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FAQs

About Red Nose Day 2009

  • What is Red Nose Day?

    Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief every two years. On Red Nose Day everyone is encouraged to cast inhibitions aside, put on a Red Nose and do something a little bit silly to raise money - celebrities included! It culminates in a night of extraordinary comedy and moving documentary films on BBC One. It’s an event that unites the entire nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of people, both across Africa and in the UK, facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.

  • What date is Red Nose Day 2009?

    Red Nose Day is heading your way on Friday 13 March.

  • What is the theme for Red Nose Day 2009?

    The theme is ‘Do Something Funny for Money!’ Red Nose Day 2009 is all about three things... having a laugh, raising money and changing lives for the better. Do whatever you like to be a part of it – just make sure you end up doubled-up with laughter and you raise stacks of cash. Because it’s the money you raise that will transform someone else’s life forever.

Fundraising

Schools, Youth and Early Years Groups

  • How can my school get involved in Red Nose Day?

    Students and staff can get involved in Red Nose Day in loads of ways. Check out our fundraising resources for fab ideas and tips to raise buckets of cash. Use our learning resources to teach students about children across Africa who are missing out on school and, for the first time ever, get your whole school ready to make a choice that gives you a say in how your RND money gets spent! ".

  • Can Early Years groups (playgroups, nurseries etc) take part?

    Absolutely! For RND '09 we’ve teamed up with Mr. Funny, and the rest of the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters to get your little ones ready for the fun! Check out the Early Years area, where you will find lots of learning activities and fundraising ideas. You can also download the Early Years Kit.

  • Do I need to register my event?

    There is no official registration process. You can organise Red Nose Day using our learning and fundraising resources. You can upload your students' creative projects (films, photos, songs...) to our website on the 'Showcase' (coming soon). It's a great chance to show off your school's best bits!

  • What resources are available for Schools and Early Years groups?

    Unfortunately there are no more Early Years Kits or Schools Kits available to send, due to the very high level of demand. However if you haven’t received a Schools Kit, you can still download one.

    For Early Years resources visit our Early Years area, where you will find lots of learning activities and fundraising ideas, and be able to download the Early Years Kit.

    And check out our resource bank for even more ideas.

  • I didn't receive my Schools or Early Years Kit / Can I have a Schools or Early Years Kit?

    The kits take around 10 working days to get to you. If you haven’t received your kit 10 working days after your order was placed please email us at schools@rednoseday.com.

    Unfortunately there are no more Early Years Kits or Schools Kits available to send due to the very high level of demand. However if you haven’t received a Schools Kit, you can still download one.

    And check out our resource bank for even more ideas.

  • Can someone come and talk at our school?

    Thank you so much for your invitation. We are lucky enough to have an extremely hardworking staff team here at Comic Relief, who are incredibly busy making sure our campaigns are a success. As much as we would love to be able to attend every event that people organise for us, it is just not possible as we don’t have the resources. We REALLY REALLY appreciate being invited though as we know that it is people like you that make the campaign work (and do all the really hard work), we couldn't do it without you and you continually inspire us. Thank you.

  • What is the Red Nose Deposit Scheme?

    Unfortunately the Red Nose Deposit Scheme is now closed. Order forms received now may not be processed and cheques will not be cashed. Remember, if you’re ordering noses for Early Years groups, they’re not suitable for under 3s.

    Noses are still available to buy at Sainsbury's and Oxfam stores

  • Your Choices: What are we choosing?

    This year, for the first time ever we want Schools and Early Years groups in the UK to choose how we spend their fundraising money to help get kids in Africa into school. Education is the key to a life free from poverty and it's the focus of Red Nose Day in your school this year! There are five options to choose from and all the details can be found in the 'Your Choices' section. It will explain what the choices are, and what you need to do to let us know your School's or Early Years group's choice.

  • Your Choices: How can I teach about the ‘choice’ element of Red Nose Day 2009?

    We’ve put together learning resources to help your school when it comes to choosing how your money should be spent. They’ll help you teach about the reasons why children across Africa can’t get to school and focus on the importance of choice – for this Red Nose Day and the future. Check out our resource bank.

  • Your Choices: Can Early Years groups choose?

    Yes. We’re not asking you to get your little ones involved in choosing but we would like to give you the chance to join in. In the Early Years Kit we’ve provided a letter to send home to parents explaining how they can get involved and to make it as easy as possible for your group. It asks them to decide which of the options they’d like to support. By collecting these replies, your Early Years group can have a say in how your RND money is spent.

  • Your Choices: Can I choose myself?

    We’re only offering the chance to choose to Schools and Early Years groups. We’ve put together loads of resources, for all age groups, so you can involve your students in the decision-making process. It would be really great if everyone, students and staff, got chance to help make the choice. It’s about something you’re all experts on after all… education!

  • Your Choices: Can we choose more than one of the choices?

    If you can’t decide, but still want your money to help get kids in Africa into school, your school can choose to support Comic Relief projects which will do this. You can choose to support this option when you pay your money in.

  • Your Choices: Why can’t we support projects in the UK?

    We’re hoping, with the help of Schools and Early Years groups, to create real change in the lives of children across Africa who can’t get to school. But, we’re not forgetting about the projects that need support in the UK. Only Schools and Early Years groups are being offered the chance to have a say in how their RND money gets spent. All other donations will be allocated in the usual Red Nose Day style – to projects in both the UK and Africa. You can still use your fundraising money to support projects in the UK if you choose this option when you pay your money in.

  • Fundraising: How can I get Red Noses for my School or Early Years groups?

    Unfortunately the Red Nose Deposit Scheme is now closed. Order forms received now may not be processed and cheques will not be cashed. Remember, if you’re ordering noses for Early Years groups, they’re not suitable for under 3s.

    Noses are still available to buy at Sainsbury's and Oxfam stores

  • Fundraising: Are there fundraising tools available to run an event for Red Nose Day?

    Yes! We've put together loads of downloadable resources including (amongst other fabulous stuff) posters, sponsorship forms and stacks of fundraising ideas. Check out our resource bank. You can also order a Schools or Early Years Kit for free.

    One of the easiest ways to fundraise is to sell Red Noses at your school, using our Nose Deposit Scheme. You pay 30p for each nose now, plus processing, postage & packing, and the other 70p after you have sold them at school. Order online until the 6th March 2009. Remember, if you’re ordering Noses for Early Years groups, they’re not suitable for under 3s.

  • Fundraising: Can I have more event posters?

    If you have posters from a kit you can photocopy them. You can download extra posters from our resource bank.

  • Fundraising: Will we receive a 'Thank You' certificate for fundraising?

    Paying your money in online or using the giro slip in your Schools or Early Years Kit will ensure that you are automatically sent a thank you certificate (which acts as a receipt). We promise we will send your certificate as soon as we can, but please bear with us as there are so many of you lovely people for us to thank!

Keeping In Touch

Red Nose Day TV

  • I want to come and present a cheque on TV, can I?

    Thank you so much for the money you have raised for Red Nose Day. The BBC has full editorial control over the content of the TV show. There are only usually 4 or 5 cheque presentations during the TV show over the whole night as most of the time is taken up by entertainment and information about where the money you raise goes. We have already allocated these slots to our corporate partners who give us an enormous amount of support. We really, really appreciate the money you have raised as we know that it is people like you that make the campaign work (and do all the really hard work). We couldn't do it without you and you continually inspire us. Thank you.

  • Can I get tickets for the show?

    The BBC is responsible for allocating tickets to the TV show and it is now fully booked. You can contact the BBC via Audience Services if you would like more information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/tickets/. This year’s Red Nose Day Night is on Friday 13 March, from 7pm – late on BBC One and BBC Two.

  • When is the RND show on?

    This year’s Red Nose Day Night is on Friday 13 March, from 7pm –late on BBC One and BBC Two.

Artists and Celebrities

  • Can you get a celebrity to attend my event?

    Unfortunately our celebrities are so busy helping us to promote Red Nose Day by giving interviews, filming and rehearsing for the TV show that they are all too busy to be able to come to any other events. Why don't you think about getting in touch with local celebrities or public figures, such as your mayor or MP, who might be able to come along? Contact your local council or media to find out how you might get in touch with these people.

Kilimanjaro

Merchandise, Companies and The Online Shop

  • How much do the Red Nose Day products cost?

    ITEMPRICEDONATION TO COMIC RELIEF
    Red Nose£1At least 70p
    Pin badge£1At least 70p
    Car Nose£3At least £1.80
    Charm£1At least 70p
    Deeley boppers£2At least £1.40
    Whoopee Cushion£1At least 70p
    Adult Unisex T-shirts (only white, short sleeved):
    • Morecambe & Wise
    • Beatles
    		£9.99At least £5
    Kids Unisex T-shirts (short & long sleeved available):
    • Bunny
    • Morecambe & Wise (White & red available)
    • Beatles (White & red available)
    		Ages 1-6: £5.99
    Ages 7-10: £6.99    		At least £3
    Baby T-shirts (only long sleeved)
    • Bunny
    		£5.99At least £3
    Books:
    • Mr Funny’s Red Nose Day
    • Tracy Beaker’s Thumping Heart
    		£2.50At least £2
    Jamie’s Red Nose Recipes Book£3£2.50
    DVD (information to follow)  :  :

  • I haven't received my merchandise order.

    From the time we receive your order, we aim to deliver your goods to you within 10 working days (but please wait 2 additional working days before querying your order). Please note that we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. If you ordered your merchandise over 10 working days ago, please contact us at shop@rednoseday.com.

  • Why does only a proportion of the sale of the merchandise go to Comic Relief?

    Unfortunately there are always costs associated with any product. We work hard to keep these costs to a minimum and to ensure as much money as possible comes to Comic Relief.

  • Does any of the RND’09 merchandise contain latex?

    Yes, the Whoopee cushion contains latex.

  • Are the T shirts Fairtrade?

    The T-shirts have been wholly manufactured in Africa. 100% of the cotton has been sourced from organic fair-trade certified cotton co-operatives in Senegal, which ensures gorgeous, pesticide and GM free cotton and a fair price for farmers in developing countries.

  • Is the Nose recyclable?

    The Nose for RND’09 is recyclable - if you wish to recycle after Red Nose Day then you can return your Nose to your nearest Sainsbury’s store. DO NOT put in your household recycling.

The Need

  • Where does money raised through Red Nose Day go?

    60% of the money raised helps to give people living in grinding poverty across Africa a better chance in life. 40% helps poor and disadvantaged people and communities across the UK turn their lives around.

  • Where does the money go internationally?

    The grant programmes aims to tackle poverty and promote social justice across Africa. All the work we fund is about supporting people to make lasting, positive changes in their lives and their communities.

  • What kind of work is funded internationally?

    We want the money raised through Red Nose Day to reach the poorest and most disadvantaged people in Africa. These are the people who often miss out on the benefits of development programmes and yet they are the ones who need them most. To try and reach them, our grant programmes target six groups of disadvantaged people whom we identified after widespread consultation in the UK and in Africa, these include:

    • Street and working children and young people
    • People affected by HIV & AIDS
    • Women and Girls
    • People affected by Conflict
    • People living in urban slums
    • Trade
    • We are also funding work to tackle Malaria in Africa and helping to improve health services in Tanzania.

  • Where does the money go in the UK?

    We fund work all over the UK and are very keen to make sure that our funding reaches the most vulnerable people from all parts of the country.

  • What kind of work is funded in the UK?

    40% of the money raise through Red Nose Day will be used to help disadvantaged people and communities across the UK. Whether it be a woman who is in a violent relationship, an older person feeling incredibly alone or a young man struggling to see a way out of his depression, Red Nose Day cash is helping to improve - and in some cases - save their lives.

How To Pay In Your Money

  • How can I pay in fundraising money or make a donation?

    Yes, you can. You can use the giro slip in your RND ‘09 Fundraising Kit. Just take it along when you pay in or write to The National Fundraising team, Comic Relief, 5th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP and ask for a Regular Giving kit. Or email fundraising@comicrelief.com. Or send it to Red Nose Day 2009, Ernst and Young, PO Box 51543, London, SE1 2UG. You can also pay in money online.

    If you’d like to pay in or make a donation over the phone, please have your card details ready and call our automated donation line: 03457 910910. Calls to our new 0345 number will cost the same as calls to 01 and 02 prefixed numbers and will be included as part of any inclusive minutes or discount package.

  • How can I pay in money from abroad?

    Either use your credit card online, or go to a bank and arrange a transfer into a/c 37706136, sort code 60-30-06. Please make sure that the reference is 'International'. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Red Nose Day 2009 (International)’ and sent to our offices in London, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP.

  • Will I receive a ‘Thank You’ certificate for fundraising?

    We'd love to thank you personally all for your wonderful support, but we are trying really hard to keep our costs to a minimum. If you'd like areceipt for your fundraising money, please fill in your address and tick the 'Thank You Certificate' box on the back of your giro slip and send it with your cheque to Red Nose Day 2009, Ernst & Young, PO Box 51543, London, SE1 2UG.

    Or, if you pay your fundraising money over the counter at a bank, post office, building society, or online, please attach your giro slip stub or receipt to your completed fundraising form and send it to Ernst & Young at the same address. We promise we will send your certificate as soon as we can, but please bear with us as there are so many of you lovely people for us to thank!

  • I have a bag full of small change. What shall I do with it?

    Count it and bag it and then take it to any High Street bank, post office or building society and ask to pay your money into the Red Nose Day 2009 account.

  • I’ve collected some foreign currency. What shall I do with it?

    Banks and building societies will only accept £ sterling. If you have a bank account you could pay the foreign currency in there and then write a cheque to Red Nose Day 2009.

  • I know that my employer operates a matched giving scheme. What can I do to get them to match my donation?

    Ask your employer for a matched giving form. Send this to Red Nose Day 2009, Ernst and Young, PO Box 51543, London SE1 2UG with your cheque. If you have already paid your money in to a bank, just send the bank giro stub/receipt, together with the matched giving form, to Red Nose Day 2009, Ernst and Young, PO Box 51543, London SE1 2UG.

  • Can I set up a standing order for Red Nose Day/Comic Relief?

    Yes, you can. Write to The National Fundraising team, Comic Relief, 5th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP and ask for a Regular Giving kit, or email fundraising@comicrelief.com.

Gift Aid

  • What is Gift Aid and how can it mean more money for Comic Relief?

    If you pay UK tax and let us know, the Government will give Comic Relief at least 25% on top of your donation. It won’t cost you a penny - all you need to do is tick the Gift Aid box on your Red Nose Day 2009 giro slip, or online Red Nose Day Giving page, or tell us you want to ‘Gift Aid it’ when you donate online or over the phone. To say yes to Gift Aid, you will need to have paid UK tax in the current tax year that’s at least equal to the 25% we will claim. We also need your full name and home address.

    In addition, following the 2008 Budget, the Government will pay a Transitional Relief of 3 pence on every pound for every Gift Aid donation made from 6th April 2008 until 5th April 2011. This means that we can claim in total an extra 28% on top of your donation if you Gift Aid it.

  • Gift Aid - How does it work?

    Gift Aid is surprisingly easy. It can apply to personal donations of any amount, large or small, by cash, cheque, postal order, debit or credit card or even in a foreign currency (including the Euro). If you are a UK taxpayer, all you have to do is give Comic Relief a simple Gift Aid declaration. If does not however apply to CAF cards (as the tax has already been reclaimed in this case).

  • What’s a Gift Aid declaration?

    If you make a personal donation to us during Red Nose Day, you will be asked to declare whether you would like us to claim Gift Aid. This will be either by ticking the appropriate box on the Red Nose Day giro slip (when paying in your money at a Bank or sent to Ernst & Young), or ticking the Gift Aid box on the donation page online, or asking your sponsors to tick the Gift Aid box on your sponsorship form, or by saying ‘yes' to the Gift Aid question whilst donating via the phone. You will also be asked to give us your full name and home address – without this we can’t claim Gift Aid.

  • How can I be sure my donation qualifies for Gift Aid?

    By ticking the Gift Aid box, you are declaring that you are a UK taxpayer (for the current tax year beginning 6th April 2008) and you have paid (or are going to pay) the Government more tax throughout that year than we are claiming back. If you have donated £10, for example, and have indicated that you would like us to claim the tax back, we can claim £2.50 from the Inland Revenue. You must, therefore, be sure that you have paid (or will pay) more than £2.50 in income or Capital Gains tax to the government for that tax year. This is because the government cannot give back to us the money you've already paid in taxes if you haven't paid any!

  • Where can I get further information on Gift Aid?

    Visit the Inland Revenue website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities) or www.tax-effective-giving.org.uk. Alternatively, contact your local Tax Office.

Volunteering For Red Nose Day

  • How can I volunteer to help on Red Nose Day?

    Our staff and regular volunteers work through the evening of Red Nose Day to make it all happen which means that we don’t need any extra help on the night. If you are interested in volunteering in our office in Vauxhall, Central London, and can spare at least two days a week we would love to hear from you! For further information and an application form visit:http://www.comicrelief.com/all-about-us/working-with-us/volunteer/.

  • Can I volunteer to take calls on the night?

    Comic Relief relies upon the generosity of call centres throughout the UK to provide us with telephone lines and volunteers to take donation calls for the night of the TV show. These call centres form part of a massive network built and managed by our telephony partner, BT.

    Unfortunately, due the logistical and security requirements of such an endeavour, Comic Relief is unable to accept the kind offers we receive from individuals wishing to volunteer on the phones.

About Comic Relief

  • What does Comic Relief do?

    Comic Relief is seriously committed to helping end poverty and social injustice in the UK and the poorest countries in the world. Comic Relief's vision is a just world, free from poverty. You can find out more at www.comicrelief.com.

  • When was Comic Relief set up?

    Comic Relief was launched from a refugee camp in Sudan in 1985.

  • How does Comic Relief raise money?

    During Red Nose Day, money is raised in three main ways:

    • Public Fundraising: People at home, at school, at work and at play doing something silly and fundraising for Comic Relief.
    • Merchandise: People buying the Noses and other special products like T-Shirts, which include a donation to Comic Relief.
    • Donations: People watching the Night of TV and making a donation with a credit or debit card over the phone or on the Internet.

    You can find out more at www.comicrelief.com.

     

About Sport Relief

  • When is the next Sport Relief?

    Sport Relief happens every other year and the next one is in March 2010. Our big campaign this year is Red Nose Day, and it’s happening on Friday 13 March. On Red Nose Day tens of thousands of people up and down the country will cast their inhibitions aside, put on a Red Nose and do something a little bit silly to raise money.

  • What is Sport Relief?

    Sport Relief is a UK wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief, in partnership with the BBC, every two years. It culminates in a night of TV treats on BBC One and the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile. The next one is in March 2010. You can find out more about the 2008 campaign at www.sportrelief.com.

  • What’s happening on Sport Relief?

    We are still in very early planning stages of Sport Relief 2010! We are hoping thousands of members of the public and celebrities will be taking part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile across the country. BBC One, Radio (BBC Radios 1-5) and Internet ( www.sportrelief.com) will be awash with Sport Relief activity.

Technical Queries

  • Information on downloading film clips

    Step 1: right click on the link to the video, select ‘Save target as’ (Save link as on a mac) and specify a location on your computer to save the file to.

    Step 2: To play the video file on you computer, double click on its icon to see if it plays automatically. If no player is available, try downloading and installing something like Apple's quicktime player, windows media player or VLC player.

    Step 3: should you wish to turn the video into a dvd playable you will require dvd burning software. Packages such as Nero on the PC and Toast on the mac have the capability to do this. Please refer to the program manufacturers instructions for how to use their software.

  • Can I burn the film clips onto disk?

    Yes you can burn the files to disk, either to simply create a backup or to create a dvd. There are many software packages available that can do this such as Nero on the PC and Toast on the Mac. Please refer to the program manufacturers instructions for how to use their software.

  • How do I download the PDF resources on to my computer?

    Right click on the link to the PDF, select ‘Save target as’ (Save link as on a mac) and specify a location on your computer to save the file to.

    To view the pdf, double click on the icon to see if it launches automatically. If it does not, try downloading and installing adobe acrobat reader.

  • How do I download the PowerPoint presentations on to my computer?

    Right click on the link to the PowerPoint, select ‘Save target as’ (Save link as on a mac) and specify a location on your computer to save the file to.

    Double click on the file to launch it. If it does not launch automatically, you should download and install Microsoft PowerPoint View PC | MAC

  • Can I download audio files?

    Step 1: right click on the link to the audio file, select ‘Save target as’ (Save link as on a mac) and specify a location on your computer to save the file to.

    Step 2: To play the file on you computer, double click on its icon to see if it plays automatically. If no player is available, try downloading and installing something like Apple's quicktime player or iTunes.

  • Information on using Red Nose Day 2009 Interactive Whiteboards

    To use the Interactive Whiteboard you will need to download the zip file.

    Step 1: Right click on the link to the file (e.g. KS2 Interactive Whiteboard), select ‘Save target as’ (‘Save link as’ on a mac) and specify a location on your computer to save the file to.

    Step 2: You now have a WinZip file saved on your computer. To open this you will need to ‘extract’ the files/folders within the WinZip file and choose a location on your computer to save them. Once complete, navigate to the destination that the files were extracted to and open the file ‘IWB - click here.html’. The interactive whiteboard will then open in your internet browser.

    For more information on zip files and how to use them visit a website like: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011276901033.aspx

  • Why did my photo not upload for the Digital Red Nose?

    FILE SIZE; Please note that your photo must not be more than 2MB. If you right click over the file and look at 'Properties' you will see the size of the file. Photos uploaded that are over 2MB will not work, but you will have already paid your £1. Should this happen please email webmaster@comicrelief.com to arrange a refund and try again with a smaller file.

  • Why can’t I download the Digital Red Nose?

    FLASH. The application uses Flash. If your computer does not have the latest version of Flash you will be prompted to download it, which only takes a few moments.