CHARITY PROJECTS
The principal activities of Comic Relief, the operating name of the charity, are to raise funds and awareness, and to distribute money in the form of grants and social investments for specific charitable purposes, in support of our vision of a just world free from poverty and our mission of driving change through the power of entertainment.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net movement in funds of £2.6m for the year, with total reserves standing at £111.0m. The trustees confirmed that the charity has sufficient reserves to cover its costs over the next 12 months and identified no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“£180,001 – £190,000 1”
“A licence fee of £50k was charged by Comic Relief Limited which remains outstanding and is fully provided for.” — page 55
“Comic Relief Limited transfers its total net taxable profit to Charity Projects at the end of each year as a qualifying charitable donation. For the year ended 31 July 2025 this was £3.6m” — page 55
“A licence fee of £50k was charged by Comic Relief Limited which remains outstanding and is fully provided for.” — page 55
“Comic Relief Limited transfers its total net taxable profit to Charity Projects at the end of each year as a qualifying charitable donation. For the year ended 31 July 2025 this was £3.6m” — page 55
“A licence fee of £50k was charged by Comic Relief Limited which remains outstanding and is fully provided for.” — page 55
“Comic Relief Limited transfers its total net taxable profit to Charity Projects at the end of each year as a qualifying charitable donation. For the year ended 31 July 2025 this was £3.6m” — page 55
“A licence fee of £50k was charged by Comic Relief Limited which remains outstanding and is fully provided for.” — page 55
“Comic Relief Limited transfers its total net taxable profit to Charity Projects at the end of each year as a qualifying charitable donation. For the year ended 31 July 2025 this was £3.6m” — page 55
In the news
- Sport Relief
- Comic Relief, Greggs Foundation and Global's Make Some Noise to benefit from major coronavirus charity match-funding scheme
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Comic Relief launch £2.4m technology fund
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 01806414
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Samir Patel — Chief Executive
- Matt Hyde — Vice Chair
Company officers (Companies House)
- HUGHES, Sarah Joan, Dr on trustee list
- HOTHI, Mandeep on trustee list
- WILLIAMS, Robert Vincent on trustee list
- AFTAB, Fazilat Jan on trustee list
- LINGER, Elliott John on trustee list
- PHAHLE, Yolisa Sandra on trustee list
- BURGESS, Hanah Munzer on trustee list
- THOMAS, Philip Owain on trustee list
- NOHR, Marc Alan on trustee list
- ALPS, Teresa Margaret on trustee list
- BLACK, Sue on trustee list
- CAMPBELL, Fiona on trustee list
- ONALO, Jacqueline Wedube on trustee list
- HYDE, Matthew Thomas not on trustee list
- MORLEY, Rupert Oliver Henry on trustee list
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (11/08/2025)
Trustees
- PHILIP THOMASchair
- Dr SUE BLACK
- Dr Sarah Joan Hughes
- Elliott John Linger
- FIONA CAMPBELL
- Fazilat Aftab
- Hanah Burgess
- Jacqueline Onalo
- MARC NOHR
- Mandeep Hothi
- Matt Hyde
- RUPERT OLIVER HENRY MORLEY
- Robert Vincent Williams
- Teresa Alps
- Yolisa Phahle
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £51.1m | £49.9m |
| 31/07/2024 | £53.8m | £46.2m |
| 31/07/2023 | £50.8m | £51.3m |
| 31/07/2022 | £50.0m | £44.3m |
| 31/07/2021 | £74.1m | £86.2m |
Common questions
Is CHARITY PROJECTS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net movement in funds of £2.6m for the year, with total reserves standing at £111.0m. The trustees confirmed that the charity has sufficient reserves to cover its costs over the next 12 months and identified no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of CHARITY PROJECTS earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £180,001 - £190,000 band.
Who funds CHARITY PROJECTS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CHARITY PROJECTS as a grant recipient include BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES, THE HEALTH FOUNDATION, KFC FOUNDATION, THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST, THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES | FY2023 | £2.0m | Global Majority Fund |
| THE HEALTH FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £1.0m | Other (COVID-19 grants) |
| KFC FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £829k | |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £530k | The prevention or relief of poverty |
| THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST | FY2025 | £500k | Comic Relief Christmas Appeal 2025 |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £500k | Relief of those in need |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £250k | |
| PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £250k | Strategic Interventions Fund |
| Able Child Africa | FY2023 | £236k | Grants payable to institutions |
| IMPETUS - THE PRIVATE EQUITY FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £187k | |
| Able Child Africa | FY2022 | £184k | Grants > £10,000 |
| JINGLE JAM | FY2024 | £180k | |
| The A and J Charitable Trust | FY2025 | £100k | |
| THE T.K. MAXX AND HOMESENSE FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £100k | |
| The Barratt Redrow Foundation | FY2023 | £100k | Winter Cost of Living Crisis Appeal |
| WALES COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION | FY2024 | £88k | Comic Relief |
| THE PENNIES FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £85k | |
| TACKLE AFRICA | FY2024 | £71k | Ahead of the Game |
| THE HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY | FY2025 | £48k | General charitable activities. |
| LEICESTERSHIRE, LEICESTER AND RUTLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £38k | Leicestershire LLR Coronavirus Fund |
| The Ethos Foundation | FY2024 | £20k | Smaller grant |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREAT BRITAIN | FY2023 | £18k | International Development |
| FUND FOR GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS UK | FY2025 | £15k | To support our People on the Move Programme and strengthen the migrants’ rights movement in the Euro-Mediterranean region |
| THE MOTIVATION CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £15k | Survive and Thrive, Malawi |
| INTERLINK RCT | FY2023 | £12k | Comic Relief |
| INTERLINK RCT | FY2023 | £12k | Comic Relief |
| The A and J Charitable Trust | FY2024 | £10k | |
| ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS WEST GWYNEDD BRANCH | FY2023 | £7k | Food Bank grant / storage and distribution costs |
| THE BASCULE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £3k | |
| ACTION ON DISABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT | FY2022 | £3k | Grants (all institutional) |
| THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT LEEDS | FY2022 | £3k | Senior School |
| THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT LEEDS | FY2022 | £2k | Junior School |
| THE GRACE TRUST | FY2021 | £2k | |
| DRAGON CHRISTMAS CHARITY SALE | FY2023 | £1k | Pupil Donations |
| The Ethos Foundation | FY2023 | £1k | Other smaller grants |
| Bedford School Foundation Trust | FY2022 | £520 | Grant |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PAUL'S, CHICHESTER | FY2022 | £375 | Charitable giving |
| KFC FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £340 | Restricted grant (partnership ended in 2023) |
| THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT LEEDS | FY2022 | £309 | Rose Court |
| THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT LEEDS | FY2022 | £0 | Rose Court |
| THE BASCULE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | — |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 31/03/2025 | £2.0m | Special Award 2025 |
| Unbound Philanthropy | 21/11/2024 | £200k | Grant to Charity Projects DBA Comic Relief |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £2.8m | 301034-101 |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £1.0m | Special Award 2024 - Year 2 of 2 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £1.5m | 301034-101 Shifting the Power Strengthening African Civil Society 2020-2030 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £375k | 205285-101 Grant for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2019 Global Mental Health Matt |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £401k | 203873-101 Grant for Red Nose Day 2013 improving the lives of women and girls |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £816k | 204961-101 Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2015 - Improving educational opportunities |
| City Bridge Foundation | 26/09/2022 | £2.1m | Grant to Comic Relief |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £85k | 301034-101 Shifting the Power Strengthening African Civil Society 2020-2030 |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £1.2m | 204961-101 Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2015 - Improving educational opportunities |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £245k | 204961-101 Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2015 - Improving educational opportunities |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £155k | Comic Relief 20/21 |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £1.7m | 203873-101 Grant for Red Nose Day 2013 improving the lives of women and girls |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £149k | 203873-101 Grant for Red Nose Day 2013 improving the lives of women and girls |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £467k | 205285-101 Grant for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2019 Global Mental Health Matt |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £303k | 205285-101 Grant for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2019 Global Mental Health Matt |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £856k | 301034-101 Shifting the Power Strengthening African Civil Society 2020-2030 |
| Postcode Lottery | 16/02/2022 | £1.0m | Special Award 2023 |
| Unbound Philanthropy | 03/11/2021 | £210k | Grant to Charity Projects DBA Comic Relief |
| UK government | 02/06/2021 | £2.3m | Specialist Services Capability Fund |
| UK government | 01/04/2021 | £1.1m | Comic Relief 20/21 |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £23k | Grant for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2019 - Global Mental Health Matters |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £18k | Design costs for developing Shifting the Power Business Case |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £676k | UK Aid Match Grants |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| VEG TRUST INCORPORATING THE MATTHEW EYTON ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST | 1 | £113k |
| THE ROWSE FAMILY TRUST | 1 | £18k |
| THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £11k |
| THE ALLEN TRUST | 1 | £250 |
Charities like this
- ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY
- ALPHA RELIEF FUND
- CHARITWORTH LIMITED
- THE LITTLE CHARITY
- THE FILM AND TELEVISION CHARITY
- MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY OF MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHARITY PROJECTS | £51.1m | £180,001 - £190,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY | £4.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ALPHA RELIEF FUND | £113k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| CHARITWORTH LIMITED | £3.3m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE LITTLE CHARITY | £111k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE FILM AND TELEVISION CHARITY | £2.7m | — | 4 | unclear | — | no doubt |