NextUp Comedy is partnering with The Comedy Trust to capture the journey of our Laugh It Off students at West Derby School in Liverpool. This exciting alliance strengthens our mission to bring comedy for young people into schools and communities, while reinforcing the role of laughter in promoting mental health, confidence, and resilience.
Comedy in Schools: Building Resilience Through Laughter
Laugh It Off is designed specifically as a initiative to support wellbeing through comedy: using storytelling, joke writing, stand-up exercises and improvisation, the programme offers a safe, supportive space for young people to develop emotional literacy, self-esteem, and communication skills.
Why This Partnership Matters for Liverpool Comedy Workshops & Youth Wellbeing
By teaming up with NextUp Comedy, we are excited to showcase our impact through a compelling documentary that will be available later this year.
- Improved confidence and self-esteem
- Stronger communication and performance skills
- Greater emotional resilience and reduced stress
- Opportunities to express difficult thoughts through creative outlets
Research and practice increasingly support the idea that humour and laughter are powerful tools in mental wellbeing programmes. The Comedy Trust’s Feeling Funny Youth programme (a sister scheme) has long used comedy in educational settings to support young people’s self-esteem and relationships. thecomedytrust.com+2UCL Press Journals+2
What Happens in the West Derby Workshops
Over a series of interactive workshops, students at West Derby will:
- Be introduced to different styles of comedy, joke structure, and performance techniques
- Participate in writing sessions, warm-ups, and improvisation games
- Explore how humour can be used to reflect on personal experiences and emotions
- Rehearse short routines
- Present a final performance in a supportive environment to peers, staff, or invited guests
This structure aligns with how other comedy-for-wellbeing programmes run in educational contexts, blending creative learning with emotional check-ins and peer dialogue.
The Bigger Picture: Comedy for Social Impact
More and more organisations are recognising the potential of live comedy, stand-up, and humour workshops to contribute to social impact, youth development, and community wellbeing. Live Comedy Association
This project reinforces Liverpool’s place in the UK as a leader in comedy workshops for young people, and it also helps The Comedy Trust fulfill its mission of delivering community & education workshops in the North West — programmes that enhance mental health, confidence, and self-esteem.
What Comes Next
We look forward to seeing how the students at West Derby evolve over the weeks of Laugh It Off — and we can’t wait for future iterations in other schools across Liverpool and the surrounding region. In collaboration with NextUp Comedy, our hope is to stimulate more Liverpool comedy workshops for youth, strengthen school wellbeing programmes with humour, and bring laughter into the everyday lives of young people.
Want to find out more about the Laugh It Off programme, or how your school or youth organisation can work with us? Get in touch today.
