Gag 'N' Bone Man Comedy, an events management and promotions business, have made YWCA Yorkshire their charity of the year - committing to 12 months fundraising in support of families experiencing domestic abuse, homelessness and financial hardship.

The affiliation began in 2025 when founder of Gag ‘N’ Bone Man Comedy, Graeme Rayner, raised £300 for the charity through an all-women-inspired stand-up comedy gig at ‘Gag Fest’ comedy festival.

The newly announced charity partnership with YWCA Yorkshire is the latest in a series of community-minded endeavours by Graeme and his stand-up colleagues, who since their inception in 2019, have raised over £10,000 for good causes. Previous support includes fundraising and sponsorship for Andy’s Man Club, The Nipple Innovation Project, The Overgate Hospice, as well as local food banks and sports clubs.

Graeme started performing comedy in late 2018 and since then has become a familiar face on the circuit in the North of England and beyond. He has been a semi-finalist in the ‘British Comedian of the Year’ competition and was a finalist in both the ‘Halifax Comedian of the Year’ and ‘Comedy Hotspot Search for a Star’ competitions.

The youngest of five children, born in Scotland, Graeme was just six-weeks old when his mother, a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of his biological father, fled to England with her five children and very little else. At the time, Graeme's mother was given a Police escort to leave the family home and supported by a local Priest who donated some money from the Church fund. The courage and resilience of Graeme’s mother to escape that life and free her children from the daily devastation of domestic violence, is a powerful motivator for Graeme, who feels passionately about supporting other families to build better futures.

Graeme said: “My mum was hands down, the strongest person I’ve ever met, and it's in her name that I support causes helping women and girls who have experienced abuse. We lost my mum to cancer in 2008, and it was only then that her sister gave me the unvarnished truth of everything she had endured at the hands of my biological father.

“Despite everything he did to her and my siblings, she was able to find the strength to escape and to rebuild her life and ours. She didn’t have access to counselling to address her trauma and back then there was very little support for women in her situation. She had to do it pretty much alone. This is why I feel so passionately about raising the profile of YWCA Yorkshire, so that more people can access their support, and why I’m proud to be working with them to raise money for vital services.

“I first became aware of the charity and their incredible support for women, children and families recovering from domestic abuse, through an excellent new comedian named Nicole Scott. I knew straight away that I wanted to do what I could to help them. I only wish my mum had been able to access the sort of support YWCA Yorkshire can provide. It may have made her life less difficult. It’s my privilege to be able to support them as our charity of the year.”

Throughout 2026, Gag ‘N’ Bone Man Comedy will be raising money for YWCA Yorkshire through organised collections at gigs and a dedicated fundraiser comedy show - leave your email address here for early bird ticket announcements. Money raised from the show will be donated to YWCA Yorkshire and used to deliver life-changing support for women, children and families.

Other support for the charity includes specially curated workshops, to be delivered through Graeme's Community Interest Company, Gags for Good. The workshops - aimed at charity staff, volunteers and families supported by YWCA Yorkshire, are designed to build confidence, communication skills and improved mental health for participants.

YWCA Yorkshire supports women, children and families to create better futures through a range of housing and trauma informed support services across Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster. To explore how to partner with YWCA Yorkshire to help create real change for families in South Yorkshire, please email: Sophie.barnett@ywcayorkshire.org.uk