Asda Antrim joins forces with local community to raise more than £2,000 for BBC Children in Need

Pudsey and Asda Antrim's Ashley Ritchie visited local schools in aid of BBC Children in Need

Colleagues at Asda Antrim have helped raise an impressive £2,100 for BBC Children in Need after teaming up with customers and local schools to support the annual charity appeal.

The fundraising effort was led by the store’s Community Champion, Ashley Ritchie, who organised a series of activities including tombolas, raffles, in-store bucket collections and visits to nearby primary schools.

This year marks 25 years of partnership between Asda and BBC Children in Need. Since 2000, Asda stores and customers across the UK have raised more than £38 million, helping to support over 350,000 children and young people.

A major part of the Antrim store’s fundraising came from its school visits, which contributed £1,300 of the total. Ashley, accompanied by Pudsey Bear, visited Kells and Connor Primary, Fourtowns Primary, The Groggan Primary, Ballycraigy Primary, and Ahoghill Playgroup, where they met pupils aged four to seven.

Asda Antrim works with local community to raise more than £2,000 for BBC Children in Need

Ashley said:

“Children In Need is such a worthy cause and I really love supporting the great work they do. As a mum of two myself I love getting involved with the children when we visit schools.

“To see the joy on their faces that some dancing with Pudsey brings them has regularly brought tears to my eyes and reminds me that children still love to be children and it really doesn’t take a lot to make them smile.

“Our colleagues in Antrim are always brilliant supporting my fundraising and giving up their time to come out with me, they are a very special bunch!”

BBC Children in Need supports thousands of projects across the UK that help young people facing challenges including poverty, disability and mental health struggles.

Every pound raised helps fund vital services that make a meaningful difference in children’s lives.