Celebrities: Imelda Staunton, Michael Palin, David Ginola, Charlie Charlton

The actor Imelda Staunton (pictured) was interviewed by a sock puppet at the Richard House Children's Hospice in east London to raise awareness of the centre's Harry's Million campaign. The project, which aims to raise £1m over the next three years for children with life-threatening illnesses, is named after a former service user who now works as a fundraiser one day a week for the hospice and who came up with the idea. "I think that, apart from the boys and girls that are there, the staff are absolutely extraordinary, and they want to have fun," said Staunton. "That's what makes them very, very special."

The comedian Michael Palin has written the introduction for a book of travel stories that will raise money for Oxfam. Travel writers including Rory Stewart, Colin Thubron, William Dalrymple, and Sara Wheeler have contributed some of their most memorable travel stories to the new publication, which is called OxTravels and will be released in May.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspurs FC footballer David Ginola delivered a speech at the 35th Anniversary Winter Ball of the Vision Charity, of which he is patron. The event, which was themed as a 1920s Chicago speakeasy, was also attended by the TV presenter Vanessa Feltz and the former EastEnders actor Brooke Kinsella.

The BBC North East presenter Charlie Charlton has become a patron of The Cyrenians, which supports homeless people. She joins Lord Ramsbotham, the former chief inspector of prisons, who became a patron in 2007.