Children in Need raises record £31m, but how easy is it for individuals to fundraise?
Every year we bear witness to the astounding ability of Children in Need or Comic Relief to shatter yet another fundraising record. It seems that once a year the hearts and wallets of the nation open in an apparently unstoppable flow of compassion and generosity. But what about the rest of the year? For many young people hoping to do some volunteering abroad, the prospect of fundraising towards the costs can prove to be a big psychological barrier. So how easy is it to raise money for charity when you don’t have the help of Sir Terry Wogan, Fearne Cotton and the gang?
The answer is that it may be easier than you think. The main thing to bear in mind is that fundraising can take an almost unending variety of forms so do not panic if the thought of performing in some kind of sponsored talent show fills you with dread. One of the most effective and painless ways to fundraise is to try and incorporate sponsorship into an activity you actually enjoy. Classic examples of this include sponsored bike rides, swims, dance-offs, and marathon races.
However, if, like many, you are averse to any kind of exercise, there are still lots of other ways to raise some cash, and fortunately the internet is a real treasure trove of ingenious ideas. The likes of Children in Need and Red Nose Day all have their own fundraising pages, full of tips and suggestions, and ideas range from selling lunchtime manicures to being sponsored to eat only red food for a week. Generally-speaking, the more creative you are and the better you are at communicating your cause, the more likely you are to encourage people to sponsor you.
If you’re feeling brave, public humiliation can also be a surprisingly effective way of raising money within a relatively short space of time. In the past, some Lattitude volunteers have even gone so far as to shave off their eyebrows for charity… but we hasten to add that this is not a prerequisite for undertaking one of our projects. Other ideas might include a sponsored day of dares, where your friends are given the freedom to dare you to do whatever they want, or a week where you wear a different type of clothing.
Elsewhere, selling your old clobber on ebay or at a local car boot sale can also be an effective yet more low-key way of raising money, while clearing some space in your room for all those souvenirs you’ll bring home from your time away. And of course there is the most traditional fundraising method of all: getting a job.
So fundraising should not stop you from embarking on the volunteering experience of a lifetime, and in fact, the initiative and commitment you show in raising money will be a great talking point in future job interviews. If you would like to talk to someone about fundraising ideas, get in touch at [email protected] or have a look at our A-Z of fundraising here.
