Raising Funds

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Permalink Reply by Antony Hamilton on July 15, 2009 at 11:27pm

Hi Linda,
I think that I can speak with some authority in respect of raising funds, as for the last two years, we have at our estate in Milton Keynes, managed last year to raise in excess of £900, and this year almost the same again. Both at our Summer Fete.
We are in the fortunate position of having saved up and bought a large marquee, in which we hold such events, and previously raised nearly £19,000 to excuvate ground and build a summerhouse, over three years ago.
A great deal of bowing and scraping to various charitable bodies, local community grants, and gifts from local companies, saw us raise the initial funds, but it took over three years to get to the point, where we were able to go ahead with the summerhouse. And, all this was without the Greenshoots project.
The best way to go about your particular project, draw up detailed plans of what you want, ask local companies to give you FREE quotes of the costings, or do the footwork yourselves, check to see if your local council has a community grant scheme, invite local traders to subscribe to the project, try the bigger companies, i.e. Tesco, Ikea, Wickes, any who are in your area, and beg.
You need to know who much you need to raise so that you have a target to work to.
Best of luck.
Antony Hamilton.
Milton Keynes.

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Permalink Reply by Loraine Harris on July 16, 2009 at 9:10am

Good morning,
Thanks for your message about fund raising ideas. I manage to Greenshoots Project, and have spoken to a number of Estate Managers regarding fundraising, and have collected a number of ideas, which are listed below,
• Coffee Mornings & Bacon Rolls, Afternoon Teas & Cream Teas
• Table Top Sales / Bric a Brac sales (invite other schemes) - contact local charities to join and they bring along their Christmas stalls and give you a donation.
• Easter Fete Event / Summer Fetes
• Approaching local businesses for donations
• Contacting local garden centres to get resident discount
• Pamper Day / Chill Out Zone – with Indian head massages & hand massages
• Lottery bonus ball Wednesday & Saturdays, its £1 a number, paying out £20 on both days. Remaining £9 goes to funds
• Bingo, tombola’s & raffles
• Themed lunch events such as St Georges Day lunch, Fish & Chips.
• Supper evenings, Auctions & Quiz Nights
• Make a hamper up together and raffle it off
• Side show stalls such as:
- Spin the wheel / Roll-a-penny (actually 2p & 10p now)
- Guess the age of the teddy (dates on chart just happened to be the same dates as residents own birthdays!)
- Cake stalls
• Charity Golf Days at local Golf Clubs
• Resident were given a tube of smarties which they filled with coins once they had eaten the contents
• Residents work in partnership with local sports clubs, earn commission on sales of weekly draw tickets
• Sponsored Bike Ride / Other Sponsored events
• link with Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts for team building events, to contribute time and skills to make raised flower beds / sensory gardens
• Paint a plant pot
• Recycle old furniture and ornaments by advertising on notice boards, proceeds going to Greenshoots fund.
• Residents making gift cards to sell, then develop to card making mornings.
• Big Breakfast mornings inviting charities, Lifeboats, Guide Dogs, Macmillan.
• Auctions for unwanted items from Residents.

If you need any help with your Greenshoots applicaiton, please give me a call on 01480 223995.

Kind regards,

Loraine Harris

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Permalink Reply by Antony Hamilton on July 16, 2009 at 10:40am

Well you did ask, Linda!
Regards ,
Antony.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Kirkby on July 16, 2009 at 5:41pm

Thank you Lorraine for all the ideas, hopefully I will be back to you for help with the Greenshoots application form. I will discuss your ideas at our next Residents meeting.

Kind regards

Linda

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Permalink Reply by Linda Kirkby on July 16, 2009 at 5:52pm

Thanks Antony for your ideas. Have now just got to get people involved

Regards
Linda

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Permalink Reply by Sue Thomas on December 9, 2009 at 11:40pm

Hi Linda,

We in Filton have a continual fund raising scheme on the go such as:-

Car Boot Sales.it doesn't matter if you have a small car park, just advertise well and charge £5 per car and serve hot refreshments such as bacon rolls and drinks. We are also thinking of having them monthly from next year.

We get the profits from the sale of cards, books, toys,clothes etc. Plus the profit from a monthly film show.

Table Top sales where ever there is one in the Community and off course a raffle! Two of us have done 3 in as many weeks, its someone elses turn now!

BBQ's, table top sale, cake stall, tea, coffee, icecream and lollies go down a treat, but don't forget to invite your local Councillors and Neighbour Police and PCSO's as they always seem to come hungry and thirsty.

Strawberry,scones and cream afternoons ( that is very popular in the strawberry season)plus Champagne or what ever pople want to drink.

We have twice weekly coffee mornings and members of the local community join us and also the local beat bobbies, who willingly pay for hot drink and also put notices up for us.

We have started having 'Musical Evenings' and encouraging other residents from the local commuinity and other sheltered accommodation to attend with the proverbial raffle, and we hope to have these monthly, starting in the New Year.

We also have a penny jar in our lounge, so almost every one put in their odd coppers (no pun intended)

We also have keen knitters and crochet ladies who make babies clothes and blankets that sell well.
.
Oh Yes I almost forgot our EM has arranged with this company ' Clothes For A Cause' to supply us with their plastic collection bags, so we can fill with unwanted clothing, handbags,belts,rucksacks, pairs of shoes, trainers or bedding, curtains etc and they will collect once a month and in doing so will pay us per kilo.

Our goal is to furnish out a combined dayroom and conservatory ( which isn't built yet, but the plan is in action !) but also at the same time to pay for a day out plus meal , occassionally (?) not sure if I spelt that last word correctly as I think I am now brain dead. We will be applying for help with our goal from Greenshoots.

Loraine Harris seems to have some very good ideas and comes across as being very nice and helpful also Pearl Carrington..

We failed to get anywhere with all our local businesses, they are only interested in Major Charities.

I hope this is of some use to you,

Kindest regards,

Sue.

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