Street fundraising
 |  | One of the most cost-effective ways to recruit new direct debit supporters is through street fundraising. The supporters we recruit are worth about £105 each to the charity in the first year of their support and a large number will support us for many years to come. |  | | | | |
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| The British Red Cross has been carrying out street fundraising for six years, with a great deal of success. This fundraising is managed in conjunction with an external agency called Dialogue Direct Fundraising UK. | |
| The value of a regular gift via direct debit cannot be overstated. The long-term security of these donations enable us to plan ahead with confidence and be ready to respond when emergencies occur. | |
| The other advantage of street fundraising is that it attracts a diverse range of supporters. These are often individuals we haven't managed to reach before, as they may not always donate to a charity. For example, since the British Red Cross has started using street fundraising, there's been a marked rise in the number of young supporters who are committed to giving in the long term. | |
We take pride in the knowledge, enthusiasm and quality of our street fundraisers and go to great lengths to ensure they are well-trained ambassadors for the British Red Cross. If you have any concerns about the conduct of one of our fundraisers, please contact our Supporter Care Team on 0844 87 100 87.
Engagement Fundraising
Engagement is a type of fundraising that we use alongside street fundraising, but we don’t ask for a regular gift by direct debit to be set up on the spot. Engagement fundraisers simply discuss the Red Cross’ work, ask for a person’s contact details along with the area of work that interests them the most, and give them a button badge and leaflet to thank them for their time.
After the initial conversation on the street, the person is sent an email explaining more about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's work. A few days later, a telephone fundraiser calls to discuss our work before inviting them to become a regular giver to the British Red Cross.
Like street fundraising, engagement is carried out on the street and is managed by an external agency, Dialogue Direct UK. Engagement fundraisers are thoroughly training and have detailed knowledge of our work.
Benefits of engagement
The great thing about engagement is the chance it gives the public to learn more about the Red Cross and whether they would like to make a commitment to our work by setting up a regular gift.
Like street fundraising, this method attracts a diverse range of supporters and appeals particularly to younger audiences who don’t normally respond to more traditional paper-based fundraising methods.
How to recognise a legitimate street fundraiser | |
| If you come into contact with someone claiming to represent the British Red Cross, the overwhelming likelihood is that they are genuine. If you do need reassurance that a fundraiser is legitimate, please consult the following information. | |
| During the winter street fundraisers will usually wear a red jacket, with the British Red Cross emblem on the front. In summer, the fundraisers will usually wear a red t-shirt with the British Red Cross emblem on the front. All face to face fundraisers have Dialogue Direct Fundraising UK photo identification on display and they will be carrying a folder containing British Red Cross literature. | | |  | |
| A list of sites where our street fundraisers will be working is updated weekly and can be seen by clicking here. | |
| If an area is not included please do not assume that a fundraiser is bogus, as occasionally fundraisers can cross over into the next town or village by mistake. If there are fundraisers in an area not listed please contact our Supporter Care Team on 0844 87 100 87, who will be able to verify the legitimacy of a fundraiser. | |
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