A few fun ways to fundraise

We have so many brilliant volunteers and supporters who help so many people by raising money for us. If you’re interested in raising money for the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind, but you’re not quite sure how to then please read on! This blog lists some of our favourite, most fun and rewarding ways to fundraise...

Get your bake on!

The old fashioned bake-sale is a fantastic way to raise money and have fun while you do it! We love baking cakes. It’s cheap, relaxing and, in the end, yummy! You can set aside one Sunday afternoon to bake a few cakes or bathes of cupcakes with very small expenses and they sell them to your friends, family, neighbour or work colleagues. You will enjoy yourself, make others happy, and raise lots of money for a great charity!

Dress down, or up!

If you work in an office environment this works particularly well. Ask your boss/manager if it would be possible to have a dress down day, or a fancy dress day at work! Everyone get enjoy dressing up in fancy dress, or lounging in their comfy clothes, and can donate a small fee for the pleasure. It’s great for work morale and a really simple was to raise money!

Don’t bin it, sell it!

How does that saying go - one man’s trash is another man's treasure? A great way to kill two birds with one stone is by holding a garage sale! You get to clear some space in your home while selling your unwanted belongings and raising some money!

Shut up for money!

A great one for the chattier among us is a sponsored silence. Suitable for work, home or at schools, (we’re sure bosses, mums and teachers will love this one!), get your friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor you to remain silent for the entire day. A free, effective and simple way to fundraise!

Charity Film Night!

We love a Saturday night in watching films! Instead of going to the movies, out to eat, or out for a few drinks on a Saturday night, why not invite all you friends over to your house for a film night. All of the money that they would have spent on going out can be donated to charity instead!

These are just a few easy ways to fundraise we enjoy, but there are literally 100’s of ways you can raise money for charity. Why not share your favourite methods in the comments section below!

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.

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.