Q. What gives you two hours of pleasure, leaves you with a warm feeling inside, and only costs £2?

A. Quizaid - the new annual Christian Aid week FUNdraising event.

This year during Christian Aid Week (11-17 May 2008) thousands of people across the country will be taking part in Quizaid on Friday 16 May in their homes, workplaces and local pubs and clubs to help raise thousands of pounds for Christian Aid's vital overseas development projects.

The concept is simple. Christian Aid is calling for Quizmasters across the UK to apply for a Quizaid pack.

The pack will contain quiz questions and materials needed to publicise your event.

You gather your friends, work colleagues or relatives together at a venue of your choosing. Everyone pays £2 to enter. Battle commences and all monies raised will help people in the developing world build a better life for themselves.

Quizaid is being backed by actor Shaun Williamson (Extras, Eastenders)

'As a dedicated quizzer, I'd like to add my support to Quizaid. It sounds like a great idea - having fun, answering questions and in the process helping support Christian Aid's work in some of the world's poorest countries.

'I'd encourage everyone to get stuck in to your local Quizaid, or even organise your own, during Christian Aid week.

'Anyone who fancies their chances should get involved - I certainly plan to.'

If you fancy yourself as a Quizmaster simply order your Quizaid pack by calling 08080 005 005 or download from www.christianaid.org.uk/quizaid.

Quizaid packs will be available from 1 March 2008, giving you plenty of time to organise your event.

Cont/...

2 The pack will contain 50 questions in categories including music, sport, pot luck, history, geography, visual and maths.

It will also include posters, invites, answer sheets, and a certificate for the winning team.

There will also be two supplementary rounds online which can be downloaded allowing you to tailor your quiz to your audience. Why not even add in your own questions?

Amanda Borg, head of events and community fundraising, Christian Aid said:

'Quizaid is witty, energetic, smart and above all fun. Participants can arrange teams as they wish; men v women, department v department, parents v children.

'But remember it's not the winning; it's the taking part that counts. Of course all money raised will go towards helping some of the world's poorest communities get access to clean water, education, healthcare and a better future.'

ENDS

For further press information please contact Karen Hedges, 020 7523 2404 khedges@christian-aid.org or Emma Wigley, 020 7523 2452 ewigley@christian-aid.org

Notes to editor

Christian Aid is an international development agency working in 50 countries with people of all religions and none.

Quizaid officially launches on Friday 16 May but can be played at any time during Christian Aid week.

Shaun Williamson is an actor who is in the unusual position of appealing to three entirely different sets of audiences. He played Barry Evans in more than 500 episodes of EastEnders from 1994-2004 before appearing in both series and the finale of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's satire on the TV industry, Extras. Last year, he finished third in Celebrity Fame Academy for Comic Relief. He is also a dedicated "quizzer" and his popularity and experiences in quizzes made him a natural choice to front the inauguaral QuizAid, a fundraising drive across the country for Christian Aid Week.