JUST �2,400 of the �1.4million raised for Children in Need in the East of England will be returning to good causes in Suffolk.

Ken McErlain

JUST �2,400 of the �1.4million raised for Children in Need in the East of England will be returning to good causes in Suffolk.

A total of �534,711 has been given to children's charities in the East from the proceeds of last year's Children in Need appeal which raised a total of �20.3m.

The region managed to raise �1,468,099 on the night of the appeal on November 20 last year.

The BBC revealed on Friday that �2,400 had been given to one charity in Suffolk, compared to �173,549 allocated to charities in Norfolk, �149,924 in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, �131,863 in Cambridgeshire and �76,975 in Northamptonshire.

It is believed that only a handful of charities in Suffolk applied for the grants, but the BBC stressed that it had tried to distribute the funds evenly.

A spokesman for the corporation said: “Funds are allocated geographically to ensure that all corners of the UK get a share of the money raised.

“Unfortunately many deserving projects are unsuccessful because there is not enough money.

“However, we work hard to ensure that the portfolio is varied and balanced, that all regions are represented and all areas of need are addressed.

“We have a very detailed process in place to ensure that our grants are targeted on areas of real need. Organisations are invited to apply for funding and must clearly demonstrate how their project will change the lives of those aged 18 and under for the better.

“Last year we received 3,628 applications requesting �233,779,768 for funding and 1,005 of these were approved and funded.”

The Suffolk charity to benefit from the Children in Need grant is the Ipswich Opportunity Group.

The funding will provide taxis for families who have pre-school children with additional needs living in Ipswich without transport to enable them to regularly attend one session a week at the charity, which is based in Woodbridge Road.