Radio 4 Appeal
Encyclopedia
The Radio 4 Appeal is a British
radio
programme on BBC Radio 4
. Each week a single speaker, usually a celebrity, appeals for support for a different charity
(for example Paul Heiney
appealed on behalf of Send a Cow
in 2008). Listeners are invited to respond by sending cheques using a Freepost
address, or can make payments online or by telephone. Listeners can also set up a standing order
payment to support all 52 charities each year.
The programme is transmitted at 07:55 and 21:26 on Sunday, and at 15:27 on the following Tuesday. It is governed by the BBC's Charity Appeal Policy.
Each year there is a special Christmas Appeal in association with St Martin-in-the-Fields
church near Trafalgar Square
, London. This raises funds which are divided equally between The Connection at St Martin's, which supports vulnerable and homeless people in central London, and The Vicar's Relief Fund, which makes grants, averaging £160, to "those who are in need or suffering hardship" anywhere in the UK.
In 2007-2008 the appeals raised £1,433,154.02 for 52 charities. Just over half of this, £725,000, was for the annual Christmas appeal, broadcast on 2 Dec 2007. Amounts raised for other charities in that year ranged from £1,366.00 (Jenni Murray
appealing for BEAT (Eating Disorders Association)
on 24 Feb 2008) to £53,988.00 (Krishnan Guru-Murthy
appealing for Homeless International
on 3 March 2007, one week later).
An earlier programme based on the same principle was The Week's Good Cause, which ran from 1926 (originally on the BBC Home Service
) until controller James Boyle
's major reforms to Radio 4 in 1998.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programme on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. Each week a single speaker, usually a celebrity, appeals for support for a different charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
(for example Paul Heiney
Paul Heiney
Paul Heiney has been a radio broadcaster or television reporter in the United Kingdom for over thirty years.-Early life:...
appealed on behalf of Send a Cow
Send a Cow
Send a Cow is a Bath, UK-based international development charity that works with poor African farmers to allow them to become self-sufficient by growing enough food to feed their families, sell produce and develop small businesses that last....
in 2008). Listeners are invited to respond by sending cheques using a Freepost
Freepost
Freepost is a postal service provided by various postal administrations, whereby a person sends mail without affixing postage, and the recipient pays the postage when collecting the mail...
address, or can make payments online or by telephone. Listeners can also set up a standing order
Standing order (banking)
A Standing Order is an instruction a bank account holder gives to their bank to pay a set amount at regular intervals to another account. The instruction is sometimes known as a banker's order....
payment to support all 52 charities each year.
The programme is transmitted at 07:55 and 21:26 on Sunday, and at 15:27 on the following Tuesday. It is governed by the BBC's Charity Appeal Policy.
Each year there is a special Christmas Appeal in association with St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
church near Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
, London. This raises funds which are divided equally between The Connection at St Martin's, which supports vulnerable and homeless people in central London, and The Vicar's Relief Fund, which makes grants, averaging £160, to "those who are in need or suffering hardship" anywhere in the UK.
In 2007-2008 the appeals raised £1,433,154.02 for 52 charities. Just over half of this, £725,000, was for the annual Christmas appeal, broadcast on 2 Dec 2007. Amounts raised for other charities in that year ranged from £1,366.00 (Jenni Murray
Jenni Murray
Dame Jennifer Susan "Jenni" Murray, DBE is a British journalist and broadcaster. She attended Barnsley Girls High School and has a degree in French and Drama from Hull University...
appealing for BEAT (Eating Disorders Association)
Eating Disorders Association
The Eating Disorders Association, known as beat since February 2007, is the major British medical charity in the area of eating disorders. It is dedicated to helping people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders, and providing information to the public...
on 24 Feb 2008) to £53,988.00 (Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy , is a British television presenter and journalist employed by Channel 4. He presents the Channel 4 Evening News and the foreign affairs programme Unreported World.-Education:...
appealing for Homeless International
Homeless International
Homeless International is a British NGO focusing on urban poverty issues in the developing world. It is a membership organisation registered both as a charity and a company limited by guarantee, with many members being UK housing associations.- History :...
on 3 March 2007, one week later).
An earlier programme based on the same principle was The Week's Good Cause, which ran from 1926 (originally on the BBC Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
) until controller James Boyle
James Boyle (broadcasting)
James Boyle is one of the leading public figures in the British arts world with a long track record in broadcasting in particular. His take-no-prisoners style has earned him numerous plaudits, but also resulted in controversy, most famously at BBC Radio 4....
's major reforms to Radio 4 in 1998.
External links
- Radio 4 Appeal with link to audio of latest appeal and archive listing past appeals
- The St Martin-in-the-Fields BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal
- The Connection at St Martin's
- St Martin-in-the-Fields Vicar's Relief Fund