Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jjmack]

Hi all,

My son is going to Switzerland on International Scout Camp next year. The troop are trying to fundraise to reduce the overall cost for all the scouts as its a significant amount. It is a fantastic opportunity and they will get to meet Scouts from all over the world and be involved in loads of activities and experiences.

 

We had a meeting this week to get some ideas and the usual things came up - Xmas cards, jumble sales, bag packing, sponsored hikes etc all of which are great and will generate some income. We are not able to do "bob a job" anymore due to safe guarding etc.

 

We are very aware that in the scheme of things helping to pay for a scout "holiday" is not everyone's ideas of where they want their charitable donations to go, so was just wondering if the fountains of knowledge on here have any ideas that we could throw into the mix? There are only 23 going on the trip so resources and man power is limited a little, and its always the same old faces doing the graft!

 

One of the things I may volunteer to do is the Scouts Chase walk which is 40miles over rough terrain - I am reasonably fit but have never walked that far in one go - anyone had a similar experience and completed it? It does mean I can treat myself to a new pair of walking boots though

 

Thank you!

Jane

[PurpleTree]

Good luck! My husband is an assistant cub leader, so understand what a struggle fundraising can be. Maybe the scouts could do a sponsored walk? A friends football team did a car wash, the local police brought some cars down & think she said they raised £500! Some sort of social evening with a raffle, ask local businesses to donate prizes. A ladies Pamper Evening?

 

Will keep an eye on this thread as it might give us some ideas too!

[jjmack]

Thankyou!

 

Ladies pamper evening always a good shout! I'll suggest that.

 

More ideas gratefully received

[soapdragon]

Our local scouts did a cable amnesty. Apparently all those cables/leads etc for computers/cameras and what have you contain COPPER which is worth money! Not sure how they sold it on so sorry to be a bit vague but perhaps they could Google it?

 

Cake sale? Boot /table top sales? Is there a local pub who might 'host' an evening and where you could also have a raffle? Are any parents able or willing to shave their heads/beards? If organising an event then try and get the local press involved to come and take pics to publicise the cause (with details of how to donate too!)

 

Do you have a local supermarket who might support you ? Waitrose have a scheme whereby customers are given tokens at the checkout and then put them into a collecting bin for one of three local charities (Asda do something similar, I think.)

 

Would any local businesses sponsor your cause? Always worth an ask if you agree to 'credit' them in any publicity.

 

A sponsored 'Fun Run' (personally a contradiction in terms but..heyho! each to their own!!)

 

Good luck! Keep us posted!

[chickencam]

Sponsored events seem to be the way to go to raise big chunks of money, especially if you can involve people who work for large companies, or people with a large friendship group. We were always amazed how much could be raised this way when I was treasurer of a local playgroup. Also raffles are good especially with Christmas coming up, just be cheeky and ask local businesses for prizes, it is surprising how much you can get, but again you need very proactive people to sell the tickets.

[Olly]

The most successful fundraising my choir has done recently was a quiz evening - I couldn't believe how much we made just by charging an entry fee, and having a raffle. We got people to bring their own food, but provided tea and coffee and cakes for which we just asked a donation rather than a price. (NB: in my experience 'donations' usually produce much more than a specific price!)

 

Although you can't do 'bob a job', I wonder if you could get the Scouts to provide some of the raffle prizes, e.g. so many hours of gardening/rubbish clearance/fence painting/car washing?

 

Or how about a Christmas wrapping event - I am rubbish at wrapping presents, and I'd gladly make a donation to someone to wrap some of mine for me!

[jjmack]

Thank you there are some great ideas there. I like the scouts as raffle prizes idea.

 

We are going to do a sponsored climb the height of the nearest mountain to where they are going. My son and some of the leaders climb at an indoor climbing centre so they are going to help us. They need to climb 3,600m, which if there are only 4 of them its about 90 climbs each, which is a huge amount - so we're going to get a few more involved.

 

I've knocked the 40m hike off my list as I don't think my hips will take it, they're not good at the mo. But I'm now going to have a look at the great north swim. Its something I've thought about for a while and although the distance isn't huge to me as I swim quite a bit, I have never done an outdoor long distance swim, so I thought it would be a challenge. I thought I could have 2 beneficiaries, the scouts and a national charity such as the MS society or similar. I hope that way people will be more willing to sponsor me, rather than subsidising my sons holiday!

 

Keep the ideas coming though!

thanks

Jane