The weekly Radio 4 Appeal: Helping small charities

'Within hours of our Sunday appeals, one of our local Home-Start's received a £1,000 cheque from an anonymous and generous supporter. A note was included saying "Heard you on the radio, thought you could do with this!" It's a really good example of the reach and impact our appeal is having. Thank you.'

Getting news like this, makes mine a very rewarding job. I produce the BBC Radio 4 Appeal (once known as 'The Week's Good Cause') - a radio programme that the BBC has been broadcasting for 85 years. Each week a different charity takes to the airwaves and has 2 mins and 50 seconds to ask Radio 4 listeners to support their work.

Sometimes the voice you hear is well known. David Jason appealed for the charity Home-Start UK who received that £1000 cheque.

One of my favourite appeals this year was presented by Hannah Cheetham and her mother Jackie. Hannah has celebral palsy and can't talk but she had programmed her part of the appeal into her special voice machine, given to her by the charity the Sequal Trust.

The appeal raised £13,460 and the charity were thrilled not just by the money but because 'we had loads of emails and telephone calls from people who we can hopefully help, which is just what we wanted'.

One letter said:

'I heard your Radio 4 Appeal and looked you up on the internet. I have a grand-daughter with cerebral palsy. She has a lively mind but can't talk. I'm sure her mother will be looking you up. Good luck in all your work.'

The challenge and delight of this job is that we support small charities week in, week out. They've all gone through a selection process, their applications assessed by the Appeals Advisory Committee which is made up of 12 people from the voluntary sector.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of the mental health charity Mind, is one of the members. He describes himself as an 'avid Radio 4 listener' and says:

'We look for charities who can clearly communicate their role and purpose, who approach their work in an effective manner, and who can present evidence to us of a real need for funds from donations. In effect, we act as Radio 4 listeners previewing potential appeals, and bring our professional expertise. We have to make some tough decisions, and some charities are disappointed. However, we're able to give over 50 charities every year a chance to raise much needed funds for their work. We know from the feedback we receive from the charities after the appeal that it can make a huge difference.'

Next week is busy, as the producer of the appeal I shall be doing three recordings in our weekly studio: Ben Fogel for the Campaign for National Parks will be followed by Hannah Gordon for the Tuberous Sclerosis Society and lastly but certainly not least Alan Bennett will read an appeal for Book Aid International.

Over the coming weeks you'll be hearing all of these appeals in our regular slot.

If you want to see how they get on then you can do so on the Radio 4 Appeal Facebook page where the charities will be updating us on their progress. If you miss the broadcast, after all it is 7.55am on a Sunday morning, you can listen again and donate via the Radio 4 Appeal website.

And thank you for your many generous donations. Last year including the Christmas Appeal Radio 4 listeners gave over £2 million to these appeals. This is a very special small corner of broadcasting.

Sally Flatman is the producer of the Radio 4 Appeal

• Get updates and find out more about the weekly appeals on the Radio 4 Appeal Facebook page.
• You can listen to previous and the current appeals on the Radio 4 website where you can also donate to the current appeal using a credit, debit of CAF card.