Partnerships


a quick email to see what they can do. Our suppliers have donated more than £2,000 in recent months to a specific cause at the school. Remember that many businesses offer match funding, which their employees can access. So find out which companies your parents work for, and if any of these offer this type of support. We’re looking at doubling the funding for one of our events due to this stream. Secondly, research the businesses


that are local to you. They will be keen to support the school as it shows they are doing their bit for social responsibility. Inviting a representative to have a cup of tea at school and then showing people what you want to achieve is a great way to get the ball rolling. I am aware of a small school that


‘My school is in a deprived area and does not have a PTA. Yet we manage to raise £7,000 a year thanks


to the dedication of a few members of staff, who work hard to engage our parents and the wider community’


Remember, this is a two-way


process – you need to listen to what your parents want and try to accommodate them wherever you can. Often, this means being able to come into school and spend time with their child in an educational setting.


The community The more children you have on roll, the better. Remember, each child is worth £24,500 over the primary lifetime, so this is where the majority of your funds are made. Getting your school involved in community events will ensure that it is ‘seen’ by local people. So take part in the local carnival float or Christmas tree competition. For example, new parents can get to know your school before


their children are school-age – and presenting the right image will help them decide to send their offspring to you. Organising an open event is always a big win, and linking it to your curriculum will support other areas as well.


28 SUMMER 2020 FundEd The best way to increase funding


support from the community is to be visual. One of the biggest community events our school leads is the village Santa Dash and Dawdle, which raises lots of money. More than 500 people attend and run around the village to raise money for good causes. It is staffed in the main by members of our school team, who are really bubbly and love being with the public.


Business To secure ongoing support, try viewing your relationships with local businesses as partnerships. You might get the odd donation from ad-hoc letters, but that is not going to make a huge difference. As someone who comes from a background of food catering, sales and customer service, I know that businesses want relationships that can be mutually supportive. Firstly, take a look at your


suppliers. You already have a relationship with them, so send


managed to secure a £500,000 funding stream over a cup of tea. The business agreed to pay for the renovation of various parts of the school building. Of course, most donations will


be nowhere near this size but every little helps! I’ve secured over £6,000 through listening to people and finding out what – or, more specifically, who – they worked for. I invite them for a cuppa and talk through what I want to do. The majority return with a donation. Additional income may not always


be in the form of cash. Instead, you may be able to acquire things your school needs. For example, I was able to secure a video prospectus through a long-term partnership: my contact wanted to bring this product to market and we agreed to be the demo school. At the time of putting this


together, we are in the midst of an unprecedented situation and now, more than ever, people are looking to support each other. As a school, you will have a lot of contracts and work that needs to be undertaken, and local businesses will want to secure their future. It is worth considering what partnerships you can create – even in this dire situation – to support the long-term vision of your school. You can find out more about what I’m currently doing at my school by following me on Twitter: @runningsbm


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