Fundraising
‘Although they are not huge amounts individually, when put together they
start to add up. And that is the real key – it takes very little effort for you to set up multiple income streams’
Local support From this basic premise I have been able to expand the idea and look for other companies that either offer a similar deal or would be willing to
set something up. For example: n Lavender Hall Auto Repairs, a local garage, offers parents £5 off a service and then donates £5
each time to the school. n The Saracen’s Head, a local bar and restaurant, has a healthy-eating Balsall Common Primary menu item on its menu and every time people order it we get a 50p donation. This
doesn’t sound like much but over
a year this adds up to around £600. n CMA Video – we have been making DVDs of the summer and Christmas performances for years and have a good relationship with the supplier but no one ever thought about sponsorship. Now CMA Video has the back page of the DVD selling all of their services and again we get 50p per copy. This is usually around £250 in the summer and the same at Christmas, so another £500 in total
over the year. n Balsall Common Travel Club – parents can get holiday quotes or make a booking using a dedicated local phone number or via a dedicated link identifying the school as the source. We then get a percentage of any holidays booked.
The following companies offer us
similar partnership deals: n Borroclub has a deal where parents can choose to donate either 10%, 50% or 100% of their fee to Balsall
Common Primary. n Utility Warehouse has a community deal where you can
offer energy and broadband. n Lyconet will pay a percentage of all money spent using one of its
cards set up via the school. n Vorwerk has sponsored the school PTA but is also looking to set up an arrangement similar to the ones
above, so watch this space. n Finesse Windows is in talks with us now and will pay five per cent on all sales via the school.
Accrue points Why not get a school or school- nominated Nectar Card, Shell Card or Tesco Club Card? You would be surprised at how many people do not collect these points – and they do add up. I have set up a school card and left it at the local Shell garage.
Parents are then able to ask for their points to be added when they fill up. Sainsbury’s and Tesco will not allow this, but you could request extra cards for people to borrow and use for big purchases. As a school, we also shop online every week and have school cards registered. Another simple idea is to charge
companies a small fee for sending out their leaflets in book bags. In schools, we are constantly being asked to hand out leaflets or send them on email via Parentpay or ParentMail. We now charge a fee (£30 each time) for the service, and this regularly brings in over £700 a year – not bad for something we were previously doing for free. Although they are not huge
amounts individually, when put together they start to add up. And that is the real key – it takes very little effort for you to set up multiple income streams. The examples I have given are
based on my own experience but of course there are hundreds more. Search for affiliate programmes online, approach local businesses and ask them to sell an item or service that you endorse. Remember, if it doesn’t sell they don’t give you any money so there really is no risk to them. Speak to your local sports teams, restaurants, estate agents and solicitors. Show how it has worked in other schools and the positive publicity that can be had. Some businesses would love to start a relationship with a local school but don’t know how.
Further reading Visit
funded.org.uk to read some of Howard’s previous articles, in which he shares his experiences of building up business partnerships and income streams from scratch.
Howard Rose is Director of Funding and Publicity at Balsall Common Primary School. He secures grants, sponsorship and support from businesses to enhance teaching and learning. In 2018, Howard’s achievements were officially recognised when he was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
FundEd SPRING 2019 45
IMAGES: QVASIMODO/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
