# Comic Relief to raise contactless donations through comedian statues

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/02/11/comic-relief-raise-contactless-donations-statues/
- Published: 2015-02-11T11:18:06+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Comic Relief will be offering shoppers yet another way to donate to Red Nose Day
this year, in the form of contactless payments via statues of famous comedians.

Some larger than life replicas of Comic Relief stalwarts like Rowan Atkinson, Dawn
French and Billy Connolly will appear in cities across the UK. Passers-by will be
able to donate £1 to Comic Relief simply by tapping their debit card on the comedians’
pocket.

![Miranda Hart and Comic Relief's Red Nose Day Statues](https://www.fundraising.
co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/comic-relief-statues-miranda-hart.jpg)

Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day Statues

## Barclays Contactless and Pingit

The mobile transactions take place either via Barclays Contactless or Pingit.

## Advertisement

People can donate via the **contactless** method by holding their card to the contactless
reader in the comedian’s pocket until they see the “approved” message.

Alternatively they can choose to donate via their mobile phone using **Pingit**,
Barclays’ mobile payment tool, which also enables a Gift Aid declaration to be made.
A QR code will be positioned near the statue so that people can download the app.
In addition, a Barclays ‘Digital Eagle’ or helper will be on hand to help you download
the app to your phone and guide you through the giving process.

## Selfie potential

Comic Relief expect plenty of people to take the opportunity to take a selfie of
themselves next to the comedian statues, so the charity is encouraging people to
do so and use the hashtag [#RNDStatues](http://www.rednoseday.com/statues) to spread
the pictures.

![Rowan Atkinson Red Nose Day 2015 statue](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2015/02/comic-relief-statues-rowan-atkinson.jpg)

Rowan Atkinson Red Nose Day 2015 statue

## Where to find the comedian statues

**• Edina & Patsy**, Westfield London, 12-18 February

**• Alan Partridge,** Chapelfield Shopping Centre, Norwich, 12-18 February

**• Billy Connolly**, Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow 12-18 February

**• David Walliams,** Westfield Stratford City, London 12-18 February

**• Dawn French,** Intu Milton Keynes 12-18 February

**• Del Boy,** Cabot Circus, Bristol 12-18 February

**• Lenny Henry,** Merry Hill, Birmingham 12-18 February

**• John Bishop,** Golden Square Shopping Centre, Warrington 12-18 February

**• Miranda Hart,** Guildhall Shopping Centre, Exeter 14-18 February

**• Mr Bean,** Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle 12-18 February

The statues were unveiled this week by comedian Miranda Hart.

## We’ve come a long way in fundraising since 1988!

Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis came up with the idea of the mobile fundraising
statues. Acknowledging that “we’ve come a long way in fundraising since 1988!”, 
he commented:

> “Since the beginning of Comic Relief I’ve asked hundreds of exceptionally talented
> and generous comedians to do strange things to raise money and this might be the
> oddest request yet. Huge thanks to all ten who agreed to let us turn them into
> a statue. As well as perfect selfie opportunities, just a simple tap on the pocket
> with a contactless card will give a £1 donation to help incredibly vulnerable 
> people in the UK and across Africa”.

## Innovation in Giving Fund

The statues were designed by creative agency Fallon, after it received a grant from
the [Innovation in Giving Fund](http://www.nesta.org.uk/project/innovation-giving-fund),
managed by Nesta and funded by the Cabient Office. Comic Relief was the first charity
to partner on the project.

 

**• [Cancer Research UK this month is also trialling contactless payments](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2015/01/22/cruk-trials-contactless-giving-through-the-charity-shop-window/)
via the windows of four of its charity shops. **