The sooner you start planning the less you’ll have to worry about nearer the event. Here are our suggestions of things to consider when organising your own fundraising event:

First steps

Consider the time and resources you will need to organise your event. We find it helpful to write out a list of tasks that need to be done, when they need to be done by and ticking them off as they are done.

Deciding what to do

Why not plan a quiz night, or a tea party, or a fashion show, or a sponsored leg wax... the possibilities are endless!

Choosing a date and venue

Will you hold your activity at home, at the office, at a local community centre or somewhere a little different?

Weekends are usually best for most people, but Fridays are good if you’re fundraising at work.

Find out what events are going on in your local area that you could join such as summer fetes, bonfires or Christmas craft fairs.

Setting your target

Consider the time and resources you will need to organise your event. We find it helpful to write out a list of tasks that need to be done, when they need to be done by and ticking them off as they are done.

Collecting money

We recommend you set up a quick and easy online fundraising page .

You can also collect money using an official Home-Start UK sponsorship form. To request a paper sponsorship form please contact our fundraising team on [email protected] or call 0116 464 5490 and press option two (all)  and then option one (fundraising and communications).

Promotion

The more guests you have and the more people that know about your event, the more money you could raise for Home-Start UK. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways of getting the message out there, so tell everyone - your friends, family, neighbourhood, colleagues, at your sports club and gym what you’re doing and why!  If you set up an online fundraising page, you can easily share the news on your social media.

Put notices in your staff, social group, or sports club newsletter. Put posters on community news boards and contact your local newspapers if you want even more people to join you.

Email, phone and text the details of your event to your contacts telling them why you’re fundraising for Home-Start UK and asking for their support.

Use social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to tell people about your event. Post a link on your profile and ask your friends to share with people they know.

Contact your local newspaper or radio as they may like to run a feature about your event or activity.

Get support

Ask your local shops, pubs and restaurants if they would donate items or vouchers as prizes for a raffle, quiz or auction. There’s some great advice about how to approach business for donations here: http://knowhownonprofit.org/how-to/how-to-approach-local-businesses-for-donations

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