18 March 2011
The government tonight backed the public's incredible support for this year's Red Nose Day with £10m support for Comic Relief’s work in improving health and education across Africa. This contribution by the government matches Comic Relief's own commitment to spend £10m in these areas.
In an announcement during the BBC's Red Nose Day television show, Davina McCall said the extra funding will mean Comic Relief can now double its efforts in the areas of health and education.
This will mean:
Comic Relief currently funds a wide variety of health and education projects. Since the last Red Nose Day nearly half a million insecticide treated bednets have been delivered to households in western Uganda; last year Comic Relief enabled almost 50,000 children and young people in Africa to access formal education, and helped around 294,000 children under five in Tanzania gain access to basic services in health facilities that have been supplied with equipment and drugs to save lives.
With this additional funding from the government Comic Relief will support many more projects like these across Africa.
Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell said:
"Even in these tough economic times, the British public has given an incredible response to Comic Relief's appeal, showing, yet again, their compassion and generosity.
"In response to this, the government will provide extra support on taxpayers' behalf. The government will come in behind the public's effort, to support and amplify the choices that British people have made.
"The extra support will mean Comic Relief can double their efforts in health and education – so more children go to school and get a quality education, and more people have access to life-saving medicine and treatment."
Comic Relief was launched on Christmas Day in 1985, live on BBC One. At that time, a devastating famine was crippling Ethiopia and something had to be done. That something was Comic Relief. The idea was simple – Comic Relief would make the public laugh while they raised money to help people in desperate need. Before too long, Red Nose Day was created and the first ever event in 1988 raised a staggering £15million. Red Nose Day, up to and including 2009, has raised more than £500million. That money has helped, and is helping, to support people and communities in dire need both in the UK and Africa. To find out more go to www.comicrelief.com.
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Improving education: Children at a Ugandan primary school supported by Comic Relief. Picture: Comic Relief