All About Us
Comic Relief's vision is a just world free from poverty.
Our mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.
We do this by:
- Raising money from the general public by actively involving them in events and projects that are innovative and fun.
- Informing, educating, raising awareness and promoting social change.
- Allocating the funds we raise in a responsible and effective way to a wide range of charities which we select after careful research.
Comic Relief
Comic Relief was set up in 1985 by comedians who wanted to do something to help others. The idea was simple - use comedy and laughter to raise money and change lives - while making sure that everyone had great fun at the same time. This idea is still integral to what we do but we've come a long way since those early days.
Over the years, more than two thousand celebrities have given their time and talent to Comic Relief - from Ali G, Billy Connolly, Catherine Tate, Davina McCall, Jerry Springer and John Cleese to Jonny Depp, Lenny Henry, Peter Kay, Ricky Gervais, Robbie Williams and Woody Allen.
Top comedy teams who've given us a belly-load of laughs while helping us raise lots of cash include the League of Gentlemen, Little Britain, Smack the Pony and The Fast Show.
Comic Relief now has two major fundraising campaigns: Red Nose Day and Sport Relief.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief every 2 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 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.
Sport Relief
Sport Relief harnesses the power of sport to change lives for the better.
At its very heart is the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile where hundreds of thousands of people across the country take to the streets to raise cash.
The money raised is spent by Comic Relief to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and in the world's poorest countries.
