Category : August February General Events January June March Sponsored Activities
organise a once off timed event or a regular weekly aerobics class, with the goal of improving yours and others’ flexibility, muscular strength, cardio-vascular fitness, and of course raising funds. You’ll need to think about a suitable instructor, gym mats or flooring, music and space. Gather friends, get fit and raise £’s by asking for a donation or sponsorship.
are you a budding artist or belong to an art club? Or maybe you see yourself as more of an appreciator of art, but with the ability to organise creative-types? Consider staging an exhibition, that either celebrates local talent or highlights a certain theme. Given enough notice artists, designers or photographers may wish to create new pieces. Be creative about how you raise funds, for example, ask artists to donate works to sell or ask the public for a donation to enter.
some say that if you haven’t used something in the last six months you probably don’t need it. Well, six months may not take into account the impact of seasons on what we use or wear, but if you haven’t seen or picked something up in over a year it is definitely time to let it go. Imagine what treasures lie dormant in your attic, cupboards or under the bed, then multiple that by the number of colleagues or friends you have, and you have a potential charity auction on your hands. Add some higher value items, like donations from local companies, sports clubs, or expertise like advice or training and you have an auction the whole community won’t want to miss out on.
if you know your fruit and veg from your dairy or your breads from your bottles, consider asking your local supermarkets if they will allow you and a team of volunteers to pack bags. Speak to the store manager, explain the vision and values behind the school, and ask if they’d be willing to support your fundraising efforts – either in this way or maybe they will even have other ideas on how to raise £1000. Ask family and friends to sponsor you per bag, or ask the manager if they would be comfortable in you asking for donations from customers – remembering that every little helps!
spot a break in the weather and organise a bbq, barbie, or if you’re proudly South African, a braai – which are enjoyed all year round! In addition to steak and boerewors (sausage), homemade patties (burgers) and pork bangers (sausages), South African side dishes include biltong, butternut, chakalaka (spicy vegetable relish), cheesy garlic bread, braaied potatoes, creamy potato gratin, mieliepap (maize porridge) and sweetcorn. Remember dietary requirements such as gluten free, halal and vegan if you plan to invite the community. Be bold, ask the local butcher or supermarket to donate food, consider whether asking for donations for food or charging for each item will maximise your fundraising efforts.
what to do with all your books once they have been read? Why, a book sale, of course! Put out a plea for book donations and set up a book stand or a book sale outside your home or at your local community hall. Ask for donations per book / bag.
bake as many cakes as you can, or better still get your colleagues, friends, family to bake as many cakes as they can, and sell at a central location. You could even turn it into a Bake-off type competition if you like, selling the winners (and losers) cakes either to the highest bidder or suggest a donation. A cake sale can be an event all by itself or it could be a stall as part of a bigger event celebrating local creativity and taste.
whether you see no harm in barn dancing or you’re strictly ballroom, organise a sponsored dance-athon that raises funds by the hour, minute or per song. Or how about a competition, with a panel of experts commenting and scoring, and maybe an audience that donates funds for every vote they cast to keep people dancin’ or out. Perhaps you’d prefer something a bit more social, if so, why not consider a ceilidh, rave in the nave or a 70’s night, where you ask for donations from dancers on the door.
store away that school uniform, save the suit and ditch the posh dress, in favour of your most colourful, outrageous or comfiest outfit. You could organise a once off event where people donate to dress up or pare down, or consider picking a day and push for a monthly or even weekly event. Imagine every Tuesday for Trainers (Tekkies in South Africa), or Wellie Wednesday (gumboots in South Africa), Thursday would become furs-day (choose your African animal print?), and Friday, in preparation for the weekend, would have to be about the Football (soccer) shirts.
