I’m excited that the Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal is set to break its record figure any day now. That represents fantastic generosity from our listeners and supporters. Every donation helps: £10 can cover an in-depth assessment of a rough sleeper’s needs; £100 covers an outreach team to go out on the streets and engage with rough sleepers for an hour, encouraging them to come in and use our services.

A few weeks ago a man came to see me and told me a story. He’d been at college in central London 40 years ago. Each day he’d come and sat in or near St Martin-in-the-Fields and had a coffee, a smoke, or a bite of lunch. He’d moved away, and had never had much income; his profession never yielded much beyond a basic lifestyle. Whenever he was in London he’d pop by St Martin’s as of old; and, just as then, there’d always be people in need, isolated, alone, facing humiliation and bitter cold. ‘But now,’ he said, ‘something unexpected’s happened. I’ve been left a bit of money – out of the blue. After all those years when I’d looked at those people, and to be frank I didn’t have a whole lot more money than them – now I have. I’ve never been able to give to your appeal before, so now I’m going to write you a cheque for all those years I missed. Here it is.’ And he handed me an envelope. And I felt like I’d been handed a gift of gold by one of the three kings.

I realised I was face-to-face with the spirit of the Christmas Appeal. The powerlessness of homelessness face-to-face with the powerlessness of not knowing how to help. And, in between, an 86-year-old tradition of finding ways to give people a chance to get their lives back together. And a habit of remembering: ‘I once needed a bit of help: now I’m a bit steadier, maybe I can help you.’

• Donate to Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal
• Phillip is homeless - hear his story about living on the streets
• Hear The Reverend Dr. Sam Wells on the Radio 4 Sunday programme

Sam Renke presents this week's appeal for the Brittle Bone Society

The Radio 4 Appeal has got off to a flying start in 2012. The first four charities of the New Year have together raised over £50,000.

So I just wanted to say a big thank you to our listeners.

I also wanted to share the feedback from the charities. National Nightline wrote "We're really overwhelmed by the support". African Initiatives said: "The appeal has exceeded our expectations, it really does mean so much to our small charity that so many people have given money to support the life changing work that we do."

Joss Ackland's wife died of Motor Neurone Disease and he made a very heartfelt appeal for the MND Association, donations ranged from £3 to £1000. The Bishop Simeon Trust told me that it was: "a real boost - to know that other people are supporting your work."

This week's appeal is for the Brittle Bone Society and it is presented by one of their trustees: Sam Renke. I know that it is very important to her that through this appeal she can be a voice for the other members of the Brittle Bone Society.

"One of the most amazing experiences I have had with the charity was attending our first youth event VOICE in 2010. This conference enabled me to exchange experiences of living with the condition of OI with people from across the UK. It was the first time in my life that I felt one hundred percent comfortable in my own skin, surrounded by people who understood me completely without prejudice or judgment. I came away from the event with a whole new array of knowledge about OI - Brittle Bones and how others cope on a day-to-day basis. The people I met were determined and inspirational in their own way, meeting them encouraged me to have more drive and to truly believe that anything is possible regardless of disability."

Thank you for your continued support.

Sally Flatman is the BBC Radio 4 Appeals producer

• 'Like' the Radio 4 Appeal on Facebook to get updates
• You can listen to previous and the current appeals on the Radio 4 Appeal website where you can also donate to the current appeal using a credit, debit of CAF card.

Alison, one of the many volunteers who work on the Christmas Appeal

"A gift from one lucky person to one who's less fortunate this year" - A quote from a donor to the Christmas Appeal

Thank You to everyone who has donated to this year's Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal. As the Christmas decorations come down on this 12th night we'd like to share with you the fantastic news that the appeal has broken new records and to date stands at £1,523,000.

Sophie Balaam from the Connection at St Martins went to meet the team of volunteers who work away each day opening all the post that has been sent:

"There are 6 volunteers and they are all working like busy bees, the scene reminded me of Santa's Grotto! But instead of presents there are boxes and boxes full of post. There are piles of cheques being counted and hundreds of Christmas cards from donors which brighten up the room.

You might think this is a tedious job. The volunteers have been working every day since the appeal launched on the first weekend in December. But a couple of the ladies I spoke to said how much they enjoyed opening the post because lots of people include hand written notes, or letters, and many of the donations come with Christmas cards.

The generosity of those that donate is incredibly humbling - especially during these financially difficult times - in fact the average donation is £50 and Alison, one of the volunteers, said it's not unusual for people to give £200. And there is still plenty of post to open!

I want to thank everyone that has donated so far. You really are making a big difference to the appeal. And another thank you to our volunteers - keep up the good work!"

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• More about the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal and the donation page
• On the blog: A day with the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal

The morning after I had visited The Connection at St Martins, I woke up at 5 am and wasn't able to fall back asleep. It was dark and cold - the timer on the central heating not yet having kicked in - and outside icy raindrops were pinging off the bedroom window. I pulled the duvet up to my chin and remembered Jo who had told me it's early winter mornings that are the hardest when you are sleeping rough.

By that time of the morning, Jo told me, no matter how many layers you've wrapped yourself in, the cold of the pavement has seeped in, through your flesh and into your bones. If you wake up too early, and can't fall back asleep - before the day centre, the underground, libraries or anywhere else that might provide shelter is open - then you're stuck: cold and shivering.

If you've got enough money you might go and get a coffee and sit in McDonalds for a little while, she said. But you have to leave after half an hour which is hardly long enough to chase the chill from your feet or hands.

Tom slept rough for two years before recently having found accommodation. Women joke, she said, about how the female body isn't made for sleeping on hard flat surfaces. Men are made "straight up and and down", perfectly adapted for lying on concrete. Women have too many curves to get comfortable and end up getting horrendous backache.

Early winter mornings, I was told, are even worse than the nights, when passers-by give you a kick, just for the heck of it. Which is most nights, Sarah told me. But not as often as some lairy idiot sees fit to yell insults at you because maybe you haven't had the chance to wash recently and, maybe, you're looking a bit rough.

But not as bad, the women say, as those many nights when, despite your best efforts to hide your gender, you're subject to unwanted sexual attention. All the women have experience of that and know of others who have been sexually assaulted or raped. Because, let's face it, Sarah says, when you're a woman living on the streets it's not just the cold you're vulnerable to.

I didn't expect any of the women I interviewed for Woman's Hour in connection with the Radio 4 Appeal to tell me that rough sleeping or being homeless was "easy".

What did surprise me was how, at certain times in their life, sleeping on the street - even with the cold, the discomfort, the abuse and the constant fear of violence - was still preferable to the "home" situation they had left behind. Whether it was a violent partner, mental illness, a bereavement or some kind of other family breakdown; whether they had been evicted, abused or fighting alcohol or drug dependency issues, the homeless situation these women found themselves in was, often, the only option they felt they had.

What I learned from Jo, Tom and Sarah was that the reasons a woman becomes and sometimes continues to be homeless can be very complex. And that those reasons are always, like the women themselves, very individual.

There is no such thing as a "typical" homeless person.

And ultimately, lying there in my warm bed, snug and dry at five o'clock in the morning, it's hard not to feel how fortunate I have been that I have not faced the same challenges or hurdles they have, because the truth is, it could have been me. Given the wrong combination of circumstances, it could be any of us.

Anna McNamee is a reporter on Radio 4's Woman's Hour and a presenter on the BBC World Service arts programme, The Strand.

• Anna's report on women and homelessness is on Woman's Hour on Thursday 22 December.
• Details of how to donate online or by post to the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal are here.

The Cardiff big screen, picture by Richard

Then there was Antonia in Manchester. She works one day a week in the city centre for Big Issue North. She would be there on Thursday and could get a picture for me. Clare who works for the Mines Advisory Council also braved the winds in Manchester to take a picture.

Manchester big screen

Aurelia who is a designer took this one in Bristol in the Millennium Square.

Bristol big screen

In Belfast, Karen, seen here amongst the trees, works for Capita. They answer our Radio 4 Appeal calls each week and drafted in an army of volunteers on Sunday to help us answer all the extra calls for the St Martin's appeal. Karen and colleague Michael ventured into the Christmas market to take this picture.

Belfast big screen

Finally a photo from Woolwich in London. I described my mad idea to Sue one of our studio managers and she immediately said, I could ask my husband to take a picture for you - so thanks Mike.

Woolwich big screen

So five down, sixteen to go - if I am to get every BBC Big Screen. So if you live (or know someone who lives) in Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Derby, Dover, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Swansea, Swindon or Waltham Forest and want to be part of a rather mad challenge then the slideshow will be showing on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th December at 12.30pm.

Tweet your picture using our hashtag #R4Xmasappeal or post it on the Radio 4 Appeal Facebook site or email it to: charityappeals@bbc.co.uk

Meanwhile on Sunday when the appeal launched I was fortunate enough to be amongst the volunteers taking calls. It is a very heart warming way to spend time. We've had lots of phone and web donations but the biggest proportion of donations for this appeal have always come in the post, people like to write cheques. So we hope the post man is kept busy.

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• You can donate to the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal on the phone by calling 0800 082 82 84, online or send a cheque made payable to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal and post to:
  St Martin-in-the-Fields
  Trafalgar Square
  London
  WC2N 4JJ
• Where are the BBC Big Screens? Details here

As I emerge from the Tube at Embankment, I step over a pile of crushed cardboard boxes, surrounded by a scatter of tins. Somebody's bed last night. It's after 9am but the cold still strikes through my fleece and I'm glad to get indoors at the building opposite St Martin-in-the-Fields which houses the Connection - the centre for homeless people - and the Christmas Appeal office.

Inside, there's a lively buzz. The phones have been going since 7.30 and the first shift is leaving, including a BBC foreign correspondent and an editor from Current Affairs. I sign in, do the data security briefing, find myself wearing a headset and immediately the phone rings.

The first caller gives £100. He gives every year to the Radio 4 Appeal: "I'm not sending cards or giving presents this Christmas but I want to do something to make the world a better place."

A woman gives £200: "It's my winter fuel allowance. To be honest I don't need it anywhere as much as the people you help, so I'm sending it to St Martin's."

Another woman phones to say how important she thinks the appeal is, and although she can't donate immediately (because her utility bills are due) she will send a cheque after Christmas. Both these callers mention, when asked if we can gift aid their donations, that they don't earn enough to pay tax.

There are only seconds between calls. One comes from a woman who herself became homeless aged 50.

A tray of tea appears. Around me, there is a constant trill of phones and murmur of voices: "How much would you like to donate? Would you like a newsletter? What is the long number? And the expiry date? Thank you very much and a happy Christmas to you."

The volunteers include St Martin's parishioners, BBC colleagues, staff from a City accountancy firm. A mother and daughter have travelled 2 hours from Dover to help. Everyone feels privileged to be part of it, welcoming this flow of human kindness.

On the office wall there's a coloured map of the UK, showing the distribution of funds from last year's appeal, from Cornwall to Cape Wrath. There are only 2 or 3 counties in which grants have not been made, helping vulnerable people at moments of critical need.

Many donations are of £10 or £20, the givers always saying a variation of: "It's not much, I know, but I want to do something to make a difference." Often they say they have heard Libby Purves' Received With Thanks. One man says it "melted my heart of stone".

A retired nurse calls. She has already given £10 but when she heard Libby's programme she decided to phone and give another £10. She says she is on benefits herself but she knows from work with homeless people that there is nothing better than helping someone get back on their feet, and you never know someone's story until you really listen.

A man calls from Sweden to donate and tells the story of his youngest brother, who fell on hard times living in London, lost his job and home and became alcoholic.

"An intelligent guy, nice background and family - but it can happen to anyone." The Connection at St Martins helped him and he got into a hostel and, eventually, a flat. But he didn't recover from the alcoholism and died at 45. "I really believe in this appeal, " says the caller.

When told how big the response is, despite difficult economic times, he remarks that "it says something very special about the British public". And so it does.

Denis Nowlan is the Network Manager Radio 4

• You can donate to the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal on the phone by calling 0800 082 82 84, online or send a cheque made payable to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal and post to:
  St Martin-in-the-Fields
  Trafalgar Square
  London
  WC2N 4JJ

If you phone us to give a donation on Sunday - we promise we won't play you music whilst you wait to give! You will hear Libby Purves giving you some facts and figures about why your donation is so crucial.

You may hear the bells of St Martins - each year we set up a call centre manned by volunteers, in the church offices - just alongside the church. Or you might go through to one of our volunteers in Belfast - organised by our colleagues at Capita. We'll be keeping them going all day with copious amounts of tea, coffee and cake. (This Radio producer feels that cake is always the solution!)

Work by the homeless photography and writing group at St Martins

It has been a busy week. On Monday we put up an exhibition of work by the homeless photography and writing group on the railings of St Martins. It has been great to watch people stopping to read the boards.

David a former homeless client found he was suddenly greeted by a group of school children who had recognised him from the photographs! Making the words and pictures of homeless people 'visible' is for me the real power of this work. You can also get a taste of these pictures thanks to a slideshow made for us by the BBC magazine Ariel.

On Wednesday the Connection will open their doors to the public so if you are around London that day and would like to see at first hand the place you have heard about over the years - do drop by. Libby Purves will be opening "Behind Closed Doors" at 1pm. The centre will be open through till 6pm with an art exhibition, music, food and refreshments and a chance to see at first hand how the centre works.

I think if you ask most of us to picture a homeless person what may come to mind is someone lying in a doorway... not a young woman staring into brightly lit shop windows thinking that if she could just step through that door, that glass, she could be back in the world with everyone else.

I made this slideshow with an artist Betsy Dadd - she said that the power of the photographs taken by homeless people was for her that we were not just presenting a caricature of what it is like to be homeless.

The homeless person has taken the pictures, thought what they want to say - told their story. The slideshow hopefully helps to make the invisible visible.

So thank you to everyone who has given in the past and if you are new to this appeal - welcome to a charity that has been going for 85 years, some of our donors started giving when they were children and are now in their eighties - you're in good company.

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• The Radio 4 Christmas Appeal begins on Sunday morning at 7.55am. Make a donation on the Radio 4 web site.
• Read Ariel: BBC Radio 4 helps homeless appeal for 85th year
• Pictures by The Connection's photography group are on Flickr.

One young homeless woman tells me, when you are on the streets, it is as if the world is going on normally on the other side of the glass and if you could just take one step you could step back into that world.

Another man who was homeless for over 20 years smiles: "That glass looks so thin and fragile but it's very thick."

(Ed's note: You can hear from some of the people helped on this video slideshow - PM)

For the past few weeks I have been gathering stories for this years Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal. I laugh with one interviewee as we compare notes on our favourite Radio 4 comedies. He was a project manager in construction, until a series of misfortunes including cancer, and debts left him with no money and no home. Originally from Glasgow he says "At least you won't run into your neighbour when you are 300 miles from home."

Libby Purves and I visit the night centre at The Connection for the report back programme Received with Thanks.

Listening back to the interview with a man who was sleeping there that night, I realise he keeps telling us how cold he gets, how hard it is to get warm, how he never really truly sleeps because he's so cold.

In Cardiff I met a woman who arrived back from hospital with her new baby only to be evicted from her house along with her two older sons and her partner. I joined her as she was given a grant for £250 by the Vicar's Relief Fund to help buy a bed, bedding and a cooker for the temporary accommodation they had just moved into. I was struck by her stoicism:

"I have to stay strong for my boys but it's all a front, deep down it's ripped me apart but if the boys see me upset it will upset them".

She bought a bed to be delivered later that afternoon "you just like to be snug don't you and have a good nights sleep".

The average Vicar's Relief Fund grant is £180 and takes just 3 days to turn around. These are crisis grants, helping to prevent an eviction, secure a tenancy or buy vital household goods. Grants go all over the UK.

The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields helps over 200 homeless people a day. They've faced reductions in their statutory funding and the Chief Executive describes last years record Radio 4 Christmas Appeal as a "lifeline".

So I want to thank every donor for every gift however big or small.

I also want to thank all the troubled people who give me their stories with such brutal honesty. The stories will be told through the Radio 4 Programmes Received with Thanks and the Vicar's appeal. They will be on our slideshow on the BBC Bigscreens or the web.

What is great about giving to this appeal is that people are not merely saying they support the charity financially they seem to say "We support what you are doing". It also says they care about the individuals whose stories have been told.

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• Find out more about the Radio 4 Appeal on the Radio 4 website including how to donate
• Read Ariel: BBC Radio 4 helps homeless appeal for 85th year

James and the Giant Peach began life as "James and the Giant Cherry", which would be pushed along the water by giant waterboatmen. It was only later that Dahl later changed it to a peach, because a peach would be "prettier, bigger and squishier than a cherry". The changed fruity preference only came to light after Dahl's death, when his papers were sorted and catalogued for the opening of the Roald Dahl Museum and archives.

The Roald Dahl museum is on Great Missenden High Street, a pale blue building complete with the outline of the BFG meandering along with his dream horn. Among the first things I saw on display were the some of the original documents for James and the Giant Peach, including a page from Roald's ideas book.

"A good idea is like a dream - you'll know you had one, but unless you write it down you'll not remember what it was," he said. And sure enough, at the bottom of the page, scribbled lightly in pencil was the seed of an idea. It read, "The cherry that wouldn't stop growing. Fairy story."

I was shown some of the many pictures Roald took - he was a keen photographer - as well as his old RAF pilot's helmet and one of his old Norweigan sandals, which he posted to Quentin Blake when they were trying to figure out what the BFG should wear on his feet. Have a look at a picture of the BFG - that's Roald's sandal right there.

As part of my trip, I was allowed in to 'The Strong Room' - the securely locked, watertight, climate-controlled nerve centre of the museum.

It houses the Roald Dahl archive.

The room itself was relatively small, but inside were shelves and shelves of unassuming blue cardboard boxes with little pencil labels on the front. Simple words that gave me goosebumps.

Roald was a meticulous record-keeper, and hung on to each version of his work as it evolved and progressed. My eyes were drawn to the box about shoulder-height. On it were the words "Box 44 RD 2/27/6-12 - Matilda".

Jane Branfield, the museum's Archivist, opened up the Matilda box for me. The page that greeted me when the lid was lifted read "First Draft, Summer 1986." The story of Matilda was originally called "The Miracle Child". Chapter 1 was titled 'Wickedness'.

Matilda is perhaps the story that changed most dramatically between first and final versions. And as Roald later said, this is the story he got the most wrong in the first version.

"Wicked children are happiest when they are making somebody else miserable. To them, being wicked is a pleasure. There is no doubt that Matilda is one of these."

There was no Miss Trunchbull, and no Miss Honey. Matilda's parents were long-suffering, lovely people, and Matilda's teacher - Miss Hayes - was addicted to horse racing. Matilda had to use her telekinetic powers to help horses win at the races and so keep Miss Hayes out of prison. As the story finishes, they both meet a rather grizzly end - completely different from the modern story.

Jane then offered to get Charlie out for me. How could I refuse? Unusually, there is no first draft of this story. After it was written, Roald gave it to one of his nephews to read.

"I think it stinks, Uncle Roald," was the review. Jane can only assume that Roald was so disappointed that it was binned before starting again. The original story was called Charlie's Chocolate Boy and told the story of a boy who fell in to a chocolate vat and was given as a present to Mr Willy Wonka. As we looked through the different drafts, we saw the story change and develop.

We looked at the final draft. It was typed, printed, bound and all ready to be delivered to the publishers to be turned in to the first edition of what was now titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Right at the last minute, Roald had flicked through and scored out every occurrence of the words "Whipple Scrumpet." He replaced it with "Oompa Loompa."

There was so much more to the archives than just the stories, however. There were boxes and boxes of letters to Mama. Jane confesses this is her favourite bit. When Roald was at boarding school he had to write to his mother twice a week. This was a habit he kept up over the years, and there's an entire collection of letters from the age of nine right the way through his time in the RAF, America and into his career as a successful author. One of Jane's personal favourites is a schoolboy story about winter tobogganing in which several of the boys ended up in a frozen stream and a snowball fight followed. "It was the best day of my life," Roald wrote.

There were boxes filled with all the international versions of Roald Dahl's books. I liked the look of the Arabic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And there was a single box, simply labelled "Unpublished." Roald was an energetic storytellyer, filled with ideas. But he was also a perfectionist and, as we saw from the first draft of Charlie, wouldn't put something out there if he wasn't happy with it. His family have always respected his wishes and these stories will never be published.

Rich Preston is a producer for BBC Radio 4 Extra

• James and the Giant Peach, a new ten part abridgement, read by Miriam Margolyes, is currently on as part of The 4 O'Clock Show on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
• Have a look at the Radio 4 Extra schedule
• Read the blog post Miriam Margolyes and James and the Giant Peach on 4 Extra

Some of the cast from Radio 4's production of the epic Life and Fate

To be honest I had never heard of it, but ex-controller Mark Damazer insists that it is one of the greatest 20th century novels, and he commissioned dramas and documentaries about it before he left for a new life at an Oxford college.

Even so are such blockbuster radio events worth it?

That's one of the issues we looked at this week, and I had hoped it would give me the opportunity of meeting two of the stars, not Kenneth Branagh and David Tennant, but Janet Suzman and Greta Scacchi. But I was disappointed.

Also this week we report on the latest outbreak of discontent among some Radio 3 listeners who think "their" network is using too many gimmicks in the attempt to attract new listeners.

"Don't alienate the ones you already have", is their message to the Controller of Radio 3, Roger Wright.

He is coming onto Feedback in a few weeks so do let me know what you think about the changes he has just made to his schedule.

Meanwhile here is the Feedback feature on Life and Fate.

Roger Bolton presents Feedback

• Life and Fate on Radio 4
• Listen again to this week's Feedback, produced by Karen Pirie, get in touch with the programme, find out how to join the listener panel or subscribe to the podcast on the Feedback web page.
• Read all of Roger's Feedback blog posts.
• Feedback is on Twitter. Follow @BBCR4Feedback.

Richard spent many of his childhood holidays in the South Downs, the newest National Park. You can read his account, including tales of target practice at Beachy head.

Do you have any memories of family holidays spent in these wonderful National Parks? Do share them on the Radio 4 Appeal Facebook page.

Personally the photograph of our family half way up a hillside, heroically picnicking in all weathers, always make me smile.

Another charity I mentioned last time was Book Aid International. It was presented by one of the charities supporters Alan Bennett. So far Book Aid International has raised £8000 from that appeal. You can read about the camp mentioned in that appeal.

The charity also has a lovely quote from George, one of the young readers at a children's project in Kenya. He has high ambitions based on what he is learning at book club, I wonder which children's authors he has been reading?

"It really teaches me that I must work hard for my life so that when I grow up I can be one of the greatest people in the world... and I can help people who are needy. I can also be one of the greatest professors in the world."

Finally to last week's DEC appeal for East Africa.

By the very nature of these emergency appeals we never have much time to turn them around. So finding a presenter and researching and recording the appeal have to happen very quickly. Twitter played a part for the first time for me. I happened upon @andrewwander who was tweeting from Dadaab, the large camp in Kenya from which the BBC's Ben Brown had been reporting. I'm fascinated by how twitter can connect us - so I tweeted explaining that I was writing a radio appeal and would love to know more about the people in the camps. Within 10 minutes we were in contact.

Having access to that first hand experience was invaluable.

Kate Adie came to record our appeal straight from the From Our Own Correspondent studio at Bush and on Friday the appeal was broadcast on radio stations across the UK. One week on and the DEC tells me they have raised £15 million pounds at the time of writing.

Thank you as ever on behalf of all the charities that benefit from the generosity of Radio 4 listeners. Follow me on twitter @flatmansally to get news on the Radio 4 Appeals.

Sally Flatman is the Radio 4 Appeals Producer

• 'Like' the Radio 4 Appeal on Facebook to get updates
• You can listen to previous and the current appeals on the Radio 4 Appeal website where you can also donate to the current appeal using a credit, debit of CAF card.

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.

As this video preview confirms, the brutal inter-station comedy smackdown that is Stand up for Comic Relief is under way. Six of the BBC's national radio networks are represented this time; Radio 4 by Woman's Hour legend Jenni Murray and the others by various presenters I can't quite bring myself to name (this, remember, is the Radio 4 blog).

Each has taken a crash course in the indelicate art of stand-up comedy with a big name mentor from the comedy world and, at 1830 this coming Wednesday you can hear their live sets in front of an audience at London's Comedy Store on Radio 4. Then, from 1900 on the same day (right after the programme), you'll be able to see videos of all six sets on the BBC's Red Nose Day web site and (this is the important bit) the lines will open for you to vote for the one you thought best. Let battle commence.

Steve Bowbrick is editor of the Radio 4 blog

• The three-episode chronicle of the six presenters' unlikely journey to the stage at the legendary Comedy Store starts tomorrow evening at 1830 on Radio 4. Listen to all three episodes for seven days after transmission on the Radio 4 web site.

Editor's note. We've published several photographs from the homeless photographers group at St Martin-in-the-Fields since the Christmas Appeal started. This snowy scene by Blodeuwed really emphasises how hard this Winter has been for homeless people. If you haven't made a donation yet, you can do so on the Radio 4 web site - SB.

One million pounds for the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal. Yes, you read that right: one million pounds for the Christmas Appeal and we are still pinching ourselves!

Last year we reached almost £900,000 - that was remarkable but we know that appeals don't have a right to increase year-on-year and life is tough for many people at the moment.

Gwyneth Williams, Controller of Radio 4 says:

This is a wonderful result, particularly given the difficult economic times. Evidence, once again, of the generous kindness of Radio 4 listeners and the importance of the work being done at St Martin-in-the-Fields for vulnerable people in London and across the UK.

The one million is, of course, made up of many thousands of donations - including one gift of £2 given by someone who is currently homeless.

This appeal clearly has a very special place in the hearts of many of you - we know that, not just because we've reached a million pounds but also because of the letters you've sent in with your donations. One lady sent a cheque and said she had been giving 'ever since Dick Sheppard', the first vicar of St Martin's to give a Christmas Appeal.

Rev Nick Holtam with the pot of coins

This small but very heavy pot held by a smiling Rev Nicholas Holtam, the current vicar, also holds a lovely story. It is jammed full of small change! A listener heard the 2009 Appeal and decided to put her coppers into this pot during the year to give to the 2010 Christmas Appeal. When it came to delivering the money it was so heavy, her husband had to drive her and the pot to St Martins! Thank you.

I am sure that the cold weather in December made all of us acutely aware of how dreadful it must be to have no home in such weather. One listener wrote: "I have always been a bit judgemental with regard to the homeless but this cold snap has made me grateful for my warm and comfortable home. I cannot imagine anything worse than sleeping rough just now."

For those who like numbers Craig Norman who administers the Christmas Appeal tells me that it hit the £10,000 mark in 1939. It hit £100,000 in 1982.....and in 2010 it has achieved £1,000,000 - it truly is a landmark year. But as the Rev Nick Holtam says:

Austen Williams, who was my predecessor but one, died on the day of the Christmas Appeal 9 years ago and he heard the appeal and said one day they're going to reach a million pounds and actually we're standing on the shoulders of lots of people who've done this before and we've reached a million pounds - it is extraordinary.

Thank you.

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• Donations to the appeal are still coming in. Make yours on the Radio 4 web site.
• The picture was taken in Leinster Square, Bayswater in West London by Blodeuwed, a member of the homeless photographers group at The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields. More pictures from the group are on Flickr.
• The BBC Radio 4 Appeal has a Facebook page. Visit the page and click the 'Like' button for updates on the weekly appeal which raised a total of £1.5M for 52 charities last year.

We were planning to update you on the Christmas Appeal as we did last year on the 12th day of Christmas but we couldn't resist sharing our news. We are almost at last year's record total of £900,000 and it is not yet even christmas and as you will see from the picture - there is still a lot of post to open.

Currently you have raised £850,000 for the Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal! As ever the donations come in all shapes and sizes... one of the volunteers told me how he opened one cheque for two pounds and then the next was two hundred - it's all those donations big and small that have got us to this amazing total.

The other lovely thing we wanted to share with you are the quotes from the letters we receive:

I used to have a good friend, Dennis, a homeless man who spoke so highly of you. He used to say if you are in the gutter, look up and you will see the stars.

Hello, I'm writing from a little village in Devon. There's over a foot of snow outside & the roads are frozen. I cannot imagine how anyone can be sleeping on the street tonight. Herewith my paltry contribution"

No donation is paltry to us, of course.

This is the money I would have spent on Christmas cards if I hadn't made them myself. I'm sending it after listening to your appeal on the radio.

Many of us are set for hard times ahead; I don't have much but at present have more than some so am happy to give when I can. Keep up the good work.

If you are in sight of a BBC big screen - there are 18 of them around the UK - look out for Jamie's audio slideshow. It is the first time this 84 year-old Radio appeal has appeared on the big screens... but why not? (If you happen to have a camera with you when you see it - perhaps you could take a picture for us?) So thank you so much for all your support and kind words. We will continue to open post over the Christmas period and we will be back to update you on the 12th day of Christmas.

Sally Flatman is producer of The Radio 4 Appeal

• Make a donation on the Radio 4 web site.
• Pictures by homeless photographers from The Connection's photography group are on Flickr.
• The BBC Radio 4 Appeal has a Facebook page. Visit the page and click the 'Like' button for updates on the weekly appeal which raised a total of £1.5M for 52 charities last year.