Going, going – gunge! Hundreds of York children to star in Red Nose Day spectacular

More than a thousand children will be singing, dancing and gungeing their way through a fundraising extravaganza.

The Comic Relief spectacular will be held at York Barbican on Wednesday (March 22), ahead of Red Nose Day on Friday. It will involve magic, puppets, stunts, challenges, music and lots more fun.

John Hattam, community outreach worker at Clifton Green Primary School, is the co-ordinator of the event.

He said: “Each seat cost £1 and teachers could sign up as many kids as they wanted to for the day.

“We’ve also asked the kids to try and fundraise £100 per school, and if they do, they get to gunge one of their teachers as well as some special guests at the end of the event.

“For example, a class here organised a successful bun sale that raised the money.”

More fun, more money

So will John be getting messy and gungey now the kids at Clifton Green have reached their £100 target?

“I don’t know about that! But the kids are having fun speculating which teacher it will be.

“The more kids involved the more fun we can have and the more money we can raise.”

There will be all sorts of fun things going on for those attending including music, dance, football and a BMX champion.

Big total

John is hoping to raise at least £2,000 for Comic Relief. Around 1,500 children are due to attend.

“The staff wanted to do something big for Red Nose Day and this is a good way of bringing York schools together to join forces for a good cause.

The fun starts at 12.45pm and finishes at 2.30pm in time for the children to get back to school for the end of the day.

Vital York, Elementary UK, Energi Trampoline Park, Quartz travel, SES York have all helped to make the event happen and Energi will be bringing along their cheeky monkey mascot.

“Our motto at Clifton Green is ‘Better Never Stops’ and that is what we are aiming for here, more kids, more fun and more fundraising,” said John.