Thanks for visiting The Rossendale's Got Talent fundraising page.

The Rossendale Free Press in conjunction with leading PR agency Viva PR is hosting Rossendale’s Got Talent — our quest to find the Valley’s top performer and in the process raise funds for the The New Children’s Hospital Appeal.

The appeal aims to raise £20 million to fund specialist equipment and parental accommodation at the new children’s hospital being built in Manchester. It will be the biggest children’s hospital in the country and will provide sick children from all over the North West, including Rossendale, with the very best care. It will replace Booth Hall and Pendlebury children’s hospitals and is due to open this summer.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Central Manchester & Manchester Children's University Hospitals Charity gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

We’re looking for any kind of talented acts: singers, dancers, magicians, you name it, to battle it out for the coveted crown of Rossendale’s Got Talent 2009, sponsored by James Killelea and Co.

And Free Press readers will be able to help select the 8 finalists who will go through to the grand finale in April.

Tony Garner, managing director of Viva PR, who came up with the idea to raise money for charity the Many Hands Campaign of the New Children’s Hospital Appeal, said: “This is a chance to shine not to be missed by anyone in Rossendale with a talent.

“We keep being told the outlook for 2009 is gloomy, but celebrating talent in Rossendale is one way of beating the economic blues and we are expecting a deluge of entries.

“But there can only be one winner of the Rossendale’s Got Talent crown who will walk away with not only the title of most talented Valley act, but also a top prize.”

That includes £200 in cash and the chance to win recognition for your talents by performing on Channel M’s breakfast show and Ted Robbins’ Radio Lancashire show.

Initial auditions are being held before a panel of judges on March 14. The venue will be revealed in the Free Press in the next couple of weeks.

That auditions will be filmed and on that day the judges will select 4 of the finalists. They will also announce another short-list of 20 and YOU the Free Press readers to be asked to whittle that down to select the other 4 finalists.
 
Audition clips of the semi-finalists will be posted on the Free Press website so that you can judge the talented Rossendalians for yourself and there will be voting slips in the Free Press.

The 8 finalists will perform before a live audience and celebrity judging panel at the grand final to be held at the theatre at Haslingden High School on Sunday 26 April. Valley opera singer Sean Ruane, comedian Ted Robbins and Lisa Higginson, a reporter at the Rossendale Free Press will have the tough job of deciding who should go home as the winner of Rossendale’s Got Talent.

To take part in the initial auditions and be in with a chance of winning the Rossendale’s Got Talent title, simply fill in the registration form on this page and return to the Free Press with a £2 entry fee for person all of which will go to charity.

If you simply want to support the cause please DONATE something today.