Popular fundraising ideas to inspire you
If you would like to hold an event in aid of the Colostomy Association, please contact us for a fundraising pack. A sponsored walk, table top sale, or black tie dinner, from £5 to £500, every penny makes a difference to us and all the ostomates who need our help.
If you would like us to advertise your fundraising event please get in touch with us via contact us. Here's a few ideas to inspire you, go on, why not have a go...what are you waiting for...
Hold an event
Organise your own group event
e.g. treasure hunt, 3 peaks challenge, line dancing, diet challenge, bike ride or a sweepstake. Find a local business who is willing to sponsor your event, it will be good publicity for them and for you. Or simply join an organized event e.g. Great North Run and donate the proceeds you have raised.
Car boot sale
Why not hold a car boot sale and donate the takings or a percentage. This can be done without any promotion or advertising. Friends and family may be happy to contribute unwanted items. Details of venues can usually be found in your local paper.
Ebay
Sell your unwanted items on Ebay on our behalf and donate the proceeds.
At home
Hold a cheese and wine evening - charge an entrance fee and ask your friends and neighbours. Activities you could include: a raffle, quiz, or guess who? - people bring a baby photo and you charge a fee per guess.
You could split the money raised equally with the winner/s and our charity. Get local companies involved, many High Street stores will give vouchers which can be used for raffle prizes. When contacting a company, find out the name of the person involved with charity/community work and phone first. It is harder to refuse a person on the phone than it is in a letter.
Organise a Disco
Find a local hall or hotel that would be interested in holding a disco. Some hotels will donate an evening free in support of a charity. Also discos and bands may do the same. Phone around or log on to the Goodwill Gallery at www.charitychoice.co.uk. Charge an entrance fee, provide a simple buffet or nibbles. Fun bingo is an easy way to raise money, as is a raffle, although you need to be aware of legal requirements when holding an event like this. Go to Hints and Tips for Fundraising for information on Public Liability Insurance and Raffle License.
Get your family and friends involved
An adults versus kids football match can be great fun, everyone pays to be in the team followed by a picnic. Hold a supper, everyone brings a dish and pays a small fee or even better have a safari supper with neighbours, everyone cooks at home and you move from house to house for each course. It is a very sociable event. Money can be raised by charging and maybe holding a small raffle eg bottle of wine. Quiz nights are very popular and can be held at home or in a local community centre. Ask the local school if it would be willing to hold an event for you, it could be a sponsored silence or non uniform day.
Fundraising in the work place
This can be quite easy to organise.
- Keep a collection and/or swear box in the staff room.
- Have a second hand book sale. Pick a day for everyone to bring in their old books, and sell them for 50p each.
- Name the bear competition. Have a bear (ask a local store to donate one) and type up a list of names. People pay £1 to choose a name. When all names have been sold, draw out a winner
- Hold a dress down day (charge for wearing casual clothes)
- Hold a cake selling day.
- Persuade your colleagues to join you in a sponsored event!
- Hold a recycling day, bring in your old mobile phones and ink cartridges , we will provide you with freepost envelopes.
Other ways to help
Everyclick
This is a great way to give and costs you absolutely nothing. If you register with www.everyclick.com as your homepage then we receive a donation every time you search the web. Everyclick.com works just like any other search engine, but allows you to choose the Colostomy Association as a charity you would like to benefit from your searches. The revenue generated for us comes from the companies that advertise on the site. There is no sign up fee or hidden charges to you or us; it’s free giving.
Recycling
If you have any old mobile phones or printer cartridges contact head office or log on to www.recyclingappeal.com to receive a freepost envelope for recycling on our behalf. In 2007 we raised just under £400, this is a great way to boost funds with little effort.
Whatever you do make sure you and your organising team enjoy the event!