FUNDRAISING – Step-by-step bingo
businesses and supermarkets for donations to boost the prizes on offer or request a prize for a raffle to be held on the night. Have a big prize for ‘house’ and smaller ones for a line, for each game.
LICENSING: You don’t need a gambling licence for a fundraising bingo event as it falls under the terms of ‘non-commercial prize gaming’. Admission charges mustn’t exceed £8 per person and prizes must not exceed £600. Go to
gamblingcommission.gov.uk for more details. If selling or supplying alcohol, you will need a TEN (England and Wales). Submit an application to your local council at least ten days before your event. If planning a music bingo event, i.e. through Rock and Roll Bingo (
rockandrollbingo.co.uk), you will need PRS for Music and PPL licences – check with the school to see if their licences cover you for events held on school premises.
PRIZES: Hold a mufti day where children bring in a prize in exchange for being able to wear their own clothes. Ask local
BOOST PROFITS: Select some of the better prize donations and use them in a raffle. Sell tickets on the door and in the interval, drawing winners at the end of the evening. What food and refreshments are you going to offer? Soft drinks or a licensed bar? Snacks or a hot meal? Including food in the ticket price means you can charge slightly more. If providing a full meal, take orders in advance via forms in book bags. Ask around local businesses to see if they can do you a deal in exchange for advertising at the event. If you’re approaching companies with raffle prize requests, see if they would also like to sponsor a bingo game, announcing them at the start of that round!
Two to three weeks before: Send out a request to parents and local businesses for prize
donations. Post reminders on Facebook as the date gets nearer. Ensure you have enough helpers, collect donations and sort out prizes. Check you have all the equipment you need – a PA system is a useful way to make sure numbers are heard above the noise of the crowd!
One week before: Prepare your prizes, labelling them up into categories such
as ‘one line’ or ‘full house’. Buy cups and refreshments. Ensure you have enough people to set up tables and chairs, serve refreshments and to help clear away. If serving food, contact your supplier to
confirm your order and the delivery arrangements on the night. Order change for floats from the bank.
On the day: Collect floats from the bank. Arrive early to set up tables
and chairs and prepare the bar or heat up the tea urn. Set up the bingo calling system, PA equipment, etc.
After the event: Have a post-event debrief to discuss what worked well and
what may need tweaking for next time. Thank your volunteers after the event and ask for feedback. Give details about how much the event raised and how this will be spent.
EQUIPMENT: Consider whether you’re going to go down the traditional route of a cage and numbered balls, or go high-tech with a bingo caller app or digital machine. You may not have a cage handy, but could anyone on your committee download a free caller app onto their laptop? Or can you borrow equipment from another PTA or community groups such as Rotary or Lions Clubs? Bingo cards and dabbers can be bought in bulk online.
THEME IT: Upcoming spring celebrations include Valentine’s Day and Easter, so why not theme your event accordingly? Think about the décor and prizes, as well as themed interval games.
CHARGING: Are you going to charge for the whole night, or game by game? Will food be included in the price? Most PTAs charge around £1 for four games, or £5 entry per family, which includes eight games as well as a snack and soft drinks.
TIMINGS: Allow 15-20 minutes to play each full-house game, which includes time to award a separate prize for a line.
pta.co.uk SPRING 2018 45
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