Go crazy for Red Nose Day, Daisy tells Londoners
...as Comic Relief gives £1 million windfall to our Dispossessed Fund
COMIC RELIEF today gave £1 million to the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund, as model Daisy Lowe thanked Londoners for their “generous” Red Nose Day fundraising efforts.
For the past five weeks, the Standard has called on Londoners to raise money for Comic Relief by doing something silly, such as a sponsored standup or a jokeathon.
Lowe, 28, said it made her “proud to be a Londoner” and added: “It is great seeing everyone get together and do so much to raise money for those who need it.” She advised those about to do a money-raising stunt: “You can do it! Show the world what Londoners are made of. We are all so generous.”
Lowe said Comic Relief “does such important work around the world. The idea of doing it [raising money] through laughter and smiles and happiness, that always brightens my day.”
The £1 million injection to fund grants to charitable groups tackling poverty and social exclusion takes the total raised by the Dispossessed Fund since its inception in 2010 to £17.77 million. This is the most money ever raised by a newspaper-led charitable fund worldwide and the sixth time that Comic Relief has chosen our award-winning initiative as a major beneficiary.
The windfall will be distributed to more than 60 grassroots groups tackling inequality in the capital and will be disbursed in grants of £5,000 to £20,000 that can be applied for from today.
This weekend marks the climax of a nationwide campaign for Comic Relief. Tonight, comedians including James Corden and Russell Brand take part in the annual TV night of entertainment. Red Nose Day Actually — the follow-up to 2003’s Love Actually — will also air.
Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev appears in a sketch alongside Liam Neeson, Anna Kendrick and other famous faces auditioning to be the new voice of Stephen Hawking.
Liz Warner, chief executive of Comic Relief, said: “It’s been brilliant to see Evening Standard readers supporting our Red Nose Day campaign in imaginative ways and it is thanks to this incredible generosity that we are able to help people right here in London. We are proud to support the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund once again with £1 million that will change lives for the most vulnerable people in the capital.”
Standard editor Sarah Sands said:
NEW GRANTS TO TACKLE INEQUALITY
What is happening today? Comic Relief has given a £1 million boost to the Dispossessed Fund, that is being made available to groups tackling social exclusion across the capital. Charities are invited to apply for grants of “The partnership between Comic Relief and the Evening Standard is good for London and gives a timely boost to the hundreds of grassroots charities that toil unrecognised across our capital and do such a sterling job to support struggling Londoners. We are proud to announce another £1 million of grants to empower their brilliant work.” Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the “unparalleled” generosity of Londoners, and said: “Supporting Comic Relief and charities like the Dispossessed Fund is just one small way Londoners can make a big difference to the lives of those who need our help most.”
As people across the city got into the Red Nose spirit in a host of fundraising events, Madame Tussauds had the figures of Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet adorned with Red Noses to get visitors to donate. Arsenal fan Piers Morgan donned the colours of rivals Spurs to raise £50,000 — after gagging himself for 24 hours to raise even more. £5,000 to £20,000.
Who can apply? To be eligible, you will have annual income of less than £250,000 and you will be working to lift people out of poverty in one of the following areas: tackling educational disadvantage; getting people into work such as through apprenticeship schemes; fighting gangs, knife and gun crime; improving mental and physical health, or addressing other manifestations of poverty, such as homelessness.
The fund has raised £17.77 million since its launch in 2010 and £11.3 million has been given out in 1,086 grants. This has helped more than 150,000 people across the capital.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Please DO NOT call the paper. Applications should be made by May 12 to The London Community Foundation, the charity that manages the Dispossessed Fund, at: www.londoncf.org.uk/grants/esdfred-nose-day.aspx