Variety Club - The Children's Charity

helping sick disabled & disadvantaged children in the UK

 

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Putting the fun into fundraising for 50 years...
and then some!


Become a Friend of Variety and join in the fun. Together, we have been helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged children throughout the UK since 1949. Over the years - and with a little help from our friends - The Variety Club has made a huge difference to millions of children.

We want to do more

Friends of Variety are people of all ages and come from all walks of life - and have lots of reasons for joining. The one thing they share in common is their passion for helping children - and having fun in the process.

Whether you are an individual or a business; a celebrity or even someone close to children who need help: Friends of Variety want to hear from you.

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Unfortunately there are never enough resources to answer every appeal for our help - that’s where our many friends come in. There are plenty of ways for you to join us...

You could make a donation....
Every little helps! Friends of Variety can donate monthly – from as little as £2. You can also join in by making a single payment of £25 or more.

You could be a friendly angel....
We refer to the Friends of Variety who remember us in their will as ‘angels’ – because to the children who benefit from their kindness, they truly are.

You could raise money....
If you have the passion, enthusiasm and energy to organise a fundraising event, then we are right there with you. We support fundraisers in many ways – just let us know what you’re planning and we’ll see how we can help.
 
 


2008 fov letsdoit

We know that Friends of Variety want to help - and we also know that doing it in a spectacular manner can be truly rewarding.

If you have a fantastic fundraising idea - or simply lots of enthusiasm to get involved - then we’ll help. Whether you just want a few posters or whether you need the whole kit and caboodle - we will support every event as much as we can.

We help our fundraising friends in lots of ways:
  • Setting up ‘Just Giving’ web pages to make collecting sponsorship easy.
  • Customised posters for easy publicity.
  • Variety Club balloons - a must have!
  • T-shirts - so everyone can see who your efforts are supporting.
  • Personalised sponsorship forms.
  • Sample template letters - send them far and wide.
  • Press relations - you might get into the papers!
Above all, we offer support and guidance. We want your fundraising activity to be a success just as much as you do. Becoming a Friend of Variety means doing it together, having fun and generating the pounds that make a difference to
children’s lives.

2008 fov celebrity friends

Our roots are in show-business and continue to shine through - to this day our celebrity friends are a huge part of Variety Club life. The rich and the famous continue to raise money to help sick, disabled or disadvantaged children, and offer their time and support in lots of ways.
  • Donating a wheelchair
  • Presenting a Sunshine Coach
  • Appearing at corporate fundraising events
  • Entertaining children at a Variety at Work event
  • Or even by lending their support to a fundraising initiative or promotion
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Whether you regularly appear in glossy magazines or even if you just read them – all of our friends are celebrities to us. Taking part is all it takes to make a child smile.

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2008 fov reggie

This is Reggie. He was born with Oesophagal Atresia, a rare condition which prevents blood from reaching his stomach. The condition affects one in 3,500 babies, who like Reggie, need to have emergency treatment in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Baby Reggie"I was terrified my baby was going to die, but with the help of Variety Club and the new facilities; the hospital staff were able to save him. Words can't describe my gratitude. " - Reggie's mum.

With your help we can continue to give to those who help save children like Reggie, be it through Variety Club Children’s Hospital at Kings or one of the many other hospitals we support across the UK.

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Each Sunshine Coach provides a school or organisation with the means of getting out and about and gives children the chance to experience life. Each one costs around £28,000.

Every wheelchair, buggy, trike and bike provided by Easy Riders wheelchairs gives a child the independence to join in with games, sports, daytrips and holidays. In 2007 we provided 186 wheelchairs.

Each year we fund many appeals: everything from sensory equipment and medical equipment to housing adaptations, beds and youth clubs.

For thousands of sick, disabled and severely disadvantaged children, life is hard. We organise adventure trips for them and their families as well as make Christmas special by providing gifts and fun days out across the country. Every year we provide trips, events, fun days and gifts to over 30,000 deserving children.

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Please find below our infomation booklet and Friends of Variety Application form.