Bruno Brookes spearheads pop-up radio station
Newbury fundraiser for Children in Need
FORMER BBC Radio One DJ Bruno Brookes has spearheaded a pop-up radio station fundraiser for Children in Need (CIN) in Newbury today (Friday), with other local CIN events today - the charity's big day.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News on Tuesday, he revealed that the Immedia Group Plc, based in Newbury Broadway, of which he is chief executive, has set aside a studio for the day to raise funds for the charity.
The venue will see the creation of a pop-up radio station, to be streamed live between 8am and 8pm, to laptops, computers or mobile telephones and Immedia clients, including 900 HSBC banks, Topshop and Ikea.
Staff and customers will be able to listen and interact with the live broadcast, have the chance to showcase hidden talents or ask their children how they would help those less fortunate.
Fundraising got off to a flying start after £7,000 was raised for CIN as a result of a London auction bid for the radio station and Immedia has since teamed up with local business NJW Facilities Management, and five of its partners, to set it up.
Mr Brookes, a Newbury resident before moving to Marlow, said the aim was to raise a further £10,000 from requests on the day.
“They could request (for example) that Bohemian Rhapsody is played for £5 and we will be auctioning items to raise more funds,” he said, adding that he was likely to be involved in some shape or form, today (Friday).
“I think it’s all for a good cause and would like to thank all of the companies involved for organising it. We will try to raise as much as we can on the day,” he said.
Other local businesses raising funds include Reed, the global recruitment specialist based in Northbrook Street, which offered Newbury businesses the opportunity to ‘borrow’ a staff member for an hour, in return for a donation.
The offer was taken up by Compleat Food Ingredients, of London Road, which had bacon sandwiches cooked for staff and tea and coffees brewed, raising £92.
Elsewhere, schools involved with CIN fundraisers on Friday include the Clere School, Burghclere, whose pupils are set to become fundraising entrepren-eurs for the day, with a further bake-in and non-school uniform day also planned. At Kingsclere Primary School, a hilarious heroic heads day is scheduled, giving pupils chance to decorate their own heads with a design of their choice, including Pudsey ears.
Are you planning a Children in Need event ? Please email details and photographs to jane.meredith@newburynews.co.uk.
