Red Nose Day

Wearing a red nose for a day may seem like a strange way to raise money for charity. However, it seems to work in Britain.

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises to check your understanding.

Red Nose Day (RND) is a well-known event in the UK. The aim of the day is to raise money for a charity called Comic Relief which helps people in need in Africa and in the UK.

Red nose?

Comic Relief was started in 1985 by the scriptwriter Richard Curtis. He wrote the series Blackadder as well as the famous films Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. Richard’s idea to start Comic Relief was a response to the severe famine in Ethiopia. It’s called Red Nose Day as on this day many people buy a plastic red nose to wear! The money made from selling these red noses goes to the charity.

When is RND?

Red Nose Day takes place every two years in the spring and it is now so well established that many people consider it to be an unofficial national holiday. For example, many schools have non-uniform days. To find out when the next Red Nose Day is, check out the official site.

Money

The slogan for the last RND was ‘Do Something Funny for Money’ and the money that was collected helped to fund projects in the following areas: treating malaria, education, maternal health and mental health. The BBC Red Nose Day telethon raised £74.3 million! Money-raising events take place all over the country and many schools participate. People also donate money by post, in banks, by phone using a credit card and online.

Getting sponsored

Getting sponsored to do something is a common way to raise money on RND. Here are some things people do to raise money:

  • Get sponsored to wear your pyjamas all day at work or in school.
  • Get sponsored to grow a moustache or beard for a month.
  • Ask colleagues or classmates for a donation to wear a red wig for the day.
  • Get sponsored to give up chocolate, biscuits or crisps.

Red Nose Day is everywhere

In the evening of Red Nose Day a telethon takes place on the BBC television channels. It shows a selection of the events of the day, as well as lots of comic sketches and reports of how the money raised will be spent. There’s a RND Facebook page and you can follow RND on Twitter. People also upload videos of local charity events on YouTube and Facebook.

So, if you are ever in the UK on Red Nose Day, you’ll know why people are wearing red noses and doing silly things! It’s all for a good cause.

Discussion

Have you ever raised money for charity? What did you do and how much money did you raise?

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Comments

Submitted by anna_v3r on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 09:16

No, I've never raised money for charity, But instead I have brought my old clothes and food for people in need to the Caritas.

Submitted by mmatildepontoni04 on Sun, 05/17/2020 - 14:30

I have raised money for children's charities and I want to do the RND project.

Submitted by gio_cra2004 on Fri, 04/24/2020 - 16:47

No, I haven't. I have never raised or partecipated in charity funds. The only thing is that my parents supplied "Caritas" with food or baby clothes. I think it's important to help others and do good to others.

Submitted by vittoriadigianno on Fri, 04/24/2020 - 12:32

No I have never raised up money for charity but i would like to do it because it's important to help unlucky people.

Submitted by Gabriele1926 on Wed, 04/22/2020 - 15:03

I think that the red nose day is a very important day, because to donate money and do charity is a good thing for help the poor persons.

Submitted by giogiomas on Wed, 04/22/2020 - 14:35

I never raised money for charity, only once I financially helped my family's friend who needed help. I think charity is a nice action to make someone else's life better.

Submitted by Matteo on Wed, 04/22/2020 - 14:33

No I have never raised up money for charity but is something that i would do for sure. Because I think that we should always help people that are in trouble with by all means we can

Submitted by alaricofranca02 on Wed, 04/22/2020 - 08:38

yes I tried to collaborate and help, I often did fundraising with the oratory and when I was in elementary school my class helped a lot the various fundraisers

Submitted by _nguyenthanhtom on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 09:26

Charity is a very meaningful job for me. Since I was in primary school, my school has had a lot of activities to help the poor and disadvantaged students, only with small actions such as contributing old books, old clothes ... I think it needs more days like RND so we can raise more charities to help people.

Submitted by Kimkhanh305 on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 07:32

A few months ago, my friend and I raised money for abandoned cats and dogs. The amount of money just was enough to buy some food for them. However, we were surprised that a wide range of people, especially teenagers, cared a lot about those poor animals. At that time, these youngsters were seeking an animal protection organization to participate in charitable activities, and our timely presence was fantastic to them. That was an incredible and meaningful experience for us.

Submitted by HoangHa_000 on Mon, 11/25/2019 - 10:44

On Christmas Eve, people usually hang out or gather together in order to enjoy a happy holiday. However, unlike those people, my friends and me decided to spent our Christmas night doing an meaningful charitable activity. We prepared many things which are simple but essential including bread, water, milk and clothes. Then we wandered around every corner on the streets to give the poor, homeless and beggar our whole-hearted gifts. Receiving our presents, they were thankful and delighted. Their happiness spread out on us. The cost doesn't matter, as long as I feel cheerful with what I am doing. I am really pleased and proud of that charity. It was the most unforgettable Christmas Eve that I'd ever had.

Submitted by yennhi2k0 on Sun, 11/24/2019 - 15:25

Wow! I think this event is meaningful and human even. Charity is always a good thing for any people. I used to donate by classmate and my own saving. I used to it by gifts for the Mid- Autumn Festival for children orphans to make them happy. This is the first time I help children. I feel so interesting and exciting when see them happy. Charity is a great deal. Red Nose Day is good way for. So I hope this event organize all over the world to help poor people, old people or children orphans.

Submitted by Quocvu on Wed, 11/20/2019 - 09:03

I have donated for charity since i was a child. My school organized a collection to collect money for the poor. I think it is very helpful but i don't remember the how much money i donated

Submitted by Ngocthao60nna10 on Sun, 11/17/2019 - 18:09

I used to donate by classmates and my own savings. The money raised was 2 million and I used it to buy gifts for the Mid-Autumn Festival for orphans to make them happy and motivated for future efforts. This is my first charity and I find it very meaningful

Submitted by haahaa0912 on Sun, 11/17/2019 - 09:01

I wish there would have many more and more Red Nose Days in the world. It contribute to help the poor, the patient who have difficulty in finance condition and need a hand.

Submitted by havy230819 on Wed, 11/13/2019 - 14:54

Charity is always a good thing for me. People share and help each other, sometimes not only physically but mentally. I think kindness is the best thing in the world, it brings people together regardless of language and geographical barriers. I don't think what I contribute to helping others is charity, it's about being human. Each of us is just a speck of dust, live every day with courage and kindness. In the Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, there is a place for people to bring old clothes so that those who need them will come and use them. You don't need to do big things to show your heart, every small action will do.

Submitted by AyuNguyen on Tue, 11/05/2019 - 01:11

Wow, this event is a very meaningful and humane event, I hope it will spread to more people.... When I was in middle school, my classmates and I collected money to help a friend in an accident. Because we are still students, each of us donated at most 10,000 VND. Our school students are not as many as other schools, but when the total amount of the whole school is collected, it is about 25 million VND. At that time, this amount is already quite large. Fortunately, thanks to the money that he was able to successfully surgery and recover well. From that time on, although I have not been able to raise any more money, my wish is to raise and donate in the future to help people. Because I know, there are so many unhappy lives out there that need the help of everyone.

Submitted by Trucnguyencute on Sat, 10/26/2019 - 03:41

I love helping people. I often have volunteer trips in many places and i feel it gives me a lot of experience and joy. Bringing happiness to everyone is also bringing happiness to my self

Submitted by kimthao_60nna2 on Fri, 10/25/2019 - 16:46

I think RND is the most meaning-ful of all the kind people who raise money for charity. They use this fund to share and help the difficulties of others. I really like this one. In addition, sometimes I save some money and I also want to implement RND project in the future.

Submitted by kieunguyen_1076 on Thu, 10/24/2019 - 09:52

I have not done charity before. However, I am working hard and earning money for charity in future. My wish is the better world, I do not want to see famine, diseases, struggles anymore. Also I hope to help organizations develop strongly.
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Submitted by Tuan_Quoc on Sun, 09/29/2019 - 04:22

I have donated some of my savings along with other students in my class to partially support the unfortunate children from childhood, helpless orphans in a sponsoring center society. Although the amount is not really large, I know that with that small help, the children at the center will have more energy and joy to overcome their difficult situation.

Submitted by hamynguyen on Sun, 09/29/2019 - 03:20

Hi! I'm just a student at university but I'd love to raise money for charity so much.I used to donate a little money for children from remote areas. Many sponsor went to school to ask us to do that by buying pencils, toothpick, ... just from 10-20 thousands dong.Besides, I also give them books that I no longer use.So, I think "NRD" is an meaningful events and hope it will be more popular in the future.
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Submitted by Tina - Coordinator on Mon, 09/30/2019 - 07:22

Dear hamynguyen 
Thanks for your comments on LearnEnglish Teens. This website is specially for teenagers aged 13-17 years old but it sounds like you might be older than that as you are at university. You are welcome to keep on using LearnEnglish Teens but if you are over 17, please do NOT post any more comments as we must keep this strictly for teenagers to interact with each other.
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