Hundreds of organisations are using grant money from Children in Need to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

Despite the economic conditions, the 2008 Appeal raised a record breaking £37.8m which has helped more than 700 projects across the UK. In mid Wales more than £100,000 has been awarded to half a dozen projects in grants this year.

The groups to benefit are those that help vulnerable children and families.

Llandysul Family Centre has been awarded £11,182 this year to provide support for children affected by domestic violence. DASH Ceredigion which provides leisure schemes for disabled children and young people has been awarded 13,024 to provide play opportunities for disabled children.

Women's Aid Aberystwyth has received £33,192 to provide support for children affected by domestic violence.

Powys PPA Referral Scheme has been awarded £7,650 to provide children with special opportunities to attend their local pre-school playgroup.

Women's Aid Radnorshire has received £16,268 to provide support for children affected by domestic violence. This year, Friday, 20 November, marks the 30th BBC Children in Need Appeal.

One of the people raising money across Wales is Rhiannon Coates from Aberystwyth who will walk 35-miles to Tregaron and back on 1 November.

Louche Theatre will collect money for Children in Need at their performances of 'Blue Remembered Hills' at Penglais Secondary School, Aberystwyth, between 3 and 7 November.

On Children in Need Day itself, teachers and sixth formers at Llanfair Caereinion High School will perform Thriller, YMCA and a Britney Spears routine in front of the school.

On the big day, Aberystwyth Athletic Club members will be running their annual marathon relay. Organisers are hoping that members of the public will join in, by running one mile for the cause and making a donation or obtaining sponsorship. The 26.2-mile equivalent of a marathon will be run in a relay along Aberystwyth promenade, from the Bandstand to Constitution Hill, up to the Pier and back to the Bandstand. This is the 5th year that Aber AC have held this event. They are hoping to beat last year's proceeds of £1010.10.

Only Men Aloud and a host of Welsh stars including the Stereophonics, Bryn Terfel and Bonnie Tyler will be heading a once-in-a-lifetime line-up for BBC Children In Need at the Wales Millennium Centre on Friday, November 20.

Tickets for what promises to be a spectacular show will go on sale on Monday, November 2, priced at £25 for adults and £15 concessions, with all proceeds going to Children in Need.

Besides the winners of the BBC Last Choir Standing competition, guests for the evening include Cerys Matthews, Britain's Got Talent finalists Shaheen and Faryl Smith; West End and Broadway star John Owen Jones and new singing sensation, Soldiers.

High Hopes actress Margaret John, classical girl-group Bond and Butetown's own dance stars Jukebox Juniors complete the line-up.

Besides the main fund-raising theatre show, extracts of which will be seen on BBC ONE's Children in Need programme with Terry Wogan, Tess Daly and Alesha Dixon, members of the public can join presenters Josie D'Arby and Cerys Matthews and Pudsey for more Children in Need fun in the Wales Millennium Centre Glanfa foyer.

Tickets for the Glanfa event are free, but strictly limited. There will be two sessions, both of which will be broadcast on BBC ONE Wales during the evening. As well as some special guest appearances throughout the shows, including Welsh indie band The Automatic, some of BBC Cymru Wales' finest will stage a special Strictly Come Dancing-style dance-off.

Wales Today presenters Jamie Owen and Lucy Owen, and Wales's finest weatherman Derek Brockway, will be taking their partners to compete alongside BBC Radio Cymru morning presenters Eleri and Daf in the challenge. Jamie will be joining his BBC Radio Wales morning co-presenter Louise Elliott while Lucy will be in the capable hands of her husband, fellow X-Ray presenter Rhodri Owen.

Tickets for both events are available from the Wales Millennium Centre Box Office on 08700 40 2000.

For more information on how to be a part of Children In Need 2009 visit the official website.