Fundraising


DIARY OF A FUNDRAISER


Nikki Burch reveals the highs and lows of her fi rst months as undraising and partnerships manager at Imerhorne chool, ast rinstead


February ne o my fi rst tasks in the role was to set in motion a running programme o grant applications. In the fi rst fi ve weeks, I sumitted fi ve grant applications totalling , or proects and equipment. n application or , o musical equipment rom the niversal usic  ound oundation had a tight deadline, ut our enthusiastic leader o learning or music provided all the inormation required in time. wo months later, we were delighted to hear that we would receive , to uy glockenspiels, guitars and music stands. n  eruary, I ran a


alentines appeal or our school und on aceook and via a letter to parents. sually we only ask or support at the start o the school year when theyve ust shelled out a ortune on uniorm, shoes and equipment, so I thought Id try something dierent. e had a antastic response to our message pictured and we raised , within a month


March ne phone call to a local uilders merchant led to a donation o materials worth over ,, to help some o our most vulnerale ear  students with a ricklaying course to create raised fl ower eds near the school entrance. he impact o the proect was aulous  the  students are ursting with pride at their achievements, and several o them are now considering careers in construction.


April s part o an ongoing I upgrade proect, Id sumitted ,worth o grant applications or I equipment rom a range o grant providers. It was a low to hear that these were all declined. owever, I had some good news when the atwick irport ommunity rust gave us a grant o , to pay or a  cademy and ngling cademy course or students at risk o eclusion. lanning egan or the schools annual summer


community estival, Iest, which takes place in uly.


May ur grant application to  hildren in eed  or , over three years to pay or a learning support mentor  was reected on a technicality. ealing with such news is y ar the hardest part o the o.


June I launched a crowdunding campaign or defi rillators to serve oth the school and the local community. ith more than , students,  sta and  people in the community leasing our acilities each week, we elt this was an important resource to have on site. ur application to he


iohan owd rust resulted in a grant o  to take a small group o  students shopping or ooks at our local independent ookshop.


July he Iest estival took place on the school playing fi elds. It


was a lovely sunny evening with a great atmosphere. e raised more than , or the schools sithorm echange programme with a ananian school and o r the school und. e also received  in match unding rom antander, thanks to one o our governors. e hosted a networking


event or the ast rinstead usiness ssociation, where we eplained some o the challenges acing the school. his led to an immediate pledge o  in sponsorship or our ear  oys ootall team, as well as enquiries aout urther proects. ur grant application to


 hildren in eed was reected or the second time on another technicality. I actually wept. ut there was good news at the end o term, when the defi rillator crowdunding campaign hit its target, raising , y grant application to usse olice to send students on the angling course was also successul we received ,.


FundEd AUTUMN 2019 43


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