Let us know
Please contact your local Red Cross fundraiser about any events that you are planning to hold to raise money for the British Red Cross. They can provide advice and may be able to offer materials you will find useful.
Alternatively, you can register your event to let us know what you have planned by filling in our simple form. Once we have your details our fundraiser near you will be in touch.
Plan in advance
Think carefully about the event before you start and put an action plan together. Work out:
- what type of event you'd like to put on
- how long it will take you to organise it
- who you could contact to help you
- how much it might raise in relation to the effort involved.
When setting the date for your event, try to ensure you avoid clashes with big events near you, or ones that are televised.
Choose an event that you'll enjoy planning and that other people will enjoy taking part in. It's also a good idea to have one person in overall charge of things, or leading the group.
Download a checklist to help you with your event planning.
Spread the word
Advertising of fundraising events is key to their success. Consider the options you have for reaching the people who are most likely to be interested in the event you're organising. These might include invitations, posters, use of social networking sites, intranets, notice boards in community spaces or advertisements in your local paper. Take a look at our publicity page for more advice on interacting with local media.
Work out a budget
Your costs may include postage, printing, photocopying, equipment, catering and hire charges. Try to get individuals or local businesses to donate the things you need, but please talk to your local fundraiser for advice before making any approaches as we may have recently asked for people’s support.
Your income might include ticket/entry fees, sponsorship, donations, raffles, auctions, advertising and sale of goods and refreshments. Just make sure that your expected income is much higher than your costs!
Sponsorship tips
Here are some things to consider if you're taking on a sponsored event:
- ask everyone you know to sponsor you
- make sure everyone knows your target
- have a generous first amount on your form
- some employers offer a matched giving scheme – doubling your total.
Setting up a Justgiving page enables your friends and family to sponsor you by credit or debit card and is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to collect donations.
Gift Aid is a simple and effective way of boosting your fundraising. This is a scheme introduced by HM Revenue & Customs that allows us to reclaim the basic rate of tax people pay as UK taxpayers. It means that for every £1 that is donated, we get up to an extra 28p at no extra cost. All that is required is a one-off declaration.
Your local fundraiser can provide you with sponsorship forms which include the option for Gift Aid.
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