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Hello Sheffield (and beyond)! We are absolutely thrilled to introduce Gags for Good CIC , your new Sheffield-based social enterprise dedicated to proving that laughter isn't just the best medicine – it's also a powerful tool for positive change. You might be wondering, what exactly is "Gags for Good"? Laughter with a Purpose: Our Story & Mission In a nutshell, we believe everyone deserves the joy and connection that comedy brings. But we also know that for many, access to com

Comedy and humour are frequently positioned as entertainment rather than intervention. Within mental health and wellbeing discourse, they are often viewed as peripheral, enjoyable, but not essential. However, an expanding body of research across psychology, neuroscience and medicine suggests that laughter and humour play a substantive role in stress regulation, emotional processing, and social connection. This article outlines the current evidence base supporting comedy and l

Organisation Gags for Good CIC is Sheffield-based social enterprise using comedy and creative writing to improve confidence, wellbeing and social connection. The Challenge Many adults experience low confidence, isolation and poor mental wellbeing, particularly following major life events such as illness, bereavement, caring responsibilities or prolonged stress and burnout. These experiences often limit opportunities for self-expression, creativity and learning, leading to wit

Trigger warning: Breast cancer, chemotherapy, mental health and good old British emotional repression Image credit: Archie Rayner Photography I’m proudly working class. Born in the 80s. Raised on the unspoken rule that whatever happens... you just get on with it. Sad? Get on with it. Tired? Get on with it. Trauma? Pop the kettle on and crack on love. So in 2019, shortly after having my second daughter and being diagnosed with breast cancer, that’s exactly what I did. I got

Warning - a long-winded back story follows... I've always been a joker. My backstory is fairly stereotypical and clichéd . Whilst my childhood is by no means a sob story, there is a degree of trauma to unpack. I'm the youngest of five kids. My mum left Scotland when I was around 6 weeks old, fleeing a violent, alcoholic husband using money from the local church's emergency fund. She fled to Essex, where her sister lived, and so I was raised there. Mum remarried when I was 4