Raise money this Christmas

Christmas is the season of goodwill and generosity. As a charity, we understand how important it is for people to dedicate time to others and we hope that this month there will be more people than ever trying to raise money for good causes.

For those of you who don’t know, SRSB is the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and our mission is to provide opportunities, support, and friendship to people who are blind or are partially sighted in Sheffield. We believe that blindness should not prevent anybody from achieving anything and dedicate every penny donated to enabling people with blindness to live their life to the full.

If you are hoping to raise money for charity this Christmas, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Host a charity Christmas dinner party: getting everybody together for a festive Christmas dinner is a lot of fun and if you sell tickets to the event it can also raise a lot of money. You could even ask everybody to bring along their best dish so that guests share the cooking as well as the eating.
• Organise a charity run: when raising money for charity it does not matter how fast or slow the contributors are – it is all about enjoying yourself and making money for a great cause. Get a group of friends together to raise cash through a charity fun run or alternatively set up a Facebook fundraising page to help with your own individual effort. The Santa fun Run has become really famous in recent years so you might want to take part.
• Karaoke Carols: pretty self-explanatory, everybody comes along for some karaoke (and a few drinks!) and takes it in turns to sing their favourite Christmas songs.
• Secret Santa: if your limit is £10, you can ask employees to spend £8 on their gifts and donate the extra £2 to charity.
• Carol Singing: a classic one, but carol singing can raise quite a lot of money in one evening alone. Get the village together for a sing song!

To find out more about SRSB, the work that we do, and how you can help, please visit our website.

Why Christmas is the best time to host a charity dinner

We are in mid-November which means that it is only a matter of weeks until Christmas arrives. While you might be busy ordering your Christmas dinner, arranging dates to meet up with family and friends, and working out what to buy everybody, perhaps you might also think about arranging a charity dinner.

Charity dinners are a fantastic opportunity to gather together with a lot of people in the name of a good cause. Here are some of the most significant reasons that you should arrange a charity dinner in December:

Season of generosity

For many centuries, Christmas time has been synonymous with the season of goodwill, love, and caring for those in need. Today the majority of us still think of it as a time to gather with other people and be thankful for what we have. With these feelings of thankfulness and generosity in mind, it is a brilliant time of the year to host a charity gathering.

Free time

As well as being a season of goodwill, it is also a season of free time! While throughout the year employees are busy at different times and might need to be all over the country depending on their work, most book holiday over the festive period and tend to stay closer to home near their family, meaning that many are free to attend these kinds of events.

Saving up for Christmas

December is the most expensive month of the year for the vast majority of us what with spending on gifts, wrapping paper, travelling to see family, Christmas dinner etc. What you might forget though is that people tend to save up for this part of the year which means that –providing they get into the festive spirit- they can afford to donate to charity.

People are looking for a good time

Not doing anything over Christmas is not just a bit of a faux pas, it is actually very depressing, especially when you are bombarded with images in the media of people gathering together for good fun. Hosting a charity event is not only for a good cause but an opportunity to spend time with other people, partying and letting your hair down.

If you are hosting a charity dinner over the next couple of months, why not raise money on behalf of SRSB? We are a Sheffield charity which is truly thankful for every penny raised. Our purpose is to provide opportunity, support, and friendship to blind and partially sighted people in Sheffield, helping them to be whatever they aspire to be.

How to present a successful charity dinner at home

There are many different ways that you can raise money for charity. From running a marathon to doing a bungee jump, there are lots of things that you can try but one of the most successful methods of raising money is to present a charity dinner.

Along with a big group of fundraisers, you could arrange a charity night in which you hire out a large venue and invite hundreds of guests. However, raising money for charity does not necessarily need to be a huge event; you can raise lots of money in your very own home.

Here are 5 simple steps to arranging your charity dinner:

      Plan well in advance

Regardless of how many (or how few) people you intend to invite, it is important to plan everything well in advance. Decide who you are going to invite, how you would like the evening to be run, and how much money you are aiming to raise. The earlier you send out invitations, the more people will be able to make it.

Provide a simple menu

You don’t want to waste money that can go towards the charity on trying to cater to the tastes of everyone. Make sure that you have meat and vegetarian dishes available as well as a mixture of salad and tastier (less healthy) food. Satisfying everybody does not require hundreds of dishes, just: 1 starter, a choice of 2 mains, 1 dessert is fine.

Have an auction

One of the best ways to raise money is of course to present an auction. Depending on your  budget, you might want to present one expensive prize – such as a holiday or visit to a nearby attraction – and then have other, less expensive prizes such as alcohol, an ornament, a signed object, or something else equally quirky.

Present a quiz

Everybody loves a quiz and it is a great way to break up the evening. Remember to include a mixture of easy and difficult questions so that everybody can join in. If you want to do something different have some sort of egg hunt or quiz take place all over the house, e.g.  cut up pictures of famous faces and rearrange the parts – the quiz is to unravel who is in the picture.

Get a DJ

Last but not least, book a DJ so that everyone can party the night away. Make sure plenty of alcohol is provided and pick a good playlist!

If you are wondering how to actually make money from all this, you can either charge people an entry fee (e.g. £5 pp) or simply leave a little donation bucket in each room for people to donate to as they please. 

Sheffield: What’s going on this September?

Sheffield is the place to be this September as a hub of un-missable activities and action, so clear your diaries and make sure you visit as many events as you can from our great list, trust us you’ll be a fool not to.  

Festival of the Mind: 18th – 28th September

In its second outing, this festival sees the collaboration between the City and the University of Sheffield teams academics with cultural, creative, digital industries from Sheffield to bring their research to life.

Following on from the highly successful inaugural Festival of Mind in 2012, which was visited by more than 18,000 people, this year’s event focuses on six key themes: Change, Chaos, Global, Joy, Resilience and Urban.

The festival will appear all over the city and events such as Chaotic Chemical Waves, Computer Love 2.0 and Sounds of the Cosmos are not to be missed. To book tickets or to see which events are free to attend check out their 2014 programme today.

Sensoria – 27^th September – 4^th October

The month of September also brings the UK’s festival of film and music, Sensoria. Beginning on the 27^th September and continuing into the month of October, the festival brings a wonderful appetiser in the form of Nick Cave’s 20,000 Days of Earth which has a showing at the Showroom Cinema on the 17^th.

Sensoria festival itself represents the cities creative, technical innovation and rich musical heritage perfectly, with a mixture of screenings, performances, talks and exhibitions.  The Sensoria team have collated a great timeline of Sheffield music including Heaven 17, Moloko and Arctic Monkeys to showcase ‘’The DNA of Sheffield Music’’ and the musical powerhouse that is Sheffield.

We would highly recommended that you visit Bands on the Run, the UK premiere of Alive Inside and the Stop Making Sense 30^th year anniversary screening which is a live stage show featuring the Talking Heads.

Check out their site to see the event dates and to support the non-profit company, you can donate here, to keep the festival running for many years to come.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run – 28^th September

If you’re feeling sporty this month, get your running shoes on and enter the Great Yorkshire Run which takes place Sunday the 28^th September, even if you’re not feeling sporty you can spectate the event for free and cheer on runners of all ages and sizes.

The run was first launched in 2007 with 5,000 runners partaking in the 10km route around the Steel City of Sheffield. Over the course of the last 5 years the size of the entrants has doubled with many famous faces and world-class athletes taking to the route.

 To suit each and every partaker the event now includes BUPA Junior and Mini Great Yorkshire Run events. It’s a great family day out and features live music performances all over the city and course, to book your place or to find out more about the event check out their website.

MADE – 24^th – 25^th September

Got a passion for entrepreneurship? Well get yourself down to the MADE Entrepreneur Festival in Sheffield. The event will take place in the Ballroom of the Sheffield City Hall and will give you a great chance to network with people within your chosen industry.

Over the course of the two days, the event will feature names such as Levi Roots, Jamal Edwards and Michelle Mone, who will be delivering keynote presentations as well as being on an interactive panel discussing entrepreneurship in the UK.

The event will give you expert views and advice for creating, growing and succeeding with your own business.

Tickets are available on their website with discounts available for single day attendance and students of Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam and the University of Sheffield.

Sheffield is booming this month with great events, so if you’re feeling creative, sporty or have a flavour for entrepreneurship this month get on down to these recommended events.

Have we missed any other great events for the month of September, if so let us know or why not organise your own event in conjunction with us to raise money for SRSB.

Famous Faces from Sheffield

The steel city of Sheffield is one the eight largest regional cities in England as well as being the third largest English district by population. With such a large population, it’s no surprise that a few famous faces have either been born or grew up in the South Yorkshire city.

We start with the Hollywood actor, Sean Bean. Born in Handsworth to Rita and Brian Bean in 1959, he has since starred in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, James Bond’s GoldenEye and the fantasy series of Game of Thrones. It is a well know joke in popular culture that Sean Bean dies a lot during his movies and TV shows.

 

Putting Sheffield on the map during Britpop movement of the nineties, Jarvis Cocker is next on our list. Born in 1963, he grew up to be the front man of Pulp who delivered the highly successful ‘’His ‘n’ Hers’’ and ‘’Different Class’’ albums. He is currently pursuing a solo career as well as presenting Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service on BBC Radio 6.

Travelling the world in 80 Days our next Sheffield star is Michael Palin. Born in Broomhill during 1943, Palin was a part of the highly successful comedy group Monty Python, whose influence on comedy has been compared to The Beatles’ influence on music.  As well being a highly successful comedian in recent years he has been well known for his travel documentaries including ‘’Around the World in 80 Days’’ and ‘’Pole to Pole’’.

Another famous face from Sheffield is Helen Sharman. Sharman is a star of the sky, being the first Brit to ever enter space. Born in 1963, the British chemist visited the Mir space station in the Project Juno mission after initially responding to a radio advertisement asking for applications to be the first British astronaut.

Judy Parfitt is one of the most gifted actresses of British theatre, film & television and is next on our list of famous Sheffield personalities. Born in 1935, Judy has starred in Girl with a Pearl Earring, Dolores Claiborne and most recently the popular television show Call the Midwife.

A rocker whose band, Arctic Monkeys, has been the voice of the Steel City of Sheffield in recent years. Born in 1986, Alex Turner has grown up to be one of the biggest names in rock music after being gifted his first guitar for Christmas in 2001 by his parents. The band itself is purely a Sheffield- born collective with members, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O’Malley also being born in the South Yorkshire city.

Our next famous Sheffield-born face had a golden summer in 2012 winning the heptathlon at the London Olympics. Born in 1986, Jessica Ennis-Hill became the face of British women’s athletics after winning Gold at European, Outdoor and Indoor World Championships. Her parents initially gave her first experience in athletics with a Start:Track event at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield.

Gordon Banks, the acrobatic keeper who made a stunning save against one of the greatest players ever, Pele. Born in Sheffield in 1937, he had an illustrious career as goalkeeper for various teams including Chesterfield, Leicester City and Stoke City. During his career he played each and every game of the winning 1966 England team’s World Cup campaign.

Have we left any famous faces from Sheffield out? Let us know - http://www.srsb.org.uk/

Our ‘Best of…’ guide to Sheffield events in June

June is a frantic month for most – the month before the beginning of the kid’s school holidays and before summer’s activities kick start so why not plan ahead for that quick spot of relief.


Here’s our guide to the best events happening in Sheffield next month from Sheffield music events to art exhibitions and theatre performances...



Sunday, June 1 – Billy Smart’s Circus, Hillsborough Park, 12.30pm and 3.30pm, Tickets range from £7 - £23.
The last day of the touring circus who will next be stopping in Lincoln, providing fun for all ages, featuring a combination of music, dance and theatre. Acrobatics juggling, magical illusions and aerial acrobatics will also be showcased at the event which also includes a flying trapeze act which is designed to keep the family talking for hours after.[1]

 

Monday, June 2 – Friday, June 6, Steel City Stories exhibition, Jessop West Exhibition Space, University of Sheffield – Entry is free.
If surrounding yourself with local art and local history sounds while supporting undergraduate artists sounds like you then this exhibition featuring visual, textual and aural representations of the Sheffield steel industry could be perfect for a bit of time out. Marking the 100th anniversary of stainless steel this project was produced by photographers Shaun Bloodworth and Andy Brown who worked alongside undergraduates from the University of Sheffield to uncover the forgotten histories of steel to trace the meanings of industry in culture, identity and local heritage.[2]


Saturday, June 7, Ghost hunting and Sheffield’s fire and police museum, The Old Fire Station, 9pm until 3am, £39.

Home to old fire engines and policing memorabilia it is believed that some artefacts still have old spirits attached to them which is why the Ghost Night team have chosen this venue for their next ghost hunt. The most famous spirit is said to be a former inmate called Cain who is known on previous hunts to have thrown glass and making his presence known most to females who enter his cell. The team will also be providing drinks and snacks throughout the night.[3]

 

Tuesday, June 17, Kings Of Leon, Motorpoint Arena, 7.30pm, Tickets from £49.50.
The alternative-rock group made up of the four family members, who hail from Tennessee, have dominated the charts with top hits ‘Sex is on fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’. This is the fourth time the group, who take their name from their grandfather, have appeared at the Sheffield arena, this time on the back of their Grammy nominated album released this year, ‘Mechanical Bull’. Guaranteed to be showstopping for any alternative-ock or indie fans.


Friday, June 20, Jason Derulo, O2 Academy Sheffield, Doors 7pm, Tickets from £31 + booking fee.

Established as one fo the worlds biggest pop stars on the back of 17 million record sales, Mr Derulo will be performing hits from his Number 1 hit album ‘Tattoo’s’. Returning to the Sheffield academy, this will be his biggest UK tour ever and his first once since his serious neck injury of 2011. Fans of all ages should see Jason perform hits such as ‘Talk Dirty’ and debut single ‘Riding Solo’, so is certainly not one to miss. As Mr Derulo appeals to all ages it is definitely perfect for a break from preparatory summer tasks and sure to keep you singing for the rest of the month.[4]


Saturday, June 21, Holi One Colour Festival, Norfolk Heritage Park, 12pm – 10pm, Tickets from £27.99 + booking fee.

Enter wearing white and leave in colour! Inspired by the original Holi festival in India, but this festival is about promoting the ideas of togetherness and the colour of everyday life during a day of fun and exhilaration. It is expected that thousands of people will be coming together – all wearing white to share music, dance and art. There will be a countdown during the festival to the moment the colourful non-toxic powders will be thrown, these will be provided with general admission tickets. Food and drink, including alcohol will also be available at the event.[5]


Monday, June 23 – Saturday, June 28, Sheffield Theatre, The Lyceum, 2pm and 7.45pm, Tickets

Any Beatles fans will enjoy this revival of their hits in a theatrical show packed with more than 20 hits. The audience will be able to relive The Beatles growth from Liverpool’s Cavern Club to their later studio masterpieces, from the 60’s and onwards. Straight from London’s West End, this show features different types of multimedia and varied performances, ideal entertainment for die-hard fans or amateur listeners.[6]


Sunday, June 29, Blondie, O2 Academy Sheffield, Doors 7pm, Tickets from £50 + booking fee.

Any retro Blondie fans looking to revive the 80’s will find this Sheffield music event the ideal evening out. With work the next day it finishes 11pm, providing enough time to listen to the classics of Debby Harry but is not too late for work the next day. In a special one off show the group will perform some of their top hits ‘One Way or Another’, ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Maria.’[7]



Whatever events take your fancy remember SRSB also arrange special trips and excursions to a variety of theatre shows, museums and historic houses with our Culture Club.



Call 0114 272 2757, email us, info@srsb.org.uk, or check our calendar of events.

.

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[1]https://www.billy-smarts-circus.co.uk/

[2] http://www.storyingsheffield.com/project/steel-stories/

[3] http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Sheffield/Sheffield-Fire--Police-Museum/Ghost-Hunting-At-The-Sheffield-Fire-amp-Police-Museum/12138290/

[4] http://www.ents24.com/sheffield-events/o2-academy-sheffield/jason-derulo/3740240

[5] http://www.holione.com/en/events/sheffield.html

[6] http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/let-it-be-14/

[7] http://www.o2academysheffield.co.uk/event/66118/blondie-tickets

 

The Top 5 Most Weird & Wonderful Charity Fundraising Ideas

Here at SRSB we value every penny that is raised towards helping adults and children living with blindness. Thankfully there are lots of people out there who want to raise money for brilliant causes such as ours. If you want to do something a little different to fundraise for charity, take a look at our top 5 weird and wonderful fundraising ideas:

1)      Aerobathon

This is very much an endurance challenge. Aerobics is a great exercise if you want to become more flexible, strengthen your heart, and reduce body fat. The aerobathon can last as long as 6 hours if you really want a challenge but a solid 3 hour session should still raise a lot of sponsor money.

2)      Eurovision Party

If you want to throw a party and raise some funds in the process why not go for a Eurovision theme? Dress up as anybody who has ever competed. Get everyone to bring a picture of the original so that you can compare and pick a winner. Either charge people £1 to come or run a quiz and bingo and charge £1 to join; all proceeds going to the charity.

3)      Weight Gain Challenge

Okay, this might sound a little unhealthy but it could raise a lot of money. There are always plenty of people training for a charity triathlon or run but why not shake things up and give yourself a challenge to gain weight? This is a truly selfless act as you’re not going to be getting fit and looking good, you are genuinely sacrificing your flat stomach for charity. 

4)      Waxing

A painful but brave idea. You could get your eyebrows waxed off (they’ll grow back soon!) or if you’re a gentleman who thinks that a “Brazillian” is just a person from Brazil, then a full-body wax could raise a lot of cash.

5)      Be a Quitter

If you have a bad habit such as smoking or eating too much chocolate then get sponsored to quit for a month. If you have been a smoker for a while then people will understand that this is tough. They will respect you for doing it and you might find that the habit is well and truly kicked afterwards.

To find out more about SRSB and the sort of fundraising events that we run, visit our website at

http://www.srsb.org.uk/fundraising-events.aspx

Preparing Yourself Physically for a Charity Run

SRSB Runners

A run is a popular and successful way to raise money for a fantastic charity. You can design your own route to conquer; maybe a challenging journey including hilltops, or a large field to circuit for example. However, it is often more motivational if you take part in large scale running events alongside hundreds of other people who share similar goals. The runners encourage one other even when they have never met before. Rather than competing against each other most people have their own personal time in mind. If you are participating in any charity runs then here are a few tips to help you prepare for it:

Make Yourself a Timetable

If you are serious about training then make yourself a timetable. You might have a busy workload, a family to look after, and various other responsibilities therefore you need to make time for your run. It is easy to constantly think “I must get round to exercising” and not end up doing any at all. Making a timetable gives your training a proper structure to work with. 

Gradually Increase Pace & Distance

Don’t expect yourself to run for miles the first time that you try. If running is not something that you usually do then begin with small targets such as jogging for 3-5 minutes without stopping. Then walk for 3 minutes and try again. Everybody begins at different stages but as long as you gradually increase your pace and distance then you are heading in the right direction.

Mix Up Your Route & Use the Gym

Depending on where you live the scenery might be beautiful or you might be jogging past an industrial estate every day. Either way repeating the same route can become boring very quickly. Try a different area even if it means driving there, parking up, and then going for a jog. If you have a gym membership then the treadmill is great for measuring your distance and heart rate but gets dull quickly. Mix up your routine so that you are sometimes on the treadmill, sometimes outside.

You Don’t Have to Just Run

Doing the same exercise every day becomes tiresome. Running is obviously important but don’t be afraid of having a couple of days off the running and replacing it with something else. Exercise DVDs are a brilliant way to shake up your routine especially because you can do them in your own living room. If you prefer to be with other people then joining some exercise classes is another option.

Prepare a Diet

If you plan what you are going to eat in advance it is more likely that you will stick to it. Bear in mind that you burn around 100 calories / mile of a run. Fish, chicken, and beans are high in protein and low in calories. This does not mean you have to strip back all the other foods – particularly not for short charity runs – but ensure that they are somewhere in your weekly diet.

Drink Plenty of Water but Don’t Overdo It

Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Cut back on alcohol because it contains a lot of calories Try to stick to water which is usually a safe option. Drinking too much water can cause a dilution of soda in your body which essentially means that too much water enter the cells and they swell as a result. However, this is highly unlikely unless you are drinking vast quantities.

The Sheffield Half Marathon is taking place on the 6/4/2014 so there is still time for you to get involved. The Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind help individuals of all ages including babies and their families, who are living with blindness. Our aim is to help those people live their lives to the full because we believe that blindness should not stop anybody from fulfilling their dreams. We are hugely grateful for every penny raised. If you would like to find out more about how you can sponsor us, please visit our charity events page: http://www.srsb.org.uk/Feeds.aspx?Key=3bd3f536-86da-4cbf-b880-db992b251b18&FeedType=EVENT .

Raise Money for Charity in 5 Simple Steps

At the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB) we understand the significance of donations and how much they are relied upon. Our charity provide information, support, and friendship to partially-sighted individuals and people living with complete blindness. Just £10 helps to buy special equipment that allows people with blindness to pour themselves hot drinks without risk of injury. £1000 funds the children’s Christmas party and £35,000 would buy a new minibus for our trips. We appreciate every penny that is raised for SRSB but understand that sometimes raising money for a good cause is tricky. We have broken the process down into 5 simple steps to help you:

1) Pick a Great Cause

The first step is to decide which cause you are fundraising for. SRSB is a charity that helps adults and children living with blindness. Our mission is: to provide opportunity, support, friendship and services to blind and partially sighted people in Sheffield, helping them to achieve whatever they wish to do and whatever they aspire to be. Smaller charities such as ours always need help because we do not receive much publicity but any charity that is close to your heart is a worthwhile cause.

Blind and Partially Sighted Children with Parents

2) Think of an activity

You might be really fit and decide to push yourself to the limit; or you could be very unfit but doing something completely out of character to raise money. A charity run is a great idea because there are several national runs throughout the year that you can join, or you can design your own route. A more adventurous activity such as a charity skydive is likely to create a lot of interest and enthusiasm from friends and family. Choose a date well in advance (3-12 months) and book it as soon as possible. Booking far in advance prevents the charity skydive from being overbooked and will give you a solid time frame in which you need to raise the money.

3) Gain as Much Support as Possible

Don’t be afraid to ask colleagues for support. Some people find this awkward but if you don’t ask then you don’t get. If you would rather not ask people directly then leave a charity box at the reception (or anywhere where everybody passes) and leave it up to people’s discretion. Ask neighbours, family, friends, colleagues, your boss, members of your local sports team (or any hobbies you have), and more.

4) Use Social Media

From the very beginning you should set up a Facebook charity page. This a really easy way to raise funds quickly. You might not have spoken to half of your Facebook friends for years but you will be surprised by some of the people who choose to sponsor you. After setting up the page you can also link it to a blog. If you are training for the event then keep the blog updated with what you have done each day in preparation; this keeps people interested and they will respect your hard work.

5) Raise Additional Funds through Cake Sales, Auctions, and Raffles

There are lots of additional activities that you can do to raise those extra funds. A cake sale is an easy way to raise profits because making them is very cheap and you can easily sell them for a good profit. Auctions, bingo, themed parties, and raffles are also a good alternative and can raise a lot of money. 

Event Ideas for Staying In

Over the summer we will be asking you to stay in and hold an event to raise money and awareness for SRSB. This is a great excuse to catch up with old friends and bring family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours together. It’s a good idea to start planning ahead while time is on your side. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

Girls’ Makeover Night

Why not have a fun girly night in? Pay a small donation (around £3) to join in. Everybody brings some make-up, nail varnish, a facial kit, anything that they have... then have fun swapping around. Do each other’s make-up and exchange beauty tips. Manicures and pedicures are a staple and make sure that there are plenty of straighteners and curling tongs around!

Charity Dinner

Have a charity dinner where all of the guests bring along a sample of their favourite dish. One person will bring a curry while another might bring a risotto; variety is the spice of life after all and the biggest bonus is that you don’t have to do all the cooking! You could also ask guests to bring along any old clothes / toys / unwanted possessions that you will then donate to SRSB.

Garden Party

Make the most of the summer weather by having a garden party. The best food for this type of get-together is the combination of a barbecue with lots of nibbles to pick at. Don’t forget the ultimate summer drink: Pimm’s!

Quiz Night

Bring out everybody’s competitive side with a fun-filled quiz night. Range the questions from easy to very difficult so that everybody can join in and you could even have an auction at the end to raise some extra money.

Themed Party

You are never too old for fancy-dress. A regular party with dance floor, music, drinks, and party food can be livened up just by giving everybody a theme to dress for. It can be specific such as an underwater theme or it might be a broader theme such as “anything beginning with ‘S’”. Sell tickets rather than send invites – explain to your friends it’s just for fun so you can raise money for charity.