Staff, students and businesses from across the region have begun their fundraising for Children in Need which takes place today.

East Anglian Daily Times: Joshua Harper Joshua has raised over £1000 with his fundraising for Children in Need. Picture: RACHEL EDGEJoshua Harper Joshua has raised over £1000 with his fundraising for Children in Need. Picture: RACHEL EDGE (Image: Archant)

Thousands of pounds will be raised for the event whose theme this year is ‘Do Your Thing’.

Easton and Otley College

Staff from Easton and Otley College have been bringing their teddies to work to help raise money for Children in Need which takes place today.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ryan Crisp and his teddy Ed who he has brought to work for Children in Need Picture: JOHN NICERyan Crisp and his teddy Ed who he has brought to work for Children in Need Picture: JOHN NICE (Image: Archant)

Staff from the student services team have been bringing in their cuddly companions as part of the college’s backing of the nationwide fundraiser.

As well as bringing in teddies students will be studying in style as part of a ‘wear a onesie’ day which will also be held today.

Student services manager, Belinda Deacon, said: “It’s great to take part in Children in Need. It raises so much money for a wide variety of important campaigns and we are always delighted to do our bit.”

Students on the college’s Norfolk campus will also be bringing teddies to work with a cake sale also being heled to raised money.

East Anglian Daily Times: One teddy has his ears checked Picture: THE HEARING CARE CENTREOne teddy has his ears checked Picture: THE HEARING CARE CENTRE (Image: THE HEARING CARE CENTRE)

Shotley County Primary School

Five-year-old Joshua Harper from Shotley Gate has raised over £1,000 by running twenty miles. Tonight he will be taking part in the Children in Need special at Norwich Castle.

Find out more about Joshua’s running challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: Pupils in Orford have been selling Pudsey merchandise Picture: GEMMA CANNONPupils in Orford have been selling Pudsey merchandise Picture: GEMMA CANNON (Image: Archant)

Heath Primary School, Kesgrave

Classes at the school are having a ‘Danceathon’ to raise money with each class taking it in turn to bust a move.

Youngsters are also coming to school dressed in their sports clothes or as a famous sports person.

East Anglian Daily Times: Children from Martlesham Primary School doing their 'penny challenge' this morning. Picture: MARTLESHAM PRIMARY SCHOOLChildren from Martlesham Primary School doing their 'penny challenge' this morning. Picture: MARTLESHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL (Image: Children from Martlesham Primary School doing their 'penny challenge' this morning. Picture: MARTLESHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL)

Co-headteacher David Whately said: “The idea came from our school council to have a danceathon.

“The children have been dancing non-stop throughout the day in different groups.”

Hearing Care Centre, Ipswich

East Anglian Daily Times: Students and staff from One sixth form who have dressed up for Children in Need Picture: FRANCES VICKERSTAFFStudents and staff from One sixth form who have dressed up for Children in Need Picture: FRANCES VICKERSTAFF (Image: Archant)

Staff at The Hearing Care Centre have been bringing their childhood teddies to work, while encouraging members of the public to make £1 donations to Children in Need.

Pictures show the team’s teddies hard at work at the practice on Upper Brook Street in Ipswich – carrying out earwax removal, having hearing tests and taking calls on the service desk.

Find out more about Take Your Teddy to Work Day

East Anglian Daily Times: There was a Hollywood theme to One sixth form's Children in Need fundraising Picture: FRANCES VICKERSTAFFThere was a Hollywood theme to One sixth form's Children in Need fundraising Picture: FRANCES VICKERSTAFF (Image: Archant)

Orford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Pupils in Orford have been preparing for Children in Need all week long. Year 5 and 6 school councillors have been selling Pudsey merchandise, including Pudsey ears which have all sold out. A guess the name of the teddy competition has also been running to raise more money and today all the school have had a non-uniform day.

Martlesham Primary School

East Anglian Daily Times: Employees from Ashtons Legal have been supporting the charity in their Pudsey gear. Picture: BLANCHE MCDADEEmployees from Ashtons Legal have been supporting the charity in their Pudsey gear. Picture: BLANCHE MCDADE (Image: Employees from Ashtons Legal have been supporting the charity in their Pudsey gear. Picture: BLANCHE MCDADE)

Pupils from Martlesham Primary School have been taking part in their ‘penny challenge’ where the different school houses lined up their coppers along the playground. Some of the houses even managed to cover two lengths of the playground with their pennies.

The school are also dressed in spots and bright colours to mark the event with a bake sale at the end of the day.

One Sixth Form, Ipswich

East Anglian Daily Times: Children in Need 2018. Sexton's Manor Primary School. Staff and children in pyjamas. Picture: RACHEL EDGEChildren in Need 2018. Sexton's Manor Primary School. Staff and children in pyjamas. Picture: RACHEL EDGE (Image: Archant)

A minion, Lara Croft, a ghostbuster and a pink lady from Grease tried to be the ones that Children in Need wants during a film themed fancy dress event held at One Sixth Form College.

Marketing Manager, Frances Vickerstaff, said, “Ever since we opened our doors (in September 2010) we have supported Children in Need and this year is no different.

“Last year we had a retro circus theme and in previous years we looked to the Wild West for inspiration.

“As for this year, I suppose it was a bit strange seeing people happily going about their business dressed as film characters – but the aim was to try and raise a blockbuster amount of money for this brilliant cause and next year ‘we will be back’ again with a new theme.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Children in Need 2018. Sexton's Manor Primary School. Staff and children in pyjamas. Picture: RACHEL EDGEChildren in Need 2018. Sexton's Manor Primary School. Staff and children in pyjamas. Picture: RACHEL EDGE (Image: Archant)

The college has so far raised £800.

Ashtons Legal, Ipswich

Employees from the law firms Ipswich office shared a photo dressed in Pudsey gear to mark the special day. They have been raising funds by having a dress down day and doing a collection for the charity.

East Anglian Daily Times: Toby Richardson, student union president, with his Guess The Amount of Sweets in the Tub Challenge Picture: GEORGIA GODDARDToby Richardson, student union president, with his Guess The Amount of Sweets in the Tub Challenge Picture: GEORGIA GODDARD (Image: Archant)

Sexton’s Manor Primary School, Bury St Edmunds

Children and staff wore pyjamas to Sexton’s Manor Primary School today to raise funds for Children in Need. Some dressed in yellow onesies with Pudsey ears, while others wore brightly spotted pyjamas to represent the national charity.

East Anglian Daily Times: Nursery pupils in Colchester sold over £100 worth of cakes Picture: SIR BOB RUSSELLNursery pupils in Colchester sold over £100 worth of cakes Picture: SIR BOB RUSSELL (Image: Archant)

Sebert Wood Community Primary School, Bury St Edmunds

Pudsey Bear also made an appearance at Sebert Wood Community Primary School, which raised more than £400 for Children in Need.

The children enjoyed making Pudsey biscuits and got involved in sporting activities, including hula hooping and skipping.

East Anglian Daily Times: Children at the Buzzbee Babes Ipswich nursey celebrate with a giant Pudsey they have made Picture: KELLY DOUCETTEChildren at the Buzzbee Babes Ipswich nursey celebrate with a giant Pudsey they have made Picture: KELLY DOUCETTE (Image: Archant)

Suffolk New College, Ipswich

Cake sales, face-painting and a casual clothes day was in store for students with all the activities being Events co-ordinated by the student union and new student president, Toby Richardson.

Marketing manager at the college, Craig Shimmon, said, “The college is always keen to support local and national charity campaigns and we always get involved in activities surrounding Children in Need.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Students at Heath Primary have been involved in a Danceathon Picture: DANIEL INGLEBYStudents at Heath Primary have been involved in a Danceathon Picture: DANIEL INGLEBY (Image: Archant)

Oakleigh Montessori Nursery, Colchester

Pupils from the Oakleigh Montessori Nursery in Colchester raised around £160 for Children in Need by selling cakes from a stall to people passing the nursery at Magdalen Hall in Wimpole road. Many of the cakes had been made or decorated by the children.

Ipswich Borough Council

East Anglian Daily Times: Classes from Heath Primary School have been dancing throughout the day Picture: DANIEL INGLEBYClasses from Heath Primary School have been dancing throughout the day Picture: DANIEL INGLEBY (Image: Archant)

Staff at the council’s head offices at Grafton House were able to raise £240 from a cake sale. Nearly all of the cakes on sale were made by the staff.

BuzzBee Babes, Ipswich

Children at the nursery created a huge Pudsey Bear for Children in Need and have also been having a cake sale to mark the day.

Are you ‘doing your thing’ for Children in Need this year? Let us know what you are up to and send us some pictures to newsroom@archant.co.uk