RUN A PTA – Your PTA starter kit
Your PTA starter kit W
hile you may be able to borrow some equipment – such as tables and chairs or a public address system –
from the school, a new PTA will also need to buy some useful items.
Before you buy Remember you will need somewhere to keep everything. If the school doesn’t have a spare storage room, you may need to buy a shed. Storage should be secure, weatherproof and equipped with shelves.
Bunting Make bunting from old school uniform that’s not suitable for resale. Hang it by the school entrance or around stalls.
Urn To make tea and coffee to keep volunteers and supporters going.
First aid kit Consult with St John Ambulance or another charity to determine what should be included in a fi rst aid kit for an event with public attendees.
Petty cash tin Many PTA events still rely on cash, and it’s good practice to reimburse your volunteers promptly.
Cool box, fridge or freezer
Folding tables Folding tables are
essential for both indoor and outdoor events,
especially for fair stalls. Check with the school to see if they have any available.
You might also need: Bain-marie: Excellent for keeping hot dogs warm. If you have electricity available outside, consider getting an electric bain-marie; otherwise, opt for chafi ng
trays, which use gel chafi ng fuel in small burners to keep food warm. Tools: Get a simple toolkit with pliers, hammer, duct tape, cable ties and a staple gun.
Tombola: A worthwhile inclusion for summer or winter fairs. Coin counter: When you are counting funds after a large event, a coin counter can save hours.
When selling drinks or ice lollies at your summer fete, you’ll need to keep things cool or frozen. Cool boxes with ice can work, but portable fridges and freezers are also available.
Starting from scratch? Daniel Etherington lists the essentials you’ll need
Gazebos These are essential for protecting stalls from rain and hot sun. It’s wise to invest in higher-quality options, as cheaper models tend to break easily. Remember, buy cheap, buy twice.
Identifi cation High-visibility gilets – ideally printed with the word ‘PTA’ or ‘Volunteer’ – allow visitors to easily identify helpers or fi rst aiders at your events. You can also use lanyards.
Festival trolley
Also known as a folding wagon or cart, a festival trolley makes
transporting items around your event site much easier than carrying them by hand.
DOWNLOAD A visual to take to your next meeting from
pta.co.uk
School Fundraising SPRING 2026 47
IMAGES: ILYALIREN; IRINA VITYUK; JET_SKI; JOKO YULIANTO; LAUDISENO; LYSENKOALEXANDER; NADIA_BORMOTOVA; PIKEPICTURE; VECTORUP/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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