These are extraordinary times.
Our key workers are looking after the sick and keeping the country moving. Our communities are coming together to take care of each other. We’re apart, but in this together.
To celebrate us all doing our bit, we’re doing what we do best now – we’re staying in – and for one big night, all together.
For the first time ever and together with BBC One, BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief are joining forces to present The Big Night In: an evening of entertainment like no other, to support the people who are making a difference and to raise some money to help people who really need it right now.
Stay in with us.
Join us, support us, for The Big Night In.
BBC One, Thursday 23 April, from 7pm
#TheBigNightIn
How will the money help?
This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or living in extreme poverty, women and families at risk of domestic abuse, and those struggling with mental health problems. We also know that people from black and minority ethnic communities either through working on the frontline, in the NHS, shops and supermarkets, in public transport, support services or home deliveries are disproportionately being impacted by this crisis.
Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need are working together to make sure the money raised goes to where its most needed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Whilst we each have different approaches and focus; we are working together to ensure between us we reach those most at risk.
Comic Relief will support existing partners to provide essential frontline support, including working with small grassroots projects at the heart of the covid-19 response; as well as offering support to new charities responding to the medium- and longer-term impact of the crisis.
We will also be working in partnership with larger national organisations who are experts in their field and have national reach so they can work collaboratively and distribute funding to local community groups across the UK. These charities are part of our first wave response as they have the expertise, networks and reach to support our aim of getting money to the communities and grassroot projects who are at the forefront of this crisis.
Women’s Aid
What does the organisation do?
Women’s Aid Federations and their more than 230 member services work across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated. Women’s Aid have nine local groups across NI providing key frontline services for women, children and young people.
What will the money from The Big Night In do?
Funds raised from The Big Night In will be used to scale and adapt Women’s Aid services across the UK so they can reach more women and children experiencing domestic abuse who are at greater risk during this time.
This includes supporting vital national helplines and webchats by increasing staff and opening hours, so more people are able to safely reach out for help. As well as providing funds locally, so services can respond to the many and varied challenges in their communities as they happen. For example, helping young people and children escaping domestic abuse by providing more specialist staff in refuges as well as giving them toys and educational materials they otherwise can’t access; helping people to have a safe place to stay; and providing personal protective equipment to staff working in refuges to keep them safe and to help more people get the support they urgently need.