IMAGE: CINEBERG/
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Advice on initiatives and opportunities for generating funds Fundraising
Building blocks According to government fi gures, last year the number of newly created homes in England hit its highest level in almost 30 years. Of the numerous national housebuilders taking up this work, many have some form of CSR (corporate social responsibility) budget to help causes near to where they’re building, and these causes could include PTAs.
Funding Monetary donations are the most common form of support, with the amounts available varying depending on criteria, location and what you’re raising money for. Bellway (
bellwayplc.co.uk) offers donations of around £500, which can be applied for via email, with applications considered quarterly. The Persimmon Homes Building Futures competition (
persimmonhomes.com) makes monthly donations of £1,000, with annual prizes of £20,000, £50,000 and £100,000 decided by a public vote. Last year, 87 fi nalists, including several schools, received £5,000 each. Other examples include Linden Homes (
lindenhomes.co.uk), which has
recently helped Dane Royd School PTA in Wakefi eld reach their target of £2,500 to save their school crossing patrol.
Match funding Some companies donate by doubling the funds you’ve already raised. Persimmon Community Champions is a fund that matches the total raised (up to £1,000), and has helped fund school libraries, and outdoor play and theatrical equipment. Other companies match the amount
raised by their own employees rather than the total, so survey your parents to fi nd out if anyone works for a housing developer offering this, such as Bellway and Kier (
kier.co.uk).
Volunteering Employees of Barratt Developments (
barrattdevelopments.co.uk) can volunteer for one day per year, while Taylor Wimpey (
taylorwimpey.co.uk) encourages teams to volunteer in the communities in which it operates. Companies such as Willmott Dixon (
willmottdixon.co.uk) offer employees to work directly with school children.
Enrichment Willmott Dixon focuses on helping young people develop key skills. School support includes reading buddies, mentoring sessions and workshops. Its work with social enterprise GirlDreamer in 2018 helped deliver an empowerment programme to 90 students at University of Birmingham School. Persimmon Homes and Linden Homes
both give schools the chance to tour their building sites, teaching children about the construction industry. In 2019, Persimmon Homes worked with Rhos Primary School in Rhos, Swansea to create a time capsule to bury under the local housing development.
Where to begin To fi nd local developers, try Zoopla (
zoopla.co.uk) and check company websites for CSR information. It’s always worth putting in a call, a headed letter or face-to-face visit to local offi ces to explain the needs of your school and how they could make a difference. Even if they don’t have an offi cial scheme, they may still be willing to donate.
pta.co.uk SUMMER 2020 47
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