planning
Find a wealth of step-by-step
Reach a wider audience (and potential donor base) and raise the profile of your school with an event that makes an impact or provides a unique experience
F
undraising events often cater only to those immediately connected to the school, but reaching out to your wider
community offers many benefits: more visitors means bigger profits; the opportunity to build new relationships with potential donors; raising the profile of your school; and building awareness of your needs. It’s important to consider what
kind of event will appeal to those outside the school. This decision should be tailored to meet the needs of your local area. What gaps can be filled? For example, if you don’t have a local cinema, could you run a movie night? Children aren’t usually
COMMUNITY EVENTS
event-planning guides online at
funded.org.uk/ events.
allowed to take part in an organised colour run, so host your own and invite school-aged children to take part. Something spectacular such as a fireworks extravaganza or music festival can make a huge statement in the local social calendar, with the potential to become an annual celebration. Even as a one-off, events like these are newsworthy, meaning maximum promotion for your school and cause. Also consider the facilities you
have at your disposal. Perhaps you are located in a built-up area where your school field is one of the only open spaces, lending itself to a car boot sale or circus.
UNUSUAL EVENTS
Offering an event that is hard to find elsewhere is sure to attract the curious and stand out as a ‘must-attend’ event. Colour runs have soared in popularity in recent years, but if you don’t live in a large city it’s likely one won’t be coming to you, and children are often excluded from taking part. This is much like organising a sponsored run, but with volunteers allocated around the track throwing powered paint over competitors – and you can sell the paint to runners, too. While the powered paint is an extra outlay, it also adds a lot more excitement! Gin tasting events give visitors the opportunity to learn about the spirit while sampling different types. Do you have any local distilleries or independent off-licence owners who you could work with to deliver a gin tasting evening?
46 SUMMER 2018 FundEd
Murder mystery nights offer an interactive evening that’s hard to resist, especially if you hire a specialist company for your whodunnit. Or secondary school drama students – with the help of a lively compère – might provide a cost-effective solution. You could also consider adapting the crime to make it age appropriate, and involve the whole family.
BECOME A SOCIAL VENUE Social amenities such as pubs and clubs
have been closing down in recent years, often leaving people without anywhere to socialise. A simple evening like a quiz or bingo night, complete with bar and a fish and chip or curry supper, is a fantastic way to fundraise while also providing an evening of entertainment to neighbours of your school.
SCHOOL SOCIAL CLUB ‘For over 25 years our school has
been transforming the hall into a social club! We hold one event per month, with live music, a bar and a DJ. We’ve had tributes to everyone from Coldplay to Tina Turner, but our Elvis nights make the biggest profit. Ticket prices range from £5 to £20 depending on the act, and we aim to sell 100 tickets to cover our costs. We promote the event to the wider community via our Facebook page, posters, leaflet drops and our local newspaper. These events raise £5,000 a year!’ Martin Grierson, PTA Secretary, Cardinal Heenan School, Liverpool (1,000 pupils)
Event
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