Fundraising Guide

Fundraising Guide

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PO Box 203, Haywards Heath RH16 1GF Registered charity number: 1112065 | Registered company number: 5587535

Welcome, we are thrilled that you want to fundraise for Group B Strep Support.

About us Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is focussed on preventing life-threatening group B Strep (GBS) infection in babies. GBS causes serious infections that can kill or damage hundreds of young babies each year, yet most of these infections are preventable.The charity works to prevent these through improved information and improved diagnosis and treatment.

What is GBS?

Fundraising Guide

GBS is a common bacterium carried by 20-30% of adults with no symptoms.Young babies can be particularly vulnerable to it, and it is the most common cause of serious infection in newborn babies and of meningitis in babies under 3 months.

On average,in the UK:

• Every day a baby develops group B Strep infection.

• Every week a baby dies from group B Strep infection.

• Every fortnight a baby who recovers from their GBS infection is left with life-long disability. Half of the survivors of GBS meningitis are left blind,deaf or with physical or learning disabilities.

What does GBSS want?

1. Routine information given Every pregnant woman to be given information on GBS as a routine part of her antenatal care.

2. Accurate testing Accurate testing for GBS carriage to be freely available in the NHS at the request of pregnant women and their health professionals. Until these tests are freely available,all pregnant women should be told that they are available privately or directed to the GBSS website to find out more.

3. Intravenous antibiotics Every pregnant woman whose baby is at higher risk of developing GBS infection to be offered intravenous antibiotics in labour until delivery.

4. Information for health professionals Every health professional involved in maternity care to be informed about group B Strep.

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Fiona Gibson’s son, Nate, arrived safe and well in July 2014 Fiona says, “I first found out about group B Strep from a news article when I was pregnant with my first child. I say how devastating it could be. I ordered the test, from a private website, and posted it off around 36-37 weeks. Forgot about it. Then in the post came a letter that told me I was positive.”

Fiona discussed group B Strep with her midwife, and was reassured about her care in labour.

She had the recommended antibiotics to reduce the chance of her baby developing a GBS infection and Nate arrived fit and healthy. Fiona says “we got the all clear that he was showing no signs of any infection from his swabs or physically, and we were able to go home. That was the happy ending that having the test gave me . It is probably one of the most important things you’ll ever buy for your pregnancy.”

Watch Fiona tell her story at http://ow.ly/SC6Sx

Where your money goes Thank you for joining our amazing community of fundraisers. Without the kindness, passion, drive and enthusiasm of people like you, we could not exist.

We really appreciate your support and every penny raised really does make a difference.

We provide help and support to parents suffering from the devastating consequences of group B strep infection, while also campaigning for changes to national guidance, and promoting the great work being done by health professionals to establish effective programmes for preventing and treating group B Strep infection in babies.

The money you raise is absolutely vital for us to continue to provide this support.

£100 pays for us to support health professionals, with information about the best methods for identifying babies . most at risk of GBS infection, effective prevention strategies, current guidelines and the latest research. £10 pays to staff our helplines for half an hour, providing answers to a pregnant woman’s specific questions about group B Strep £2,000 allows us to attend a one-day medical conference, running a stand where we distribute information packs and talk to those working in maternity and neonatal care.

£250 pays for 5,000 patient information leaflets for new and expectant parents.

£15,000 covers the charity’s operations for one month. During this time we respond on average to more than 1,200 helpline enquiries, from families and health professionals.

Aimee, developed group B Strep meningitis within days of being born. She has survived, but has severe disabilities.

“When I was pregnant, I didn’t know anything about group B Strep. I found out later that you could be tested for the infection. I was unaware of this when I was pregnant, or I would have opted for the test, on the NHS or privately.

Aimee survived with the group B Strep meningitis but now has quadriplegic spastic dystonia cerebral palsy - all four of her limbs are affected. She also has pseudobulbar palsy which means that she can’t eat or swallow properly as her throat is partially paralysed.

If I had had the test when I was pregnant, and been found to be positive, I could have had antibiotics in labour, which could have prevented Aimee from being ill and having the damage she has."

Watch Charlotte and Aimee at http://ow.ly/SAh1a

Fundraising Ideas –What can I do?

If you’re stuck for inspiration, we’ve got tons of great fundraising ideas to get you started, from bake sales and fancy dress to raffles and quiz nights.

Bake Sale - Enjoy baking? Hold a bake sale in aid of Group B Strep Support! Include a cake decorating competition to find the star baker.

Fancy Dress - Make your school or work day more interesting by having a fancy dress day. Have a simple non-uniform or dress-down day, or go all out and introduce a theme.

Charity head shaves have long been a popular way of raising money for good causes.The idea is very simple and a great way to attract publicity and raise awareness.

A Dinner Party - Swap a night out for a night in. Host a dinner party and invite your friends round. Maybe make it themed night like a pyjama or pamper party and simply donate all the money you would have saved from going out to Group B Strep Support. .

Active Fundraising - We have guaranteed places every year for the British 10K in London held during the month of July. However if you are more interested in the spirit of taking part than the race itself, then The Big Fun Runs sound perfect for you! From Tough Mudders to skydives -please see our website for organised events to join.

Coffee mornings are a great British tradition. One of the great things about holding a fundraising coffee morning is you can make your event any size you like. It’s a great way to catch up over a cuppa while enjoying some gorgeous treats: let’s face it, a cake always tastes better when shared.

Jackie Scott – 2015 Virgin London Marathon So was the blood, sweat and tears all worthwhile? “Absolutely, without a shadow of doubt. I am so privileged to have been part of such an iconic event whilst raising much needed funds and awareness for Group B Strep Support I think for now I will give my body a rest but who knows what challenge the future will bring…..”

Whether this is your umpteenth fundraising event or you are new to fundraising, here are our top tips for making your event successful.

Plan Your Event - When planning your event, it is better to start sooner rather than later. If you are doing a group event, then get everyone involved to help organise it.

Let Us Know - Tell us about your event and we will be able to provide additional materials to help you. We love hearing about fundraising events.

Make It Work - Keep your event simple and be realistic with what you can achieve. Checklists and notes are a good way to stay on track.

Timing Is Key - Make note of any holidays or events in your area and work around them in order to gain as much support from people as possible.

TellYour Story - If you feel able to talk about a personal GBS story, then sharing it can give meaning to your event and show your supporters why they should get involved.

Get People Involved - Talk to people about your event and ask them to support you.

Social media is a great way to involve people and will save you time. For larger events, contact the media in your area – tell your local news outlets, radio & TV stations about what you’re doing.

Make Donating Easy - Creating a JustGiving page for your event using www.justgiving.com/gbss to make it easy for your supporters to donate. You can email everyone the link, and share on social media. If the first donation is high, others tend to donate more too.

Take Photos - Send us your photos and stories for us to share. These really encourage others to fundraise for us.

Email them to info@gbss.org.uk after your event has taken place.

Enjoy It - Really enjoy your event: you have worked so hard to organise it, so enjoy it while it’s happening.This will help other people to enjoy it too (and will increase the amount of money you raise).

Thank Your Supporters - Tell them how the money they helped you raise will make a big difference. The money will help us educate and inform people about GBS, so that more of these dreadful infections in babies can be prevented.

Planning It is fantastic that you have chosen to fundraise on behalf of GBSS! It’s vital you make sure your event is safe and within the law for everyone involved. Visit www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk for extra advice and to ensure everything you are doing is legal. 

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Permission and Photos – Please ask permission before taking any photographs and, if your event is in a public place, make sure you have permission from either the local authority or the property owner.

Insurance - Holding events is an integral part of an effective fundraising strategy for charities. And, while you will want to focus as much energy into raising money, it is equally important to arrange adequate protection against the unforeseen such as cancellations, injury and damage to either property or persons to protect you against risks. That’s what insurance is for!

Food - If you’ll be selling food at the event, make sure you read the Foods Standards Agency guidelines – visit www.food.gov.uk Public Collections, Raffles and Lotteries – If you are holding these events, please contact us as you may need a licence.

Data Protection – Only collect data you need for your event and make sure that it is kept safe and you do not share it.

First Aid – If you have lots of people attending your event please make sure you have first aid in place. You can get advice from www.sja.org.uk or www.redcross.org.uk.

Money – please ensure that all donations and sponsorship money from your event is paid to the GBSS. You must inform potential donors if any amount or percentage of the funds you raise will not be paid to the charity. Ensure you agree in advance who is paying for what and when and confirm this in writing so that everyone is clear.

Spread The Word The number one reason people give is simply because someone asked.

Blog Your sponsors will love to hear how you’re getting on with your fundraising and it’s a really good way to connect with new people. Go to www.blogger.com to get started.

Local media

Local media coverage is invaluable, both in raising funds and in raising awareness. The best way of getting coverage is to write a summary of what you’re doing and send it as a press release - make sure you include when, who, where, what and why. They love feel-good stories and yours is sure to be one. We have a template press release which you can download from our website or call us PO Box 203, Haywards Heath RH16 1GF on1112065 01444 416176 andnumber: we’ll5587535 help.

Registered charity number: | Registered company

Jason Osborne – 2015 Mia’s Family Funday “Planning a charity event doesn’t have to be difficult. If thought about thoroughly and by using the experience of others, it is amazing what you can achieve! I won’t try and fool anyone by saying that it is easy but I can’t think of anything more rewarding than knowing that you have made a huge difference to your selected charity and to your local and wider community.”

Share on social media

It’s a free, easy and fantastic way to spread the word about your event and share your story.

If you haven’t already, set yourself up on Twitter or Facebook and start building your network of friends, relatives and colleagues. If you already have a Facebook page and you’re hosting an event, you could create an event on your page and invite your friends and followers. Share your story, tell them what you are up to and why. And share the links to your Justgiving fundraising page and text-to-donate codes.

E-mail Promote your activity in your email signature.

Change your work and home email signature to include an appeal for sponsorship with a link to your fundraising page. This is a great way to raise awareness of what you’re doing. Get friends and colleagues to add your appeal to their signatures too.

Make the money you raise go further Income & E Online Fundraising

Gift Aid

JustGiving fundraising pages enables you to raise money both online and offline – it’s an easy and quick way to collect money from your donors. You can set up an online page at www.justgiving.com/gbss and also a special textto-donate code for your event (remember to add it to any materials you have printed). It’s very easy to share the page with your friends and family and the code via email and social media sites. It’s easy for everyone!

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If your donors are UK taxpayers, please remind them to tick the Gift Aid box when they make their donation. This means we can reclaim the tax through the government’s Gift Aid scheme, which will make their donation go even further.

For example, on a donation of £10, we can claim back 25% (£2.50) in tax. It really is free money!

Matched Giving

Check to see if your employer operates a Matched Giving Scheme – if they do, this can as much as double the amount you raise!

Sending your money in to Group B Strep Support Congratulations – you did it!

Unless you used a website to collect donations, such as Justgiving.com, then you’ll have to collect the funds you’ve raised.

Ways to pay Please do not send cash through the post.

Wherever possible encourage people to write cheques made payable to the ‘Group B Strep Support’ and forward them to us at the following address: PO Box 203, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1GF .

If you receive cash or cheques payable to yourself, bank them and then write a cheque to Group B Strep Support for the full amount.

We can also provide you with our bank details to allow you to pay funds directly into our account.

If you have paid money from sponsors into your own account and would like to pay by credit or debit card – call us on 01444 416176 and you can pay over the phone.

However you send your money to us, please let us know details of the fundraising/event so that we can credit the money that comes in to your fundraising activities. All donations should be accompanied by a contact name, address and telephone number in order for us to acknowledge your donation. Once we have received the money you have raised , we will send you a certificate to show our appreciation.

PO Box 203, Haywards Heath RH16 1GF Registered charity number: 1112065 | Registered company number: 5587535

Heidi, Malik and Tariq Big Fun Run – 16 August Heidi writes "We had a great time taking part in the Big Fun Run to raise money and awareness for a charity close to my heart. Malik contracted meningitis at 2 weeks old due to Group B Strep, until this point I had never even heard of it. Now 11 years on pregnant mothers are still not being informed of this devastating illness that can be easily prevented with a test whilst pregnant. Luckily Malik survived"

Fundraising Checklist Decide how and when you want to raise money for GBSS

Set up an online fundraising page along with a target

Spread the word

Call us and order your fundraising materials

Thank everyone

Pay your money in

Ame and Lilee Edmonds Within hours after being born, Lilee started to turn blue, began grunting and her cries became piercing. Ame writes “Although Lilee is my first baby, all my instincts were telling me that something was gravely wrong with my beautiful daughter. The doctors gave Lilee antibiotics and started a series of tests, including a lumbar puncture, X-rays and blood tests. She was rushed to SCBU and put on a ventilator.

“There is nothing in this world that can help prepare you for the fear and pain of seeing your baby so ill. Her life was in the balance.”

Lilee had developed life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia caused by group B Strep infection. “I have never felt so many emotions, all in one moment,” says Ame, “my precious little girl needed to bePOstrong.”

LileeHeath is now four, started school and is doing fine. She is Box 203, Haywards RH16 1GF Registered charity number: 1112065 | Registered company number: 5587535 always keen to help her mum raise awareness and funds for GBSS .

More than just fundraising In addition to raising funds, here are many other great ways that you can support Group B Strep Support.

Volunteering Giving your time is just as precious to us as your money. Come and help us, whether it’s a few hours helping out in our office or raising awareness in your local community by handing out our information.

There are many ways you can volunteer, just get in touch.

Regular giving It can be as little as £2 a month but one of the best ways to give to us is in the form of a standing order.

This way it can help us plan ahead, knowing what money is guaranteed to come in.

Leave a gift in your Will However much you can afford, large or small, leaving a gift donation to Group B Strep Support in a legacy or a donation via your will is a wonderful way to ensure that we can continue with our work.

Donate clothes Clothes for charity is a secure and simple way to support us with your clothes donations. We have partnered up with a organisation called Clothes For Charity to make it simpler and much more secure for you to donate your unwanted clothes and help us fund some wonderful projects.

You could even set up a ‘donation station’ at your work, school or community group. Get in touch to hear how we can help.

Recycle4Charity You can support GBSS by recycling your inkjet cartridges with Recycle4Charity.co.uk. (Each inkjet cartridge = £1 donation.) Contact them or us for a freepost bag or a recycling box: The Freepost Bag: holds up to 4 items and is free to post. This is good for a home user or someone with a low turnover of recycling items. It can also be used to send out with newsletters and outgoing mail as it has all the recycling information needed printed on it. There is no minimum or maximum amount of bags you can have.

The Recycling Box: Holds up to 100 items and is collected free of charge. This is better for large offices, shops, schools and high traffic areas such as coffee rooms and receptions. Posters and all the information needed are printed on the box, with return instructions on the underside of the lid! These boxes are designed for minimal maintenance so if one was to be left at a local school / office, when full can be sent back via the instructions. No need for constant checking … drop it off and forget about it!

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for choosing Group B Strep Support as the charity you’re raising funds for. Our fundraisers are our life-blood – they are absolutely vital to provide the resources we need to prevent devastating GBS infection in babies. We look forward to welcoming you to our fantastic community of fundraisers.

We are here to support you every step of the way, you just need to ask. Please register your event on our website via http://bit.do/GBSSEvent and we will be in touch to see how we can help.

In the meantime if you would like to find out more about how you can get involved in any event or about how you can fundraise in other ways, please e-mail Jane at jgrout@gbss.org.uk or give her a call on 01444 416176.

We offer one of our fabulous T-shirts to each fundraiser who pledges to raise £100 or more for the charity.You can also order them from our online shop www.gbss.org.uk/productcategory/clothing We can send you fundraising materials for your event, including balloons, stickers, collecting cans, collecting buckets, posters, postcards and leaflets.

We can send you the GBSS logo in various formats for your publicity materials (please send them to us for approval first), and we can also send you a letter confirming that you are fundraising in aid of the charity that you can give to potential sponsors.