Shropshire does its bit for Children in Need

BT's Network Management Centre, ensures the smooth running of phone lines and communications networks 24-hours-a-day and is gearing up for an extra 200,000 calls during Children in Need.

Robert Rogers, a technical operative at BT’s network centre, said: "Once again we’re gearing up for an extra 200,000 calls across our network during Children in Need, which is broadcast from 7pm on Friday into the early hours of Saturday.

"As usual our main objective will be to ensure all calls get through to Children in Need, without compromising service to other customers around the country.

"BT’s technology ensures the calls are distributed evenly across all of the Children in Need answering centres, so as many people as possible can get through to make their donation during the course of the evening.

"As usual we’ll have extra people on duty at our network centre here in Oswestry, who will be constantly monitoring the level of calls across our network.

“Whilst most of what we do is computer-based, we’ll also have a watchful eye on the programme itself, because there are often very sad interviews and emotive appeals during the show that always trigger a sudden increase in calls from the general public – but we’ll be ready.”

Lyreco will form an official call centre
In Telford, more than 50 workers at Lyreco, one of the UK’s biggest providers of office and workplace supplies, will form one of the official BBC call centres at its UK headquarters in Donnington Wood.

It will be the 14th year in a row that Lyreco volunteers have dealt with calls pledging money to the cause as the live broadcast is watched by millions of people worldwide.

Managing Director for the UK and Ireland Peter Hradisky said Lyreco was honoured to have been chosen for the crucial role yet again.

“We are very proud of our long running partnership with Children in Need as there are only a handful of call centres around the country.

“There is never a shortage of volunteers to take part and we feel privileged to have been part of such a great cause for so long. Although the phones are ringing off the hook, it’s a real party atmosphere with people dressing up and lots of our own fundraising activities going on.

“We provide free meals for everyone working on the night and lots of families get involved. Although we can’t divulge any figures, millions of pounds must have been pledged through our call centre since we began,” he added.

Last year, the company raised more than £4,000 for Children in Need from its own activities and it’s hoping to top that figure in 2017.