Bands gear up for Children in Need broadcast

Several local bands will perform on air as part of the Radio Shetland Children in Need appeal on Friday.

The station is gearing up for the marathon broadcast which will start at 7pm and run through until 1am showcasing some of the best of Shetland music along with the traditional auction.

Young fiddler Fraser Tait and singer/songwriter Chloe Robertson will kick off the programme. They will be joined later by Birls Aloud, the North Ness Boys, the Jim Halcrow Dance Band and taking the live broadcast past midnight will be Da Fustra.

The bairns from Sound Hall will start the evening hosting a special Give Us a Tune programme at 6.10pm.

Last year the Shetland appeal raised more than £22,000, with £10,000 made in the auction. This year around £33,000 came back to Shetland. A grant went to Disability Shetland to help young people with a variety of needs across Shetland by providing social activities. Around £8,000 was also handed to Voluntary Action Shetland in welfare awards to help buy clothes and assist with school trip for young disadvantaged children.

Head of BBC Children in Need in Scotland, Fraser Falconer, said that the work of the charity was only made possible thanks to the generosity of the BBC’s listeners and viewers.

He said: “This is especially the case in Shetland, where the amazing amount of money raised per head of the population is recognised by all my colleagues in Scotland and across the UK.”

Radio Shetland senior producer John Johnston said the appeal was one of the highlights of the year. He said: “The generosity of people and the support the community gives to the appeal continues to amaze us all.”

A full list of auction items will be included in this week’s Shetland Times.

Are you planning a Children in Need event? Let us know, or email your photos to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk