How you can help TV’s action woman Anneka in her new Wirral challenge

Kind-hearted volunteers and tradesman have been answering a call for help from TV action woman Anneka Rice this week after she arrived in Merseyside to give Age UK Wirral a ‘life-changing boost’.

The full-of-energy presenter is coming back with a brand-new series of Challenge Anneka, which aims to make a difference to people and communities who need her help.

And her latest mission is to transform the dementia day care facility at Age UK Wirral’s Devonshire Park Resource Centre in Birkenhead.

Last week the organisation put out an appeal for skilled joiners, painters, decorators and gardeners to donate their time ‘to undertake a HUGE transformation of our dementia day care facility’, before yesterday asking for support with manual work. 

And there’s still time to lend a hand with Anneka and the film crew on site today and tomorrow.

Famous for her jumpsuit and mad helicopter dashes, Anneka was a small screen favourite in the 80s and 90s with the programme which changed the lives of people and communities.

The new series will air on Channel 5 next year with Anneka and her volunteers tackling a collection of epic new challenges and responding to different problems that people are facing.

Channel 5 says it will shine a light on everyday heroes and deserving communities at a time when they’ve never needed help more: “True to form we’ll see Anneka pulling up to meet the individuals at the heart of the challenge and be briefed on the task in hand.

“With a mountain to climb, her trusty mobile, buggy, lorry and Dave the Soundman in tow, Anneka will be calling in big favours.”

Thirty years on it says the new show will reflect 2022 Britain but, at its heart, the series will still be about incredible people – like Age UK Wirral – who really want to make a difference to the world they live in.

Anneka said: “The last few years have shown us about the power of community and how it’s good to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

“Dave the Soundman and I may have 130 years between us but the whole team is as devoted as ever to make a difference. Three decades on, the issues may look different but at their core they are the same; they’re about people and communities.

“We may look a bit different too, but our hearts and willingness to get stuck in are the same.”

If you want to help Anneka and the team who are at Age UK Wirral until tomorrow (Thursday, September 29) email challengeanneka1@twofour.co.uk