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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

There is an oft used idea in comedy – “punching up versus punching down”. In a nutshell, most comedians broaching any potentially sensitive or controversial topics will ask themselves some questions, including: Who is the victim of the joke? Is it fair for them to be the victim of the joke? Are they of a higher or lower status than the joker? In my view, the incident at the BAFTAs is no different. There is scope for this to be the subject of a comedic “bit” and manage to be

This week, the Financial Times  r eported on a ground-breaking NHS pilot offering something unexpected for people experiencing mild to moderate depression: stand-up comedy classes on prescription . Yes. Actual comedy. The programme, currently being trialled in London, invites participants to take part in a structured six-week stand-up course led by professional comedians. Referred through social prescribing link workers, patients learn how to turn their personal experiences i

I haven’t been in comedy long enough to talk about “the good old days.” But I have been in enough rooms to know when something feels tight… and when something feels open. You can sense it the second you walk in. There’s a version of the comedy scene that runs on familiarity. The same faces, the same names, the same quiet circulation of opportunities between people who already have them. It's not dramatic. It’s not villainous. It’s just comfortable. Well, comfortable for the

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