow sees the start of  NATIONAL TALKING WEEK! in the UK, leading up to the big BBC Children In Need show next Friday, 16th November.

Over the past five years, Academy Principals, teachers and students around the country have raised approximately £85,000 in various ways. Last year, 'Guess the UFOs in the jar', cake sales and special edition T-shirts helped the money roll in.

How many UFOs?

Yummy spotty cakes for sale

'Designer' T-shirts all the rage!

Parents joined in the fun

It was very challenging!

Someone even baked a Pudsey cake!

There will be lots of this going on - and more - and we hope to add to our grand total by the end of November.

Principals at the 2011 show with Pudsey

Watch out for people in spotty Helen O'Grady T-shirts on the late edition of the show on November 16th. If you want to be involved with the Academy fundraising, please contact your local branch or email info@helenogrady.co.uk

NATIONAL TALKING WEEK IN NORTH LEICESTERSHIRE

Principal of North Leicestershire branch, Beth Daniel, had lots of exciting activities going on during the recent National Talking Week for BBC Children In Need.

Many of her students were proud to sport the special edition T-shirts which were available.
They wore them proudly!
Parents came along to hear their children do their National Talking! They were expected to join in with the drama activities too, of course!
The children had been encouraged to write a story about their adventures with Pudsey Bear, so they could read it for National Talking Week!

MEETING PUDSEY BEAR!

A team from Head Office took a very large cheque to the live BBC Children In Need show on Friday night. But it wasn't as smooth as it should have been. A big accident on the M4 meant the team were delayed at the service station en route but the intrepid Goodfields managed to pick up speed eventually and arrive with enough time to put baby Morgan down for the night!

Here he is keeping an eye on the cheque!
And here are the girls sharing the moment with the intrepid Pudsey Bear.

Sir Terry Wogan spotted the cheque during the evening and the Academy had their mention on air. Well done to all those concerned, they all had a fabulous time. Sadly, Morgan wasn't allowed to attend!

NATIONAL TALKING WEEK IN OLDHAM

There was definitely a spotty theme going on in Helen O'Grady classes in Oldham last week! Principal, Wendy Orrell, and her team made a huge effort to raise lots of money during National Talking Week!

There was a lot of baking going on and parents paid - sometimes well over the odds! - for her very delicious cakes.

Everyone was encouraged to wear spots.

And parents were more than happy to join in with the talking.

It was all very exciting!

As well as the cakes and the talking, there was also a competition to guess the number of sweeties in the jar.

Everyone shared in the spirit of Pudsey!

As always, parents in the area were very generous with their cash, as Wendy and her staff were with their time and effort. They hope to raise close to £2,000 towards the final total.

Congratulations to them all!

CHILDREN IN NEED IN BRISTOL CLASSES

In Bristol, parents were invited to attend classes during National Talking Week! They joined in with the lessons, they listened to their children talk and they donated a lot of money!

Proud parents bought special edition T-shirts for their children. All proceeds donated to the charity.

Teacher, Kathryn Gregory, puts both children and parents through their paces!

Children found lots to talk about!

Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec said: "We were very proud of all of students for taking part. The atmosphere in class was very exciting and some of the talks were very moving."

The Bristol branch of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy raised almost £2,000 towards the final total. Congratulations to them all!

NATIONAL TALKING WEEK!

Principals, students, teachers and parents in drama classes around the country are in the middle of NATIONAL TALKING WEEK! aiming to raise tens of thousands of pounds for BBC Children In Need. Special edition T-shirts have been on sale, with all proceeds going to the charity.

In many classes, parents have thrown themselves into the fundraising too. York Principal, Lindsay Goakes, sent us this picture (below) of the cake Mattew's dad made to share with the class in Selby.

Fundraising activities will continue throughout November. This Friday, 18th November, a team from Head Office, led by, Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield, will be in the audience at BBC Television Centre with a very big cheque!

Thank you to everyone who has taken part. Visit our website www.helenogrady.co.uk for full details.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED 2011

Once again, this year, the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy is fundraising for BBC Children In Need. Wednesday 9th November sees the start of NATIONAL TALKING WEEK! across the UK, when students will be talking, in their classes, on a given topic, for an allocated amount of time.

Last year, through the sponsored talking, we raised more than £30,000 for the charity and were lucky enough to present a cheque, live on air, to Sir Terry Wogan.

Schools are getting involved too, with drama teachers running special classes to hear the children talk. The Academy's aim is to develop children's confidence and skill in verbal communication so what better way than talking to raise money for other children less fortunate than themselves?

For full information download a leaflet here and print a sponsor form to start raising money now. Full details are on the literature, with instructions of what to do with the money when you have raised it.

Thank you - on behalf of the Academy - for your help and an even bigger THANK YOU on behalf of BBC Children In need.

MORE NATIONAL TALKING DAY! PICTURES

All over the country Principals have been raising money for Children In Need. Many branches of the Academy invited parents into class to join in their childrens' lesson. Lots of them were encouraged to wear something spotty. In Leicestershire, Rebekah Davidson (above) single handedly (well with just a little help from her dad!) raised £260. Well done to her!

The talking - and certainly the fundraising - continues. The academy will be collecting spare change for Pudsey right through this term. You can get involved by visiting our website - http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ - or send a donation to the address on this blog.

Keeeeep talking!

THE CHEQUE FOR SIR TERRY!

Training Manager, Margaret Darley, seen above centre with South Wales Principal and Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield (R) and her Manager, Helen Ward, were lucky enough to attend a special reception at the BBC on Friday before joining the audience for the second half of the big Children In Need extravaganza.

The South Wales branch of the Academy raised more than £2,000 towards the final total and Becky was very proud to present the cheque to Sir Terry Wogan live on air. It was a star studded evening, with the second half opened by Sir Tom Jones and featuring, among others, Heaven 17, Pixie Lott and Maroon 5, as well as excerpts from several West End shows.

Fundraising will continue until the end of the year so it is not too late to be involved. Visit our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full details or send your donation to the address on this blog. Raising money for Children In Need has become an annual event for all branches of the Academy and it was wonderful to have a prescence at the show.

The only slight disappointment of the evening was the fact Take That were performing on the earlier show and the girls had to be content with seeing their performance on the big screen in the reception - and knowing they were actually in the same building!

This is as close as Margaret got to Take That!

THE BIG DAY!

Today is the day Children In Need takes over the airwaves. You will see and hear Pudsey on almost every programme through the BBC today and, of course, the big show is on tonight.

A team from Head Office will be there to present the big cheque for £50,000. Principals around the country and their students have worked extremely hard towards the target and the Academy is proud to be representing them tonight. See us on the show in the 'late' spot, from 10.30 to 2am.

A big, big thank you to everyone who has been involved including our printers, Franchise-Connect and a special vote of thanks to The Waldegrave Arms in Chewton Mendip, Somerset, who have taken National Talking Day! to their heart. Tonight their barmaids will be dressed in our special edition tee shirts requesting donations from every customer who speaks in the pub!

It's not too late to be involved. Visit our website to download a sponsor form or send a donation to the address on this blog. We will happily link to your website if you provide details.

MORE NATIONAL TALKING DAY! NEWS

The talking continues in Helen O'Grady classes this week as students head for the target of £50,000 to present to BBC Children In Need at their big show on Friday. From Glasgow to Portsmouth, Belfast to Cambridge, students have put their money where their mouth is and have wonderful stories to tell.

In Northampton (pictured in group below) Principal, Sarah Moloney, invited the local BBC radio station to join join in. Click here to listen to what the children, the parents and the Principal had to say.

It's not too late to be involved. Visit our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ and download a sponsor form or send your donation to the address on this blog.

Our children are really making a difference to children less fortunate than themselves. You can too.

NATIONAL TALKING DAY! 2010

Today, WEDNESDAY 10th NOVEMBER, is NATIONAL TALKING DAY! Children in drama classes all around the country will be talking with their families and with their teachers to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

Famous for its strong belief in verbal communication, the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy launched National Talking Day! in 2009 and, through sponsorship, its students raised almost £40,000. This year the target is £50,000.

The talking is not restricted to children. Business people, politicians and celebrities have been encouraged to join in too. And it's not too late to participate. The talking goes on right up to the 19th November when a team from Helen O'Grady Head Office will present a cheque on the television show. Visit http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full information.

STEPHEN FRY OFFERS SUPPORT ...... FROM AFAR!

When we launched National Talking Day! in support of BBC Children In Need, we felt Stephen Fry would be an excellent ambassador, given his command of the English language and his love of conversation. His PA sent this reply to our invitation for him to join us on 10th November.

"If Stephen had five lives he would be delighted to consider becoming an Ambassador for National Talking Day. The fact is, however, he is deep in commitments to the charities, organisations and individuals he currently supports, as well as snowed under with promises, half promises and everything in-between to others.

Stephen is very sorry to turn you down but he cannot pretend he can find the time to offer you more than his support from afar."

We really appreciate the fact he bothered to reply and we know Stephen will remain a role model to anyone with a wish to hold meaningful and amusing conversations.

SPECIAL EDITION TEE SHIRT LAUNCHED

Branches around the country will be taking delivery this week of the Helen O'Grady/BBC Children In Need tee shirts. Children in drama classes nationwide will be wearing the limited edition tee shirts with pride as they head towards National Talking Day! on Wednesday 10th November.

For full details of how you can take part, visit our website - http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

Please, put your money where your mouth is and support our massive fundraising effort.

COUNTRYFILE STAR COMMENDS HELEN O'GRADY TALKERS!

BBC Children In Need is a charity close to the heart of television presenter, Julia Bradbury, who last year was a participant in their 'Around The World In Eighty Days'. Of National Talking Day! she said: "Children should be the next generation of talkers so I commend their efforts on National Talking Day! Having conversations to support BBC Children In Need will only not raise lots of money but also raise the children's awareness of others much less fortunate than themselves. Well done everyone in the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy!"

Julia is pictured here when she reached the top of Scafell Pike (Skyworks)

SUE PERKINS SUPPORTS NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

Comedian and television presenter, Sue Perkins, who recently invited viewers to 'get baking' for BBC Children In Need, whole heartedly supports the Academy's efforts on National Talking Day! "What better way to raise money than for children around the country to talk to each other so showing their support for children less fortunate than themselves?" she said. "We need to encourage the art of conversation so I urge everyone to put their money where their mouth is on 10th November and talk up a storm for BBC Children In Need!"

Momentum is building and we plan for every branch of the Academy in the UK to be involved in a day of talking. More information soon!