Top ten fundraising ideas

1. Dress down days

Get colleagues involved by asking them to pay to wear something different to work for a day.

2. Auction of promises

Auction lots could range from two hours of dog walking to theatre tickets, meals in local restaurants or mowing your neighbour’s lawn. You could even auction someone’s skills – e.g. decorating. You could hold it at home or in a local venue and charge a small entrance fee. Make sure you have got plenty of lots to auction and get local publicity to encourage people to attend.

3. Quiz evenings

Organise just one night or a whole series of quizzes in your local pub or social club. You can charge entry for each team and get prizes donated. Many pubs or social clubs will be happy to support you as the event will bring them extra customers.

4. Challenge

Feeling adventurous? You could take on the challenge of a lifetime – from abseiling down a building to running a marathon – and you can ask people to sponsor you for your efforts. Please refer to your local fundraiser or our events section for sponsored events we are running in your area.

5. Sponsorship

Can you face 24 hours of not swearing, smoking or speaking? If you can, get sponsored for it! Or try sporting ventures such as swimming, cycling or running, and get fit at the same time.

There are plenty of things you can get sponsored for – from giving up chocolate for a month to having your beard/hair shaved off.

6. Dinner party

Cook a meal and invite your friends – for a price! You could also run a mini-raffle or auction during dinner to provide additional entertainment and raise money.

7. Sporting event

If you are part of a sports club, golf club or fitness centre, you could organise a charity football match, golf day or fancy dress sports challenge. Maybe your club has one already and you could nominate the Red Cross to be the benefiting charity?

8. Social event

Hold a party, BBQ or coffee morning. Charge people to attend and organise a raffle. Everyone will have a great time and the money raised will make a real difference to the Red Cross.

9. Odd jobs

Help a neighbour or member of your family by taking their dog for a walk, doing their shopping or cleaning up the garden in exchange for a small donation. It soon adds up.

10. Collections

Get permission to collect from your local supermarket, pub, football club, train station, theatre, cinema or shopping centre. But remember you need to contact us before organising a collection to ensure it does not clash with existing collections.