Research Information
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UK | Africa | WorldWide | History
Where the money Goes
Out of all the money Comic Relief raises, one third of the money raised goes to projects working in the UK and two thirds to projects in Africa.
Across the UK Comic Relief has made over 4000 grants to projects in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Over the years, Comic Relief cash has been put to work in 43 countries in Africa and every county in the UK. So far, we've made more than 5000 grants totalling over £174 million.
We recognise that although it's a large amount of money, it is not going to solve the world's problems. So we target the money to reach those groups who often lose out most by setting up specific grants programmes and criteria to try to make the biggest difference possible.
Every two years we review our grant-making programmes by consulting with leading professionals in the voluntary sector. This is to ensure that the money we raise best meets the needs of the people and communities we want to help.
We also monitor and evaluate individual grants regularly to see the difference that they have made and learn from them.
The public put their trust in Comic Relief to use the money we raise wisely and well. Our grant-making teams take that trust very seriously indeed. All grant applications go through a rigorous assessment process before a single penny is released.
After a thorough shortlisting process, grant applications are assessed by Comic Relief Grants Officers or assessors. Each assessment is then considered by the Grants Managers, Grants Director and discussed by the Africa or UK Grants Committees. Once the Committees are happy to recommend funding, Comic Relief's trustees make the final decision.
Comic Relief has 15 dedicated Grants staff, 25 expert external grants assessors, 35 specialist Grants Committee members and 11 brilliant trustees to help decide where the money goes.
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In the UK
Comic Relief continues to spend Red Nose Day money in the UK because across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are people in every city, town, village and street struggling to overcome poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.
Throughout the UK there are people whose basic needs and human rights are overlooked or abused.
Disabled people are still denied equal rights; every year thousands of women and children are regularly forced to flee violent homes; young people continue to live on the streets, are exploited for sex and experience problems with drugs and alcohol; we continue to ignore the wealth of experience and skills of older people; and refugees who arrive in search of freedom are often met with hostility and prejudice.
Thousands of people experience discrimination because of the colour of their skin, their culture or their sexuality. They are denied the potential to fulfil their aspirations.
Many of the people facing these challenges have few opportunities to make positive changes to their lives. Their voices often go unheard and they don't have access to the services they need. They are powerless, excluded from participating in society and live on the margins.
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In Africa
The continent of Africa has huge potential but it also has huge needs. Poverty and disadvantage are widespread and profound in Africa, with more than 1 billion people living below the poverty line, and millions without access to clean drinking water, sanitation, health care, education or safe housing.
According to the United Nations Human Development Index, the 20 poorest countries in the world are all in Africa.
Many people in Africa work incredibly hard to try and change things, to build better, more secure futures for their families and communities. But debt, drought, conventional trade, AIDS and war can prevent people from realising their aspirations.
In Africa as in the UK, there are some groups of people that are more disadvantaged than others, that find it harder than most to fulfil their potential, to access services to meet their basic needs, or to obtain their fundamental rights, such as women or disabled people.
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Worldwide
Comic Relief has set up a new international grants programme to help benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people in some of the world's poorest countries.
Children and young people really are the future of the poorest countries, where under-18 year olds often make up half the population.
Our new fund will support them through such things as education, the fight against child-slavery, and the re-uniting of parents and children separated by war. The fund will also teach young people about the AIDS/HIV pandemic and will support war victims through projects ranging from trauma counselling to practical support for children disabled by landmines.
So far, over £2.5 million is at work across the globe, as a result of money raised from a millenium initiative called Children's Promise. Through Children's Promise, seven UK charities teamed up to ask everyone in the UK to donate their final hour's earnings from 1999 - raising a staggering £18.9 million.
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Comic Relief History
Comic Relief was launched in 1985 from a refugee camp in Safawa, Sudan. Since then, over £174 million has been raised primarily through Red Nose Days, for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people across the UK and Africa.
We're committed to supporting long-term projects, helping people to help themselves. It's about giving people a leg up not a hand out.
We also aim to tackle the root causes of poverty by raising awareness around some of the key issues, such as unfair terms of trade and debt relief.
Why Comic Relief
Comic Relief was set up by comedians and uses comedy and laughter to get serious messages across, as well as making sure that everyone can have some fun at the same time. Over the years, more than 2050 celebrities have given their time and talent to Comic Relief, you name 'em, they've helped us. From Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly, John Cleese and Jerry Springer to Johnny Depp, Ali G, Davina McCall, Robbie Williams, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Whoopi Goldberg and Woody Allen. Top comedy teams who've given us a lorry-loads of laughs while helping us raise a lot of cash include the League of Gentlemen, The Fast Show and Smack the Pony.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief every two years which culminates in a night of extraordinary comedy and moving documentary films. It's the biggest TV fundraising event in the UK calendar. On Red Nose Day everyone in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is encouraged to cast inhibitions aside, put on a red nose, and do something a little bit silly to raise money - celebrities included. It is an event that unites the entire nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of individuals facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.
Beyond Red Nose Day
Most people know us as the organisation behind Red Nose Day, and have probably done something outrageous to help us raise Red Nose money, but Comic Relief does loads of other stuff, too. From Fair trade to Debt Wish and from Robbie the Reindeer to Robbie Williams, we've got our fingers in loads of pies, so make sure you check out the other stuff on the Comic Relief site to find out what we get up to.
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Back to the top
In the UK
Comic Relief continues to spend Red Nose Day money in the UK because across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are people in every city, town, village and street struggling to overcome poverty, disadvantage or discrimination. Throughout the UK there are people whose basic needs and human rights are overlooked or abused. Disabled people are still denied equal rights; every year thousands of women and children are regularly forced to flee violent homes; young people continue to live on the streets, are exploited for sex and experience problems with drugs and alcohol; we continue to ignore the wealth of experience and skills of older people; and refugees who arrive in search of freedom are often met with hostility and prejudice. Thousands of people experience discrimination because of the colour of their skin, their culture or their sexuality. They are denied the potential to fulfil their aspirations. Many of the people facing these challenges have few opportunities to make positive changes to their lives. Their voices often go unheard and they don't have access to the services they need. They are powerless, excluded from participating in society and live on the margins.Back to the top
In Africa
The continent of Africa has huge potential but it also has huge needs. Poverty and disadvantage are widespread and profound in Africa, with more than 1 billion people living below the poverty line, and millions without access to clean drinking water, sanitation, health care, education or safe housing. According to the United Nations Human Development Index, the 20 poorest countries in the world are all in Africa. Many people in Africa work incredibly hard to try and change things, to build better, more secure futures for their families and communities. But debt, drought, conventional trade, AIDS and war can prevent people from realising their aspirations. In Africa as in the UK, there are some groups of people that are more disadvantaged than others, that find it harder than most to fulfil their potential, to access services to meet their basic needs, or to obtain their fundamental rights, such as women or disabled people.Back to the top
Worldwide
Comic Relief has set up a new international grants programme to help benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people in some of the world's poorest countries. Children and young people really are the future of the poorest countries, where under-18 year olds often make up half the population. Our new fund will support them through such things as education, the fight against child-slavery, and the re-uniting of parents and children separated by war. The fund will also teach young people about the AIDS/HIV pandemic and will support war victims through projects ranging from trauma counselling to practical support for children disabled by landmines. So far, over £2.5 million is at work across the globe, as a result of money raised from a millenium initiative called Children's Promise. Through Children's Promise, seven UK charities teamed up to ask everyone in the UK to donate their final hour's earnings from 1999 - raising a staggering £18.9 million.Back to the top
Comic Relief History
Comic Relief was launched in 1985 from a refugee camp in Safawa, Sudan. Since then, over £174 million has been raised primarily through Red Nose Days, for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people across the UK and Africa. We're committed to supporting long-term projects, helping people to help themselves. It's about giving people a leg up not a hand out. We also aim to tackle the root causes of poverty by raising awareness around some of the key issues, such as unfair terms of trade and debt relief.Why Comic Relief
Comic Relief was set up by comedians and uses comedy and laughter to get serious messages across, as well as making sure that everyone can have some fun at the same time. Over the years, more than 2050 celebrities have given their time and talent to Comic Relief, you name 'em, they've helped us. From Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly, John Cleese and Jerry Springer to Johnny Depp, Ali G, Davina McCall, Robbie Williams, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Whoopi Goldberg and Woody Allen. Top comedy teams who've given us a lorry-loads of laughs while helping us raise a lot of cash include the League of Gentlemen, The Fast Show and Smack the Pony.Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief every two years which culminates in a night of extraordinary comedy and moving documentary films. It's the biggest TV fundraising event in the UK calendar. On Red Nose Day everyone in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is encouraged to cast inhibitions aside, put on a red nose, and do something a little bit silly to raise money - celebrities included. It is an event that unites the entire nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of individuals facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.Beyond Red Nose Day
Most people know us as the organisation behind Red Nose Day, and have probably done something outrageous to help us raise Red Nose money, but Comic Relief does loads of other stuff, too. From Fair trade to Debt Wish and from Robbie the Reindeer to Robbie Williams, we've got our fingers in loads of pies, so make sure you check out the other stuff on the Comic Relief site to find out what we get up to.Back to the top