Comic Relief

It’s that time of the year again! This Friday, people across the land will be getting together to do something funny for money.
Thousands will don red noses to raise money for Comic Relief and change lives in the UK and in the world’s poorest communities. Others will perform hilarious challenges — every two years, imaginative fundraisers try to beat their past attempts at silliness, which have ranged from bathing in baked beans to attending meetings in morph suits.
Comic Relief was launched in 1985 in response to famine in Ethiopia. The charity has since raised over £1 billion to change in the lives of disadvantaged people.
Every year, half of the donations go to people in the UK, such as Kiran. The other 50% goes to people around the world, like Bintu and Kasha, who are in desperate need of support.
Over the years, countless celebrities have helped raise millions of pounds for the charity. Famous feats include David Walliams swimming across the English Channel and Dermot O’Leary’s 24-hour danceathon.
But what is most important is that everyone can get involved. Your contribution doesn’t have to be something huge — just buying a red nose makes all the difference!
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Assembly
Why do we laugh? A psychology professor explains in this short video.
Activities
- As a class, have a competition to write the best joke.
- Watch Bintu and Kasha’s story. Write a diary entry from Kasha’s point of view.
- As a class, plan an event to raise money for Comic Relief — try to make it as silly as possible!