BT’s online donation platform set to reach £100 million milestone at BBC Children in Need

This year for the first time BT’s charity online giving platform, the eDonate platform, will be used by all call centres to record and process pledges made in support of BBC Children in Need via the donation line - 0345 733 2233. Since it was launched in 2002 the eDonate platform has processed donations approaching £100 million which has been banked by charities supported by BT. Donations made to BBC Children in Need 2009 will take the figure past the £100 million milestone.

In total 5,000 volunteers will man 52 call centres across the UK handling pledges made to the donation line. The eDonate platform can handle 500 transactions a second and 24,000 people can simultaneously input. As call centre volunteers input donation pledges directly into BT’s eDonate platform, it removes the reliance on paperwork and speeds up the time it takes for pledges to be recorded and processed allowing the charity to access to the money quicker; it is also a more secure process.

Last year participating call centres handled more than 200,000 calls on the night and a record-breaking £20.8 million was pledged to positively change the lives of children and young people who have suffered hardships, difficulties or disadvantages of some kind.

BT has supported BBC Children in Need since the first telethon in 1980 and continues to provide support including; telephony, network management, call centres, volunteers and online support. Another exciting development for BT this year will see the LED display at the BT Tower in London used to profile the BBC Children in Need appeal with an animation of Pudsey Bear and the donation line number - 0345 733 2233.

Beth Courtier, community investment programme manager, said: “BT’s support is an essential and integral part of the appeal. The show is live and BBC Children in Need relies on the BT infrastructure and its people to deliver on the night. This year with donations from the public being directly input to BT’s eDonate platform it will enhance the service we provide. BT supports charity telethons because this is where we can use our expertise to help make a difference to those in need. With BT’s help,

BBC Children in Need is hoping to break the half a billion pound mark of the total funds raised since it began. This will be a milestone we can all be proud of.”

As with every telethon, BT employees are encouraged to have fun and raise funds. Research shows that 98 per cent of BT employees believe it is important that BT supports telethon events; 87 per cent felt more positive about BT as a result of the company’s support for charity telethon appeals.

This years’ BBC Children in Need appeal will be aired on the 20th of November. Cast members from EastEnders will be handling some calls from BT Tower and a host of other stars have pledged their support or committed to perform in aid of Children in Need including Pixie Lott, Paulo Nutini, Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Annie Lennox and Harry Connick Jnr. Everyone involved will help to raise money for BBC Children in Need, which works to help disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.