Comic Relief is a major charity based in the UK, with a vision of a just world, free from poverty.  Comic Relief work all year round to help make that vision a reality.  Since starting out in 1985, with the support of some remarkable people, they are achieving amazing things and have raised over £950 million.

The mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.  They raise millions of pounds, mainly through their two big fundraising campaigns: Red Nose Day and Sport Relief.  They spend the money raised to tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice in the UK and across the world and they use the power and influence of the brand to raise awareness of issues where they feel that they can make the biggest impact.

Comic Relief has been able to create real, lasting change to the lives of individuals, communities and the issues they strive to tackle.  None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of the public, their official partners and many celebrity friends who’ve helped along the way.

There is still so much more to be done, but an idea of just what they have managed to achieve is in these few statistics that they should be extremely proud of:

• Between 1999-2008, the number of children attending school in sub-Saharan Africa increased by 46.5 million.
• They have helped over 1 million children in Africa and the world’s poorest countries to get an education.
• They have helped 3 million people affected by HIV in Africa.
• The number of new infections of HIV in Africa dropped by 21% between 1997 and 2010.
• Since 2000, the number of people dying from malaria across Africa has fallen by a third.
• They have helped to protect over 6 million people from Malaria in Africa.
• In 2012 thanks to the Time To Change campaign, 1.5 million people in England said that their attitude towards people with mental health issues had improved as they help end discrimination towards people with mental health problems.
• Since 1998, Comic Relief have helped over 120,000 young people at risk of or who have experienced sexual exploitation or trafficking.
• They helped to establish the National Domestic Violence Helpline, which has received over 1.5 million calls since it was set up in 2003.
• The helpline refers on average 28 women to a refuge every day.
• From 2009-2013 they have made grants totalling more than £300 million, to help people living tough lives in the UK and around the world.

Many events are going to be held and it's up to the people of North Devon to help (if they are able) within our area.  Whether you donate on the night (during the television broadcast BBC One 7.00pm-1.00am Friday 13th March), put some change in a fundraising bucket (located in many places), are holding an event or donate at a bank/building society you are doing your bit to change history and more importantly change the world!

Join many local businesses including Lisa Roberts Hairdressers in Barnstaple and Sainsburys supermarkets (regular fundraisers) and 'make your face funny for money' this year!

For more information on how to hold an event or to donate you can visit the website at:  http://www.comicrelief.com/.