BBC Children in Need Appeal - Benjamin J Creighton Griffiths

Text heading: BBC Children in Need Appeal

www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Benjamin raised funds for BBC Children in Need from 2001 to 2009. While he still supports this wonderful charity he felt it was time help some other organisations.

But if YOU have a BBC Children in Need Event which could do with a harpist do contact us.

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2009

In May Benjamin will be playing at the 80th Birthday party of a lady he first met 5 years ago - a member of the Penarth and District Stroke Support group - Nola has asked that instead of giving her gifts, family and friends should give donations to BBC Children in Need! He hopes to also take part in some other CiN events later in the year.

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2007 / 2008

These two years Benjamin was raising money for BBC Children in Need by performing at various events including - on 15 November at The Annual Christmas Fayre at All Saints Church and in October by playing and selling his CDs at a Rotary Club Dinner.

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2006

Benjamin always takes along copies of his CD Ben Jamming to gigs. But this year he has also been invited to perform on the main BBC Children in Need Night - Friday 17 November 2006 at the home of Welsh Rugby - The Wales Millennium Stadium. Being a harpist, Welsh and a great fan of the Welsh Team Benjamin was thrilled to bits when the WRU invited him to come and join their fund-raising for BBC Children in Need and to play a piece for the crowd during the half time interval - with over 70,000 tickets already sold this will be the largest audience Benjamin has yet performed to! Lots of harpists, harp makers and harp retailers have pledged to sponsor Benjamin by making donations to the BBC Children in Need Appeal.

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2005

Over the last two years, the phone has rung with increasing frequency, with requests for Benjamin to perform at Charity Concerts and other events. At his young age he should not take on too much, so again he will not be staging his own Children In Need Concert in 2005. But, where ever he plays he still takes copies of his CD Ben Jamming. Recently he was invited to perform at a small event hosted by Federation of Small Businesses, after he had finished playing every person/couple in the room bought a copy of his CD!

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2004

Although Benjamin's concerts in 2002 & 2003 had been a great success, we did not repeat it for 2004, instead Benjamin has been performing at places where he can sell copies of Ben Jamming or collect donations. We do not yet have a final figure, but see above for the running total to date.

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2003

In 2003, while he was 7 years old Benjamin decided to make a recording for the BBC Children in Need Appeal

For further details please click the CD cover or the link below.

Click here for further details about Ben Jamming

Photo of Benjamin & Bryn The 2002 concert had been such a success that every one wanted to do it again for 2003 - especially Benjamin. After the concert Benjamin was invited to Pudsey in the Park where he was interviewed on TV with with Bryn Terfel.

On the night Benjamin handed over a cheque for £2,026.15 but hope the total will be much higher once he has had a chance to sell more copies of Ben Jamming.

Video Clip - WMV file

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2002

Benjamin wanted to raise more money for BBC Children in Need than he had managed in 2001 and asked if he could stage a concert at The Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where he had performed at previous concerts. We set a target of £1,000 and were delighted when the event actually raised £1,472.10.

Video Clip - ASF file

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2001

Photograph of Benjamin (November 2001) In November 2001, when he was 5 1/2 Benjamin took part in his first BBC Children In Need Appeal.

The idea was to collect Sponsors for a performance at Tesco Extra, Western Avenue on Friday 16th November, but while he was out collecting sponsors some venues asked if he could also come and play for them!

So on Friday 16th November 2001 Benjamin busked with his harp at Tesco Extra, Western Avenue from about 3.45pm to 4.30pm, then later that evening he visited Cibo Italian Cafe, Pontcanna Street, where he played a set and collected further donations for Children In Need. Then on Sunday 18th November he played and collected donations at The Lodge, Sophia Close. Earlier in the week he had also performed at Hartwell VW Dealership, Hadfield Road.

Benjamin raised just over £336.88!

Why BBC Children in Need?

Benjamin is often asked why he choose support BBC Children in Need. Well, he had been invited to perform in a charity concert being staged by CAFÉ (Cardiff Amateur Flute Ensemble) and while driving to a rehearsal he asked if he could do his own charity event. When asked who he wanted to help Benjamin stated that he wanted to help Pudsey as Pudsey looked after Children. It turned out that Benjamin really had been listening to Terry Wogan talking about Children in Need on his breakfast show as Dad was driving him to nursery in the mornings!

Updated 6 September, 2011