Big green fundraising pack

This pack belongs to

Reclaiming green places since 1959

www.tcv.org.uk/getinvolved

Contents Thanks for your support! ............................2 How we can make a difference together.....3 Transforming lives, planting a legacy........... 4 Making your event come to life.......................5

Thanks for your support!

You’re about to embark upon an amazing journey – one that will help

Getting noticed...............6

transform lives, communities and

Keeping it Green!............7

green spaces throughout the UK.

Sending your cash donations to us................7

The Conservation Volunteers is built upon thousands of individual expressions of support – just like yours. It means so much that you are willing to help us, but it means so much more to our network of dedicated volunteers – ordinary people who give their time and energies transforming and nurturing our endangered green spaces throughout the country. They

Easy SMS text giving

rely entirely upon supporters like you to help fund our lifechanging projects.

I hope this pack will not only inspire you to raise funds for us, but also provide the practical advice you need to organise an event – as well as suggestions to help you join in and feel good! And remember, you’re not on this journey alone. We’re here to help every step of the way to ensure your event gets off to a great start!

Natalie Humphreys Community Fundraising Manager To donate £3 by SMS, text TCV to 70444 or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Text Costs £3.00 plus network charge. The Conservation Volunteers receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payers permission.

Customer care 08448479800.

2

Don’t forget, we’re here to help every step of the way if you need any help or advice. Call our fundraising team on 01302 388 883 or e-mail supportus@tcv.org.uk

Good luck and above all have a GREAT TIME!

How we can make a difference together The Conservation Volunteers help hundreds of thousands of people each year reclaim their local green places. Over the last 53 years, through our network of over 2000 community groups across the UK, we have inspired and empowered people to grow a new future for their neighbourhoods. The Conservation Volunteers contributes over £11.5m of environmental value to the UK each year through our work with local communities.

This is a massive challenge and we can’t do it without your help! By creating your own unique event you can raise valuable funds for The Conservation Volunteers and help us in our vital work to inspire conservation in people and communities across the UK.

e Last year w achieved:

lion active Over 2 mil ering of volunte workdays ith 3000 Worked w ies communit

ces 37,000 pla Improved 580,000 Supported be people to e ntally activ environme

le to 000 peop Helped 151, and eir mental improve th alth physical he 0 over 17,00 Supported nt employme people into

In the coming year, we aim to: Deliver 30,000 conservation and reclamation projects Work with 150,000 volunteers – 24% fro m the most deprived areas Train and equip 50,0 00 people as green volun teers Transform 3,000 gree n spaces Train 150 volunteers as project leaders Help 25,000 people to improve their health and well being through th e Green Gyms initiativ e.

3

Transforming lives, planting a legacy £1000

Creating and hosting a ‘Walk the Ridgeway’ challenge with friends and colleagues could raise £1000 which would help us plant a legacy for communities right across the UK and inspire conservation in the next generation in communities like Crosby, Merseyside. Since its formation nearly ten years ago, the Sefton ‘Green Gym’ project has gone from strength to strength, building its membership from four recruits to a 40-strong volunteer team managing a successful community allotment. The group offers the local community, including schools, the chance to experience organic allotment growing and benefit from regular social interaction and exercise.

Organising a sponsored nature trail in your area could help raise £250 to help us transform communities like the ‘Living Under One Sun’ project in Haringey, London. The project manages allotments, an orchard, and an apiary and was set up by play workers and local mums. This inspirational group is using food growing as a tool for community engagement and is implementing projects

£250

which create a positive community spirit in a previously disadvantaged urban environment.

One day organising a ‘wear your wellies’ day at your local school could help raise £200 to help The Conservation Volunteers transform spaces like Ballysillan in Northern Ireland. This food growing project has turned a derelict site into an oasis of green. With The Conservation Volunteers’s help, participants from the

£200

local Salvation Army have transformed the land – and themselves. The volunteers have worked together to overcome hostility, mental health problems, addiction and vandalism. As the allotment has blossomed, so too did the volunteers.

One evening spent running a botanically themed pub quiz with friends and neighbours could raise £150 to help transform lives like 2011 The Conservation Volunteers Green Hero, Michael. Deaf since birth, Michael’s impairment had left him lonely and isolated. Since volunteering with The Conservation Volunteers

£150

he has gained self esteem, a social life, and valuable skills. He’s also secured a full time job as a gardener and is now learning to speak for the first time after having a cochlear implant.

4

Fundraising for The Conservation Voluntee rs is a great way to get activ e and engage with your co mmunity – perhaps you have your own ideas for a novel fun draising event. Fantastic! Talk to us and we’ll support yo u in every way that we can!

Making your event come to life Big or small? If you are organising an event for the first time, it might be advisable to begin with a smaller event which will give you the confidence to think bigger next time!

Think ahead! Make a plan for your event – choose a location, a date/time and who you would like to take part.

Ensure it doesn’t clash with any local or major sporting/social fixtures that could limit the impact of your event.

Community food

Start with the end in mind! Think about how much will your event might cost to put on. Then set yourself a fundraising target based on your budget – it helps to start small but aim high!

Enrol others to help you Bring your local community together and get everyone involved.

Maximise your day Holding additional fundraising

Under One Sun

activities around your event can help enhance your target.

Raffles and competitions are a great way of further engaging your supporters and can act as an additional revenue source.

Thirsty work! Events and challenges mean lots of hungry and thirsty people! Selling food and beverages will keep your supporters fed and watered and boost your fundraising target at the same time! Check with your local suppliers – many of them can supply produce for free.

Balysillan

Keep it Legal! Carry out a Health and Safety assessment for your venue and if necessary, ensure you have adequate insurance cover.

Talk to us! Our dedicated fundraising team is here for you every step of the way!

Notes: • Some raffles and lotteries are bound by the gaming act • If you are supplying cooked food or alcohol, you may require a licence from your local council or police service Speak to us first and we’ll help you with these or any aspect of organising your event

Michael

5

Getting noticed Make sure people fully understand the cause and why they should help.

Work it! E-mail everyone in your address book. Network as much as you can to get the message out. Add your event information to your e-mail signature to maximise exposure and include a link to your online fundraising page.

Make it easy for people to donate – fundraise online.

Open a Justgiving or Virgin Money Giving page. It’s flexible, simple to set up, totally secure and you can personalise it to make it your own. It’s a great way for supporters to donate and it saves you having to collect lots of cash. All money goes straight to The Conservation Volunteers and claiming Gift Aid is simple.

Be persistent! – People won’t always respond immediately.

Don’t be shy about asking people to support you. Keep Get social! Maximise your event on social media. Open a Facebook page for your event and get as many followers as you can. Use Twitter to keep everybody updated on your progress and get your followers to re-tweet your event details. Ask your employer to use your work’s intranet or newsletter to publicise your event If your employer has a corporate sponsorship scheme, ask them to sponsor you and maybe match your fundraising total. Speak to your HR representative to find out your company’s charitable giving policy.

Share your experience Create a blog detailing your fundraising journey. Tell your story and engage people in a

in mind that you are doing something really inspirational!

Share it with us! We really value the effort you put in to help us, so please tell us all about your event. We’d love to see your photos and hear about your day. We’d also really like to use your stories and images in forthcoming promotional material. If you are not happy for us to do this, please let us know.

Don’t forget to Gift Aid! If your donors or sponsors are UK tax payers, ask them to Gift aid their donations. By adding Gift aid, we can reclaim an extra 25% in tax on all donations, which will make your event go even further to help transform people, communities and spaces.

personal way. Your experiences

6

can also be a very powerful

And finally… remember to

way of inspiring others to do

thank people for their help

something equally amazing.

and donations.

…there’s more!

Challenge yourself – Looking for a challenge with a bit of a difference? Then take a look at our challenges on our website, for a chance to really enjoy the UK’s green places from the ground or in the sky, whilst raising money to help keep the UK green.

Volunteer with us – inspired by our volunteer’s stories? Then come and see how you can help grow a new future for your community at www.tcv.org.uk/volunteering Support us – Continue to support The Conservation Volunteers through a regular donation, no matter how big or small or join our Payroll Giving scheme.

Shop with us – You can buy everything from tools to seeds to help start your very own green space – whether it’s a window box or a woodland, we have what you need at www.tcv.org.uk/shop. By shopping with us you know you are helping us make a real difference to UK neighbourhoods and communities.

Follow us – keep up to date with everything: Facebook.com/TheConservationVolunteers @tcvtweets

Join in, feel good help others 5 £ uld buy

co enough seeds to start a wildflower meadow

£10 could buy

shrubs to encourage butterflies

£25

could provide ‘sensory garden’ plants for elderly and disabled people to enjoy

£100

could give young people a day’s outdoor experience, learning about environmental issue s and picking up practical skills

7

Keeping it Green!

Sending your cash donations to us Your hard work is over – well done! Now you

Because you support The Conservation Volunteers we know you’re committed to helping the environment. But here are a few extra tips to help keep your event as green as can be:

simply need to pay your cash donations into your bank account and send a cheque made payable to The Conservation Volunteers at: The Conservation Volunteers Sedum House

Try to hold your event at a venue with

Mallard Way

good public transport links or within

Doncaster

reasonable walking/cycling distance.

DN4 8DB

Use local suppliers to minimise your carbon

Please make sure cheques are

footprint

signed and dated.

Try to avoid paper use

Alternatively arrange for

where possible

a transfer from your bank account. Please contact us

Use re-usable cutlery and try

directly for our account details.

to avoid excess packaging to minimise waste

Please do not send cash in the post.

Recycle where possible – provide different bins for paper, card and cans Ensure your event does not harm the land on which it is held.

Registered Office: Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB Registered Charity in England (261009) and Scotland (SC039302) Registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee No 976410

Thank you! …for helping to plant a legacy for people, communities and spaces

bgfp.02.13/nh/rb