Kids
BBC Children in Need distributes ?14.8 mn to projects across UK
MUMBAI: BBC‘s social welfare initiative BBC Children in Need has announced that ?14.8 million has been awarded in grants to 422 projects across the UK which it says will have a direct impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.
This allocation is the first of three rounds of grants that will be made this year, and will reach more than 96,000 children across the UK. The money is also supporting, and in some cases creating, hundreds of jobs for youth and charity workers.
Following the Appeal night last November, which raised a total of ?20,991,216, BBC Children in Need has received additional donations from fundraisers, schools and businesses from all across the UK.
Thousands of fundraisers across the country “did something different”, including cake sales in the office, talent contests at school, sponsored cycles and, the eye-watering, back, chest, arm and leg wax!
Since November, the BBC charity has received thousands of applications for funding. These are rigorously assessed and considered by eight committees which pass on their recommendations to the Trustees of the charity. Every project that receives a grant from BBC Children in Need works with children and young people who may be affected by homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, or those who are living with a serious illness, disability or psychological disorder.
All of the grants are targeted to areas where they will make a real difference and are allocated geographically to ensure that all corners of the UK receive a share of the money raised.
The average amount awarded to a project this round is ?35,153 with grants ranging in size from ?600 to the largest single grant of ?182,683. BBC Children in Need CEO David Ramsden says, “We are overwhelmed by the support of people right across the UK as we know that for many people these are difficult times.
“It is a real tribute to the generosity and commitment of our supporters that we have matched last year‘s efforts and have ?36million that we can use to make a real difference to many young lives.”
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
