Red Nose Day activities – Best 2026 school resources
It’s nearly Red Nose Day – here’s some ideas for having fun and fundraising for a great cause…
- by Teachwire
- Classroom expertise and free resources for teachers
Use these Red Nose Day activities to learn about other cultures and the difficulties faced by people both overseas and in the UK. At the same time you’ll be having lots of fun and raising money to help tackle poverty and injustice.
What is Red Nose Day?
Comic Relief was founded in 1985 by comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to the famine in Ethiopia. Its purpose is to get the nation laughing, while raising money to help people around the world and in the UK.
Red Nose Day is an annual telethon event. In 2025, the event raised more than 34 million pounds.
When is Red Nose Day?
Red Nose Day celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025 and is on Friday 20th March. This year’s theme is ‘Take yourself funny for money’, encouraging teachers and pupils to get seriously silly for a good cause.
Teacher and TikTok star Kit Brown and TV star Maddie Moate are the first ever official School Champions for Comic Relief.
Red Nose Day activities to try
Fundraising ideas for schools
These Red Nose Day teacher guides contain everything you need to get set for some serious funny business. Stuck for fundraising ideas? Don’t fancy dressing up? These Red Nose Day ideas will give you plenty of inspiration.
KS2 urban slums lesson plan
In this active, creative KS2 lesson from Red Nose Day’s Kerry Deacon, pupils will learn about urban slums and the materials used to build them, before working in teams to plan, design and build a model structure of an urban slum home.
Comic Relief has supported people who live in urban slums in Africa and this lesson will bring a new sense of meaning to children’s fundraising efforts.
Official Red Nose Day resources
There’s plenty of fundraising ideas on the official Red Nose Day website. Some of our favourite ideas include:
- Tour de Farce: Switch tennis rackets for frying pan tournaments, run races in flippers or watch teachers attempt toddler-bike sprints.
- Crowdfund my cringe: Cringe for a great cause by taking on an epically embarrassing challenge, chosen by your pupils – whether it’s rapping in assembly or dancing in the playground.
- Bake yourself funny for money: Shake up your bake sale by asking budding chefs to render their favourite member of staff in cake or biscuit form.
- Red to toe: From scarlet socks to ruby slippers, ask everyone to wear red in return for a donation.
- Hey Duggee: Dress up for a big Duggee party or bake and sell Duggee biscuits to earn your Hey Duggee Fundraising Badge.
Designer-Yer Nose
Get pupils drawing, doodling and dazzling to turn their Noses into something that is uniquely their own. Schools can get Red Nose Multipacks, which include 30 Design-Yer Noses, plus a free resource sheet to practise their designs.
Nosey Awards
If you’ve got particularly inspiring fundraisers in your school community, why not nominate them for a Nosey Award? There are two specific awards for schools: Class Act and Rising Star. Entries close on 31st March 2026.
Comedy classroom
This BBC video from Doc Brown gives secondary students the opportunity to learn about comedy writing through a variety of literary activities.
You can download a resource booklet that features three 60-minute lessons, and handy notes such as this comedy toolbox and this glossary of terms.
Red Nose Day facepainting tutorial
See who can come up with the best and most creative facepainting idea. Simply watch this tutorial video and let your imaginations soar.
