RACHEL BANHAM Terry Wogan is ready, Pudsey Bear is ready, BBC East is ready – so are we? We look at some of the events for BBC Children in Need this Friday, designed to help needy youngsters in our region.

RACHEL BANHAM

Hundreds of Norwich Union staff will be manning some of the Children In Need donation lines throughout the UK in Norwich, Sheffield, Liverpool and Scotland this Friday.

Former Norwich City goalkeeper Bryan Gunn will be at the Norwich Union call centre in the city, taking donation calls and having a penalty shoot-out with Neil Adams in the evening.

Carole Stockill, creative services manager at Norwich Union, said: “We've got various fundraising events going on – children's parties and things like that.

“Every year we do Comic Relief and Children In Need and switch half of our phone lines over. All the staff that go are volunteers. It's something they love doing – they find it very motivational.”

Staff at the Horizon business park will be fundraising throughout the day with a theme of 'school days'. They will be dusting down their school uniforms and taking part in a variety of activities – games, cake stalls and there will be a beautician offering massages and eye-brow shaping.

On the night the theme continues with more party games, face painting and activities. There will be help from some of the sixth formers of Thorpe St Andrew School.

Local BBC highlights include:

t The 'Be the Band' winner Crush Deluxe performing a live concert at The Forum.

t 'Drumatic Art' – a drummer who puts paper around his kit and on screens around him, fills his drum sticks with paint, and drums. The resulting 'painting' will hopefully be sold for Children In Need. The action takes place from 8pm to 8.15pm in The Forum.

t There will be ice skating displays at 7.35pm and 8.40pm on the rink outside The Forum by dancers from Chelmsford Ice Rink. Members of the public can also go ice skating.

t The 'Come and be a Weather Presenter' workshop will be at The Forum from around 3.30pm to 7pm. Anyone can get up on stage in front of a BBC camera and have a go at presenting the weather with help, if needed, from David Webster. For a small donation they can take home a copy of the tape.

t Visitors can have their photo taken with Pudsey Bear, and hopefully – again for a small donation – they can take home a print. This will be operating all evening.

t BBC Radio Norfolk will be following Children in Need throughout the day. There will be an on-air auction from 7am until 7pm. The items are set to include the chance to spend half a day reed-cutting with marsh man Eric Edwards at How Hill, the chance to spend half a day with an RSPB warden at Berney Marshes and the chance to be a circus ringmaster at the Hippodrome circus. Other items include a behind-the-scenes tour of Carrow Road, a Tornado simulator ride, and ski lessons. Tune in for more details. Auction number: 01603 617321.

t The presenters at Radio Norfolk are joining in the fun and have been set challenges to raise money using various objects. Roy Waller will be wine waitering in North Walsham and Tony Mallion will be dressed in drag in Gorleston… if enough money is pledged! Also Norwich City summariser Neil Adams will – under sufferance – present an edition of 'Rodeo Norfolk' (the country music programme). The more money that is pledged, the longer his country programme will be. The 12 hours of fun and fundraising is presented by Wally Webb.

YOUR EVENTS

Here is a selection of the events in Norfolk for BBC Children in Need.

t Long Stratton Leisure Centre is holding a family fun evening on Saturday from 7pm. For details call 01508 531444.

t On Saturday, November 27, at 7.30pm at All Saint's Church Mattishall, there will be a concert by Songbyrd singing ensemble. Tickets are £6, including refreshments, and available from Anita Pitkethly on 01263 860202, from Victoria Stores, Church Plain, Mattishall, or on the door.

t BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Stephen Bumfrey will be cutting hair at a Dereham salon this Friday to raise money. Hairazors at 9 Wellington Road is hosting the charity session from 12.30pm and people can have a cut while live on air. For details contact Jodie on 01362 853983.

t A variety evening at Sheringham Parish Church on Saturday at 7.30pm will include the Lumiere Rouge Ragtime Band, Ian Gallon, Marlene's School of Dance and Sheringham Shantymen. Tickets are £5 adults, £3 children.

t Events organised by students at Paston College, North Walsham include:

t Cake Stall – Friday 10.15-10.30am at Lawns Site, Paston College.

t Tombola and Hugathon (Open to the public)

t Thursday, November 18, 12.15-2.30pm in North Walsham Market Place. Make a donation and get a hug. Appearance by a cuddly Teddy Bear for extra special hugs.

t Sponsored bike ride from Aylsham in fancy dress – Friday. Two students arriving at Paston College at 9.30am.

t Student Auction – Friday 12-12.45pm in Paston College Theatre. Brave students will be auctioning themselves to be a slave to another student for a lunch hour. Spectators are welcome for a donation of 20p.

t Robert Grand, 14, and Steven Thomas, 15, have organised a disco at Sheringham Sports Pavilion on Friday from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets are adults £2 or £2.50 on the night, children £1 or £1.50 on the night (under-fours free). They are available from the Craft Bakery, High Street or by phoning 07717 131694.