This
section is for people wishing to become in involved with or support TCN's work,
through fundraising, volunteering or taking part in our Community Awareness
Activities. We hope that you will find the information useful.
You can support our work through the following ways:
Fundraising Ideas
Here are
some ideas to get you started.
- Use the NHS 'Couch to 5K'
aid and challenge yourself to become marathon-fit in up to 9wks. Then
actually run a 5K!
- Run, Swim or Cycle for us.
- Fashion Show
- Run an event - Concert,
Play, Musical Evening, Speakers' Lounge or Poetry & Jazz event.
- Pick a theme and host a
night of Trivia Quiz - Pop Culture, Sports, General Knowledge,
Olympic History or even a Table Tennis tournament etc
- Run a Fete or Craft fair or
a Car Boot Sale.
- Run a 5 or 7 a side football
/ rugby / hockey or
- A simple Sponsored Walk
Plan Your Success!
- Allow plenty of time to
assess everything involved with the challenge ahead.
- Talk with everyone you know
about the easiest, most efficient way the event can be organised. Discuss
questions such as...
- 'Do we have the people to
make all parts of the project run smoothly?'
- 'Will the event cost us
anything to get off the ground?'
- 'What resources do we
need?'
- 'How do we publicise the
event?'
- 'What can go wrong? What
kind of health and safety precautions must we consider?'
- 'Can we get celebrity
endorsement?' (You could start out by first trying to solicit the support
of local businesses, community leaders, artistes and/or celebrities.) and
- Be sure to check your
community calendar of 'What's On' and choose an appropriate date.
- (You certain don't want to
plan your fundraiser on a day which clashes with a bigger event which
could take away from your success. However if it could support your
cause, be sure to maximise the opportunity. In some instances you may
want to speak with the organisers well in advance to share your interest
in doing your fundraiser during their event. It's just polite to do so.
Who knows, they may wish to support your cause.)
Tell Everyone You Know!
The more
people know about your event the greater your chances of success. So shout
about it...
At work:
- Use your notice boards
- Get it into you company
magazine, newsletter or bulletin
- Announced at briefings,
meetings etc
- Pass the word along through
your colleagues
- Add it to your email
signature. (You may need to get your company's approval to add it to
outgoing emails).
At home:
- Tell your family members by
email, text or conversation. They may want to help you hit your target.
- Distribute or post leaflets
in local suppliers, on notice boards at businesses, organisations,
community centres, GP & Dental Surgeries, Libraries and faith centres
such as Churches, Mosques, Temples etc .
- Announce on local radio
- Advertise in local paper
Use the Media
Success
in getting the support of a traditional and/or online Radio and TV station
could kick your event's profile up a notch. Every organisation would jump at
the idea of getting positive, free publicity through your Radio / TV coverage
so this will make it easier for you to get their support and sponsorship.
Making
contact with the News Editor of your local paper is the best first step t make
things happen. If you know a Reporter you may want to make your contact through
that person as that will better your chances of success. You should also find
out the paper's deadlines for copy and photographs and make sure you include
all of the following information:
- What the event is?
- Who is involved?
- Why the event is taking
place
- When, where and what time?
and
- Contact name for further
information
Be
creative and add a publicity stunt, have a local dignitary or involve a local
celebrity and maximise on every a photo opportunity. The press will love it.
Get Sponsors
- Always set a sponsorship
target - aim high!
- Don't work alone - many
hands make work light so seek help from your friends - network, friends of
friends and family - you will collect more than you thought possible,
but you need to work at it.
- Think about organising small
events such as a coffee morning or disco in a Community Hall, a jumble
sale or a car boot sale in a local Car Park - whatever you feel
comfortable with. The only limit is your imagination!
- Start your sponsorship early
- well in advance of the event.
- When you approach people for
sponsorship, ask them if they would mind giving you the money NOW! They
could do this in one of two ways:
- Donations up to £10 per
text message they send to a given number which will guarantee that 100%
of their donation goes to TCN (contact us to set this up for you)
or
- By writing a cheque on the
spot.
This will
enable them to walk away with proof of their donation by text message or via
their check stub. We recommend this options as it is easier to give money back
should you have to pull out of the event, as opposed to trying to collect after
the event when they may have forgotten who you are and why you were fundraising
in the first place.
- Be focussed and maintain a
record of your sponsors. Make sure that your list reflects those who have
paid by text or cheque and those who have pledged but have not yet given
you their contribution.
- If you belong to a club or
association, get them involved either as a sponsor, a fundraising event
organiser, or by asking them to 'match' the funds you raise.
- Ask local companies or firms
to sponsor you in return for wearing their logo-ed T-shirt or cap during
your fundraising period or during your event.
Follow Sponsorship Success
- Request corporate
sponsorships. (Companies often donate between £100 and £350 for their logo
on a shirt). For information about this, you will need to approach the
Public Relations department or Community Development departmentand tell
them about your fundraising idea and request their corporate sponsorship
and allow them to make an offer...they might surprise you.
- Put a note through all your
neighbours' doors telling them who you are, what TCN is, what it does, for
whom, what the event is and why you are doing it. We would be happy to
work with you in creating the notice. It will include:
- TCN's donation text code
for text donations,
- cheque payee information
(Topcare Network Charity # 1102429 - with your Fundraiser's Ref on the
back),
- TCN Freepost envelop,
- TCN's online donation
information as well as
- Our website address.
- If your event requires you
to train, get a friend or colleague to organise your fundraising while you
do this;
- Get the press involved as
much as possible. Try to get your photo or a story about your fundraising
in the local paper as much as possible. This is a good place to
consider various publicity stunts and photo opportunities;
- Do something different -
wear a Hulk custom and pull a car along a stretch of road, get a Mohican
haircut (if your boss allows it) etc;
- Organise a plush dinner with
guest speakers and sell tickets at a price which covers the cost of the
event and still raises money OR get a catering company to sponsor the meal
in exchange for good, local publicity;
- Email the sponsorship forms
and send them to friends and family who live in different parts of
the country so they can get invloved and help you meet your target;
- Organise a raffle with
prizes from local shops;
- Do bucket collections round
the local pubs and clubs (get permission from the owners first)
Conclusion
We hope
this information was insightful and that it will inspire you to raise money to
assist us in our work. The proceeds from your event can, if you wish, be
targeted to a specific project/service or to the organisation in general.
If you
fancy taking on the challenge, please contact us -
Phone 020
8649 5677
Email:
info@topcarenetwork.org.uk
Good
Luck!
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