About Us

The Comedy School is the only creative organisation in the UK working with comedy across diverse social welfare contexts. We aim to change lives through responsive projects which use comedy to make learning interactive and fun, and which improve wellbeing. We have been delivering projects to individuals with mental health conditions for over 15 years.

Comedy and improvisation are effective vehicles to bring people together and support those facing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges; at the same time these sessions encourage people to challenge their own perceived limitations by stepping outside their comfort zones within a safe and respectful environment.

The people we serve

We work with socially isolated and vulnerable people, helping them to develop life skills, self-esteem and confidence. We find that comedy has the power to engage diverse communities including women, LGBTQ+ communities and people from ethnic minority groups. We tackle complex social and intersectional issues through wellbeing courses for people experiencing poor mental health including veterans, anti-weapon programmes in schools and activities for excluded young people.

Impact

We evidence the impact of our work through rigorous evaluation and ongoing consultation. Our Wellbeing Programme helps participants to develop key skills such as problem-solving and teamworking. Communication skills are enhanced so that participants are better able to listen, express themselves and embrace group working - all of which help improve wellbeing, and reduce feelings of isolation and a lack of self worth. Participants grow their self-confidence, experience improvements in mood, develop meaningful connections and regain purpose in their lives. Last year saw The Comedy School deliver a pilot wellbeing programme for veterans as part of its Wellbeing Project. We worked with 25 veterans who have been or are service users of the London NHS Veterans Mental Health Services, delivering a range of comedy courses. An external evaluation was commissioned and is currently being completed.

Case Study

TC – 44 year old veteran who was injured in Afghanistan in 2009. The Lance Corporal from the First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was the only survivor of four men in a vehicle that hit a mine. Medically discharged in 2012 after suffering head, back, eye and leg injuries, he learned to walk and talk again but sank into depression.

TC was offered a place on the Veterans Comedy Training part of our Wellbeing Programme

‘ This course has been absolutely life-changing, I’ve become part of a little team of veterans who get together once a week to have a laugh and challenge each other and I have loved it.

We all arrive at The Comedy School after what could have been a long stressful day at work and the opportunity to share a meal together and unwind, was an imperative part of the course.

Food has always been time associated with down time with military people where we can actually relax, sit about, chat and banter.

I believe that the time spent together as a group before the sessions eating as a team was absolutely essential to the trust which was built that made the course such a success.

Plus the dinners were delicious, varied and healthy. I cannot over stress how important they have been to the progress we made. Plus for some of us this was the only hot meal we had all week.

It took me seven years even to talk about what happened to me in Afghanistan and now I’m getting up making jokes about it. I’ve also got a metal plate on the right side of my head. But it saved my life and I’ve got to be thankful for that because I’m still here and I’m doing these things’

To view full article in Sunday Mirror please click here:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brave-former-soldiers-laugh-traumas-30315273

Feedback from service users

"I would like to express my gratitude. I very much enjoy the Impro drop-in sessions, which contribute to a better well-being. My creativity is stimulated in a very positive way. To interact with other human beings brings me a lot of satisfaction and happiness. I am very grateful to the Comedy School for offering me and others an opportunity to enjoy the art of comedy and be creative. "

“I feel proud I got up and did it, although have a lot of intrusive thoughts about not being good enough. I really enjoyed seeing other people, and proud I got up to share. I did well not to have a panic attack.”

"Totally life affirming. My friends have all heard so much about it & are thrilled that I’ve loved it so much. They’ve commented on how positively it’s impacted on me."

"I’ve never laughed as much in my life. I had tissues to hand at every workshop because tears were always running down my face."