Lyreco staff take up their key role in Children in Need success

Staff at a leading Shropshire business are gearing up to play one of the starring roles in this year’s annual BBC Children in Need fundraising drive.

More than 50 workers at Lyreco, one of the UK’s biggest providers of office and workplace supplies, will form one of the official BBC call centres at its UK headquarters in Donnington Wood, Telford, during the charity night on November 18.

It will be the 14th year in a row that Lyreco volunteers have dealt with calls pledging money to the cause as the live broadcast is watched by millions of people worldwide.

The Lyreco Children in Need call centre runs from 6.30pm until 11pm and last year’s campaign raised more than £37m for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Managing Director for the UK and Ireland Peter Hradisky said Lyreco was honoured to have been chosen for the crucial role yet again.

“We are very proud of our long running partnership with Children in Need as there are only a handful of call centres around the country.

“There is never a shortage of volunteers to take part and we feel privileged to have been part of such a great cause for so long. Although the phones are ringing off the hook, it’s a real party atmosphere with people dressing up and lots of our own fundraising activities going on.

“We provide free meals for everyone working on the night and lots of families get involved. Although we can’t divulge any figures, millions of pounds must have been pledged through our call centre since we began,” he added.

Lyreco will also be organising a host of its own events for Children in Need.

Last year, the company raised more than £4,000 from its own activities and it’s hoping to top that figure in 2017.

Fundraising includes a popular Bake Off competition, face painting, a fun photo booth, and much more.