Hair raising! Standard joins Comic Relief cash appeal for the capital's poor

 
Good sport: Emilia Fox gets our appeal under way (Picture: Alex Lentati)

The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund has joined forces with Comic Relief to raise money for Londoners in poverty at a time of rising inequality across the capital.

We are asking our readers to “make your hair funny for money” for Red Nose Day — and as you can see, actress Emilia Fox has sportingly got us under way.

A star-studded cast— including Claudia Winkleman, Fearne Cotton and David Walliams — are backing Red Nose Day, which this year falls on Friday, March 13.

You might decide to style your tresses in a quirky fashion, sport a bouffant or wig, dye your locks, or shave your head entirely. You could go for funny, bizarre or just different.

However you choose to let down your hair, getting creative with your locks and asking friends to sponsor you will raise vital funds to help vulnerable people living in our city.

It marks the fourth time that the Dispossessed Fund has been a chosen beneficiary of Comic Relief and its partner charity Sport Relief, resulting in cash injections of £3 million to our fund.

The money has helped pay for 203 grassroots projects tackling social exclusion across the capital. Comic Relief has pledged to make another substantial donation to the Dispossessed Fund this year as well.

The campaign traditionally culminates in a spectacular night of television comedy and poignant documentary, and this year will be no exception with Davina McCall and Lenny Henry lined up to present BBC1 coverage from the London Palladium.

Highlights will include a special edition of The Great British Bake Off, Rowan Atkinson returning as Mr Bean, and a new Vicar Of Dibley sketch from Dawn French.

Other treats include The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief, a six-hour Danceathon and a Day Of Dance by Dermot O’ Leary, who has pledged to boogie non-stop for 24 hours.

Sarah Sands, editor of the Standard, said: “I look forward to some spectacular hairstyles in the Standard in the coming weeks, as Londoners get creative for an inspiring cause. The aim of Comic Relief dovetails perfectly with our Dispossessed Fund, which was set up in 2010 to tackle poverty and inequality and has raised a phenomenal £12.2 million, the most money raised by a newspaper-led campaign in the UK ever.”

Kevin Cahill, chief executive of Comic Relief, said: “We’re delighted to have the Standard’s support for the fourth year running and look forward to seeing Londoners’ weird and wonderful styles. We’ve already helped change many lives thanks to Standard readers’ generosity. Once again their support will help us reach some of the most vulnerable in the capital, the rest of the UK and Africa.”

Red Nose Day has raised £960 million since it began in 1988. The cash has helped 12 million people all over the world. This year, with your help, Comic Relief hopes to smash the £1 billion mark.

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