FREE TECH
Take advantage of tech to reduce admin stress
1 Show me you’re on the PTA
‘I crammed more than 800 burger and hot dog rolls into the back of my car ready for our new committee’s fi rst summer fair.’ Emma Fuller, Friends of St Leonards CofE Primary School
WHATSAPP COMMUNITIES Prevent in-box overwhelm by consolidating your WhatsApp groups into a Community.
Supporters can join via a link and don’t need to be part of every group – they can select and join the ones that interest them. WhatsApp recently introduced a new feature in
Communities to simplify event planning. Any group member can create an event, and participants can RSVP, so everyone knows who is attending.
2
MICROSOFT SWAY Sway is a Microsoft Offi ce app that allows users to create and share information as a URL with no sign-ups or downloads required. A fun way to create PTA newsletters, Sway offers fl exible, fully customisable layouts that don’t require specialist design software or tech skills. Sway is free for users with a Microsoft account (Hotmail, Live or
Outlook.com), but you can access more features with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
3 BUFFER
Managing your PTA’s social media posts is a demanding job. Buffer is a social media
planning and scheduling tool that helps you organise your content across multiple platforms. Committee members can view scheduled messages or take over if you need a breather. Buffer’s free plan lets your PTA access planning and publishing tools and link up to three social channels. The paid plans give you access to detailed engagement tools and analytic reports.
Raise a glass
‘What you need is a bar,’ said a friend one evening as we were discussing quick wins for the PTA. Sales of alcohol at our licensed events had always made a good profi t, but rising costs were impacting our funds. The price of spirits pre-mixed in cans, in particular, had increased signifi cantly over the past few years. To make the bar a reality, I snapped up a desk someone was giving away on Facebook Marketplace and, with my husband, set about buying wood. Friends donated the vinyl covering and the PTA bought optics. I added the lights for a fi nal fl ourish. Now the PTA can shop around for good deals on bottles of spirits, and we can mix the drinks ourselves. Becky Sutton, chair, Owlsmoor Primary School PTA
8 SPRING 2025 School Fundraising
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