Our 2009-2012 strategy has now come to an end. We are currently finalising our new grants strategy which will be launched later this year. We will open for applications in September 2013 so please check nearer the time for more details.

People & Issues We Support

Every four years, Comic Relief re-evaluates the kind of support we give to people and communities around the world, as we know that things can change over time (find out more about our UK grant making and International grant making strategies).

Below you’ll discover more about the people and issues we are prioritising between 2009 and 2012.

Young People and Mental Health
Young People and Mental Health
Young People and Alcohol
Young People and Alcohol
Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People
Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People
Older People
Older People, Managing Money Better
Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women
Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women
Mental Health
Mental Health
Young Carers
Young Carers
Local communities
Local Communities
Sport for change
Sport for Change
Young People and Mental Health

We work to support the needs of young people facing and experiencing mental health problems.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Over the last 25 years, rates of anxiety and depression amongst young people have increased by 70%.
  • Research suggests that between 1 in 12 and 1 in 15 young people self-harm.
  • With the right help, young people with mental health problems can recover; but without support, stigma and ill health can lead to isolation, strong feelings of shame and a sense of hopelessness. This increases the chances of self-harm and suicide in young people.

What are we doing and how?

  • We fund work that gives young people living with mental health problems the chance to access services tailored to their needs.
  • We fund organisations who seek to ensure that those working with young people with mental health problems have the necessary skills and understanding to work effectively in this area.
  • We fund work that actively encourages young people to be involved in developing projects of value to them – right from the initial project design through to the final evaluation of the work carried out.
  • We fund work to ensure that young people with mental health problems from specific groups (such as rural communities, Black and ethnic minority groups, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities) receive the targeted support they need.
  • We fund work which is examining and researching how information and new technology can be best used to support young people with mental health problems.

Apply for a grant  

Young People and Alcohol

We are working to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Although the proportion of young people drinking has decreased recently, the amount that teenage drinkers are consuming regularly has gone up sharply.
  • 1.3 million children live within families where problematic parental drinking occurs - which has become known as "hidden harm".
  • Drinking large amounts of alcohol contributes to problems in society as a whole, such as poor health, violence and anti-social behaviour.
  • Young people who live in deprived areas, or are leaving the care system, are especially vulnerable to drinking problems.

What are we doing and how?

  • We fund support services for young people who need help with problem drinking.
  • We make sure that the work we fund is led by young people so that we are using resources that work, based on personal experiences.
  • We fund organisations who train professionals working with young people so they can recognise and support any youngsters who are showing the signs of problem drinking.
  • We fund research into drinking habits and trends among girls and young women so that we can respond in the best possible way to what we learn.
  • We fund organisations who ensure that professionals who work with young people facing "hidden harm" know what works best so that young people can get the support services they need.

Apply for a grant  

Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People

We are working to reduce the harm caused to young people by sexual exploitation and/or trafficking.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • The UK is a major destination country for trafficked young people. They are at a very high risk of being sexually exploited.
  • Young people who are trafficked or sexually exploited live very dangerous lives, are often hidden so very hard to reach, and can get trapped in an endless cycle of poverty.

What are we doing and how?

  • We fund support services for sexually exploited young people, and make sure we address any gaps that we know exist, such as in services for young men.
  • We are supporting the development of a Child Trafficking Helpline so that people who work with young people can get advice if they suspect a child has been trafficked.
  • We fund work to prevent trafficking, by highlighting the dangers to young people who may be targeted by traffickers in their home countries.
  • We fund work to train the people who are likely to come across sexually exploited young people in their jobs, such as teachers or the police, so they can offer the best possible support to these young people.

Apply for a grant  

Older People

We have always worked to ensure the needs of older people are met, their rights upheld and their views respected.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • One in five older people are now living below the poverty line and many lack access to good, independent financial advice.
  • Every winter an increasing number of older people struggle to pay for basics like food and fuel and older people make up the majority of ‘excess’ winter deaths.
  • Where vulnerable older people have to entrust access to their money to others, there is a risk of abuse.

What are we doing and how?

  • We have opened a grants programme to help older people cope with the challenges of the particularly harsh financial climate and the resultant exclusion and hardship it is causing them.
  • We are funding groups and organisations that support older people to build their skills and knowledge to manage their money more effectively and guard against financial scams and abuse.
  • We are funding initiatives that help older people to address the rising fuel and food prices.
Domestic and Sexual Abuse

We're working to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, while also building a safer future for women and their children.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Each year 1.5 million women experience domestic abuse at least once - 800,000 are sexually assaulted and 100,000 raped.
  • The impact of these acts of violence can be devastating for individuals, families and even whole communities.
  • Survivors of abuse are very vulnerable, needing support to improve their health and emotional well-being, as well as practical help, such as finding somewhere to live if they have fled their homes.

What are we doing and how?

  • We fund agencies working with young survivors aged 11-25 – including organisations which provide crisis support and therapeutic care to young people, and those which help young survivors get their voices heard.
  • We provide crisis support by continuing to fund the National Domestic Violence Helpline and database of refuge services, so people affected by domestic violence have a number they can call, day or night, for help and support.
  • We are helping to fund the Women's Aid Accreditation programme so that there is a UK-wide training programme for domestic violence workers.
  • We are looking at how we can help to strengthen rape crisis services
  • We are working in partnership with key agencies to lobby and campaign around the importance of prevention work in schools; this will enable young people to recognise abusive relationships and know what to do if they, or someone they know, is affected.
  • We are working to better understand the links between harmful traditional practices affecting women and girls in the UK and Africa.

Apply for a grant  

Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women

We're working to build a fairer, more responsive asylum system, while helping women in crisis.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • According to the UN, refugee and asylum seeking women are more likely to be affected by violence than any other group of women.
  • Women claiming asylum often go through the process voiceless and traumatized.

What are we doing and how?

  • We fund agencies that are working to support vulnerable refugee and asylum-seeking women. This includes providing therapeutic support, legal support that helps women disclose the full stories behind their asylum claims, and health initiatives that support women to cope with the trauma they’ve faced – both physically and emotionally.
  • We support the development of resources and training to help those working with refugee and asylum-seeking women to understand key issues
  • We fund work that supports sector recommendations specifically related to women such as those identified by the Independent Asylum Commission and the Asylum Aid Women’s Asylum Charter

Apply for a grant  

Mental Health

We're working to ensure that people with mental health problems are at the heart of decisions that affect their lives, whilst supporting recovery and reducing stigma and discrimination.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives.
  • Mental health problems can affect anyone - rich or poor, young or old - shattering both the lives of those affected and the people close to them.
  • Each year more than 250,000 people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals and over 4,000 people take their own lives.
  • Many people with mental health problems also face prejudice and ignorance. The stigma around mental health can be debilitating and isolating. Because of this, it can be hard for people with mental health problems to find work, get into education or get their voices heard.

What are we doing and how?

  • Our funding aims to ensure that people with mental health problems are at the heart of decisions that affect their lives, whilst supporting recovery and reducing stigma and discrimination.
  • We fund organisations offering advocacy, support and other work that helps people with mental health problems get the services they need and their voices heard.
  • We fund organisations which campaign for better rights and services for people with mental health problems.
  • We're funding mental health networks to help people share information and join together to campaign for better services.
  • We fund organisations working with people who have been particularly excluded or faced additional discrimination, such as those from ethnic minority communities.
  • We are a key funder and supporter of England-wide ‘Time to Change' campaign which aims to end the discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems.

Apply for a grant  

Young Carers

Since 2006, Comic Relief has been working with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers to manage a grants programme that supports work with young carers who were often hidden from view.

This has included funding projects focused on young people who are caring for family members with drug, alcohol or mental health problems, young people caring in ethnic minority communities and those in isolated rural communities.

In 2010 we asked the Princess Royal Trust for Carers to deliver a third grants programme for us aiming to reach:

  • The most isolated and vulnerable young carers
  • Young carers from potentially excluded communities (including those from black and minority ethnic communities, newly arrived to the UK, refugee community members or young carers who may be socially excluded due to stigma attached to the cared for person)
  • Young carers experiencing a significant negative impact (emotional and/or physical) as a direct result of their caring role.

This programme is now closed and all funding has been allocated.

For more information on our work with young carers please visit the Princess Royal Trust for Carers website at www.carers.org  

Local communities

We are working to build stronger communities. This involves helping people of all ages to feel more included in their community, providing better access to services or supporting people to develop new skills.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • People living in disadvantaged communities often face a range of different issues such as a lack of employment opportunities and poor physical and mental health.
  • One in five people in the UK live in poverty.
  • Poverty in the UK today is much more complex than simply being a measure of homelessness or unemployment; it can affect old and young, families and single people, even whole communities.

What are we doing and how?

  • We are working to build stronger communities. This involves helping people of all ages to feel more included in their community, providing better access to services or supporting people to develop new skills.
  • We're carrying out this work through the UK Community Foundations. Its network of 53 Community Foundations run small grants programmes on our behalf, distributing funds into the heart of local communities.

Apply for a grant  

Sport for change

We support community and other organisations that are using sport as a tool for change to address current social issues.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • More and more organisations now recognise the positive role sport can play in our lives.
  • Though it alone cannot solve poverty and social injustice, sport can be used in conjunction with broader community programmes as a tool to engage with hard to reach communities and provide a wide range of opportunities that previously they may have been excluded from.

What are we doing and how?

  • We support community and other organisations that are using sport as a tool for change to address current social issues.
  • We are also working with a number of partners:
    • - The Community Foundation Network which runs our small grants programme across the UK, and includes funding where sport is used.
    • - UnLtd which supports young entrepreneurs who are using sport to improve their communities.
    • - The Football Foundation which uses sport for greater independence and well-being for people aged over 60.
    • - The Steve Redgrave Fund, which is initially providing opportunities for young people through indoor rowing.

Apply for a grant  

Street and working children and young people
Street and Working Children and Young People
People affected by HIV and AIDS
People affected by HIV and AIDS
Women and Girls
Women and Girls
People affected by Conflict
People affected by Conflict
People Living in Urban Slums
People Living in Urban Slums
Trade
Trade
Health
Health
Funding African Grant Makers
Funding African Grant Makers
Climate Change
Climate Change
Common Ground Initiatives
Common Ground Initiative
Sport for change
Sport for Change
Other
Other
Street and working children and young people

Our goal is to help children living on the street and doing hazardous work to thrive, protected from violence and abuse, and have support to grow up with a good education, life skills, work skills and a sense of self-worth.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Though the exact number of children who live and work on the street worldwide is impossible to measure, UNICEF believe it's likely to be in the tens of millions or higher. Some estimates place the figure as high as 100 million. It is a growing problem in poor countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
  • Children who live on the streets are unprotected and exposed to extreme hardship, abuse, trafficking and hazardous work including prostitution.
  • There are 218 million children in the world who are forced to work to earn a living, often in extremely dangerous conditions. That's around one child in every seven.

What are we doing and how?

  • We do this by funding work that meets the immediate needs of children as well as giving them access to an education or training, healthcare and employment.
  • We fund organisations who work with those in power, such as local authorities, the government and the police, to make sure they take responsibility for protecting children from abuse and neglect, and to improve policies and practices at the national, regional, district and community levels.
  • We also support work with families so they are better able to care for, protect and provide a stable environment for their children.

Apply for a grant  

People affected by HIV and AIDS

Our goal is to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and to strengthen their role in responding to the epidemic. We believe that people with HIV know best what services they need and what changes are required to transform their lives and those of their families.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • As of December 2007, there were 33.2 million people living with HIV worldwide.
  • Every day, nearly 7,000 people are newly infected with HIV, 40% of whom are young people aged 15-25.
  • 5,500 people die from HIV-related causes every day, most of whom are from the most productive working age group.
  • An estimated 18 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
  • It is believed that 80% of people who have HIV haven't been tested, so they don't know their status.
  • Although sub-Saharan Africa represents just over 10% of the world's population, it is home to over two-thirds of all people living with HIV.
  • UNAIDS has called HIV a ‘disease of inequalities' that continues to spread due to deep-rooted injustice in society such as gender inequality, discrimination and criminalisation of vulnerable groups.
  • The number of people living with HIV is increasing both because of new infections and the fact that people with HIV are living longer as treatment is more widely available. This means there will be a growing demand from people living with HIV for access to treatment, care and support.

What are we doing and how?

  • We work to support people living with HIV and their families. This includes children affected by HIV or who are especially vulnerable to HIV.
  • We focus some of our resources on those groups who, according to evidence, are most vulnerable to HIV and are under-served by HIV prevention services in their country.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Women and Girls

Our goal is to contribute to a transformation in the status and lives of women and girls in Africa so that they can realise their rights and full potential, and become equal and respected members of families, communities and society.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • 70% of the world's poorest people are women.
  • Women own just 1% of the world's property.
  • 55% of those not enrolled in school are girls.
  • 66% of illiterate people are women.
  • Nearly 50% of all sexual assaults worldwide are against girls aged 15 years or younger.
  • Domestic violence is the largest cause of women's injury and death, leading to more deaths and disability among women aged 15-44 than malaria, war, traffic accidents and cancer.
  • It is estimated that 1 in 3 women in Africa experiences violence in the home.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that female genital mutilation (FGM) has affected as many as 138 million women and girls in Africa and the numbers continue to rise at a rate of approximately 2 million per year.
  • Women in Africa are generally excluded from decision-making in the home, communities and society, and they represent only a 17% share of parliamentary seats across Africa.

What are we doing and how?

  • We help women and girls get their rights recognised and support them to reach their full potential by addressing their needs throughout their entire lifecycle. This means supporting their different requirements from girlhood, young adulthood, through to womanhood and old age.
  • We fund organisations which understand and address the rights of women and girls.
  • We fund organisations who help to tackle the violence, abuse and harmful traditional practices against women within families, communities and society by encouraging people to recognise how unacceptable these practices are.
  • We support women and girls to drive this work and represent their own interests. To address gender inequalities, we work with both women and girls and men and boys at all levels, to bring about positive changes in families and communities, and ultimately, in society, to help break the cycle of poverty, exploitation and abuse.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
People affected by Conflict

Our goal is to address long-term peace, reconciliation, reintegration and the protection of children and young people who have been severely affected by conflict.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • According to the World Bank, over the last 20 years nearly all countries in Africa have either experienced a major conflict or been a neighbour to a country that has seen armed conflict.
  • Children and young people are some of the most vulnerable to the effects of conflict, both during and after it has taken place.
  • Over the last decade, more than 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict and at least 6 million have been maimed or seriously injured.
  • Millions of children are forced to flee their homes, live in constant fear and lose family protection, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. They often lose out on an education and the opportunity to develop vital life skills. They also suffer physically, socially, emotionally and psychologically as result of the war.

What are we doing and how?

  • We invest in communities to strengthen protection, support, reintegration and reconciliation.
  • We support work to ensure children and young people have access to appropriate and good quality services such as education and legal representation.
  • We support work that aims to secure livelihoods for young people and vulnerable families.
  • We fund organisations who work directly with children and young people to strengthen their engagement and participation in political and decision-making processes.
  • We ensure that our activities address the impact of the conflict and seek to prevent further conflict or harm.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
People Living in Urban Slums

Our goal is to help slum dwellers drive programmes that lead to improvements in their communities, including getting the legal right to occupy land, better access to basic services, better living conditions and the chance to improve their economic prospects.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • For the first time ever, by 2008, half of the world's population were living in urban areas.
  • The population of the world's cities is increasing by approximately 5 million people each month, mostly because of migration for economic opportunities rather than births.
  • The rate of urban population growth is fastest in developing countries, which are least equipped to cope with the need to provide the infrastructure to meet this demand.
  • The urban population of Africa looks set to more than double by 2030 (from 375 million to 760 million people - more than the current number of city dwellers in the entire Western Hemisphere) and is likely to double yet again by 2050.
  • Of the 3 billion or so urban dwellers today, UN Habitat estimates that around a third live in slums.
  • Urban slums come about because of the lack of affordable housing and the grossly unequal distribution of wealth and resources in most cities, particularly in the developing world.
  • In Sub-Saharan Africa, the problem of urban poverty is especially acute, with almost two-thirds of the urban population living in slum conditions.

What are we doing and how?

  • We work with organisations who support slum dwellers to identify and represent their needs and rights to governments, local authorities, landlords and others in power.
  • We support slum dwellers to pool their resources, for example by setting up savings clubs or contributing communally to house-building schemes.
  • We work to enable slum dwellers to get the finance they need to improve their accommodation, living environment and earning potential.
  • Our funding focuses on getting young people involved, to build a foundation for future generations to represent their communities.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Trade

Our goal is to contribute to fair and sustainable wealth creation for producers and workers, primarily in Africa.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Trade can help create new jobs, raise living standards and give people the opportunity to take charge of their lives.
  • But trade doesn't always lead to equal and sustainable growth. A better understanding is needed of what types of trade bring about more secure livelihoods for poor people.
  • In 1980, Africa had a 5.9% share of world trade - but by 2006 this share had fallen to 2.8%. If Africa could regain just an additional 1% share of global trade, it would earn $70 billion more in exports each year - more than double what the region currently receives in development assistance.
  • The two main barriers to the growth of trade in Africa have been the global trade system and access to markets.

What are we doing and how?

  • We focus on small-scale producers and workers in global supply chains because these groups have the least power and the greatest need.
  • Our target groups are producers who have limited access to the market and a limited capacity to compete, most of whom work in agriculture.
  • We also support work which addresses the needs and rights of workers, specifically those affected by global pressures on prices and who have limited capacity to organise, negotiate and seek better conditions.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Health

We want to improve the health of some of Africa's poorest communities but we know that our contribution needs to be part of a much bigger, coordinated, long-term effort, mostly funded and delivered by governments.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • In Africa, 1 child in every 5 children dies before their fifth birthday - and many of these deaths are from preventable diseases such as malaria.
  • In many parts of Africa, malaria is the number one cause of sickness and death.
  • In Tanzania, around 85% of deaths can be prevented with simple, low cost measures.
  • People in Africa are often unable to get the healthcare they need due to poverty, inequality between the sexes and lack of access to healthcare facilities.

What are we doing and how?

  • Our funding aims to support the greatest change through improving primary health care - with improvements in both preventive and curative work.
  • We will use funding to encourage the public and those in power to get behind campaigns to reduce the numbers of preventable deaths - particularly among women and young children.
  • Comic Relief funds organisations who work both with health providers and those who use healthcare services - as well as the voluntary and local organisations which often bridge the gaps between the two.
  • Under the Health Programme we fund specific organisations carrying out vital work. The Ifakara Health Institute’s Empower project is focused on improving maternal health in Tanzania, while MENTOR (Kenya), Malaria Consortium (Uganda), Nets for Life (Ghana) and GFATM (Zambia) are focused on providing nets, testing, training for health workers, and educating communities. These projects help to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.
Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Funding African Grant Makers

Comic Relief is supporting two African grant makers - the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the African Women's Development Fund - to support work with people, organisations and communities which we wouldn't normally be able to reach.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Comic Relief believes that African grant makers with a good track record are in the best possible position to bring about lasting change to people on the ground in a creative, cost-effective, culturally appropriate and responsive way.
  • We believe they can represent the needs and desires of local people, and are accountable to the people they represent.

What are we doing and how?

  • The Nelson’s Mandela Children’s Fund and the African Women’s Development Fund have awarded more than 35 grants which have made a real difference to the lives of poor people in more than ten African countries.
  • African grant-makers and local organisations are learning and sharing experiences about the best ways to support communities.
  • Through the Funding African Grant Makers Initiative, Comic Relief has made a measurable difference to the work of the two African grant-makers, and supported local organisations and people across Africa to both articulate and address their own development needs.
Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Climate Change

Climate change is a relatively new threat to development. Comic Relief is already working in this area, funding a series of grants to learn how best to increase the resilience of poor people in Africa, and also get their voices heard in climate change negotiations.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Climate change makes poor people even more vulnerable, which is a threat to any potential gains in development.
  • Africa is already critically affected by more irregular weather patterns and extreme weather.
  • Most of Africa's agriculture relies on rain - not irrigation - so irregular rains can be disastrous.
  • Work in many of Comic Relief's other grants programmes are already being affected by climate change.
  • Increasingly scarce water and fuel affects the workload of women and girls, an already disadvantaged group.
  • Small increases in average temperature very significantly reduce harvests.
  • Water borne diseases, especially diarrhoea, are increasing with rising temperatures.

What are we doing and how?

  • We have funded research with partners on: the impact of a changing climate on fairly traded products; how conflict is made worse by climate change; how the threat of land being taken for bio-fuels can be addressed; and on how best to prepare for disasters and extreme weather.
  • We have supported African environmentalists to come together to share learning and influence decision-makers nationally and internationally, to make sure the needs and rights of those most affected are addressed.
  • We supported African delegates to be trained and to take part in the Copenhagen climate talks, to make sure their voice was heard.
  • We are supporting the development of alternatives in the carbon market - looking at how people most affected by climate change can benefit.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Common Ground Initiatives

We believe that small and Diaspora organisations have a thorough understanding of the context, and a commitment to long-term development.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • Comic Relief has had a long-standing commitment to small and Diaspora organisations because we know that the Diaspora plays a key role in international development.
  • UK Diaspora organisations give around £2.3 billion a year in grants to developing countries.
  • The Diaspora also play a crucial role in establishing new social, economic and political relationships, which help to channel wealth, information, ideas, skills and investment.
  • We believe small organisations have their part to play - by building effective, flexible relationships with partners in developing countries and being in a good position to nurture new organisations and ideas.

What are we doing and how?

  • We support work that tackles poverty and injustice among communities in Africa and brings about lasting change. This comes through supporting applications made to Comic Relief's six main programmes, as well as Health, Education and Enterprise programmes run exclusively for small and Diaspora organisations.
  • We help Diaspora and small organisations to influence UK development debates and international development practice.
  • We work with organisations so they can support programmes in Africa, can access funding and support from a range of sources, and can influence development debates in the UK.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Sport for change

We want to help organisations to use sport as a tool for bringing about lasting change in the lives of children and young people.

Why do we fund this programme?

Because...

  • More and more organisations now recognise the positive role sport can play in people's lives - with not only physical but also emotional benefits.
  • We want to support organisations to use sport to help bring about change in poor and disadvantaged people's lives.
  • Sport is an innovative and effective way of engaging children and young people and is being used more and more to address issues such as HIV and Aids, women and girls' empowerment and conflict resolution.
  • The FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa has linked sport with international development, to show the world how sports programmes can provide lasting social change.

What are we doing and how?

  • We invest in organisations which use sport as part of a wider programme to identify and address root causes, with clear outcomes and long-term solutions.
  • We support work that builds the confidence of children and young people so they can take advantage of education and other opportunities, and get involved in the decisions that affect their lives.
  • We support work that aims to help children and young people get access to health and education services, and work which reduces stigma and discrimination and addresses violence within families and communities.

Apply for a grant  

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects
Other

From time to time, Comic Relief makes grants to support work outside its main programmes. We do this in exceptional circumstances when our trustees believe a particular issue or project needs support.

There are also grants listed within our International Projects that were made under two grants programme which are now closed. These were for work with disabled people, and pastoralists and hunter-gatherers.

Download a PDF of our International projects 
or alternatively use the region map below to search for projects