Fundraise

We couldn't do what we do without the fundraising efforts of our generous supporters. There are many ways that you can raise money to support our activities. You can hold your own charity fundraising event, take on an individual challenge or fundraise as a team. However you choose to fundraise for us, be sure to have a fantastic time while also raising vital funds to help us be there for older people.

Tell us about your fundraising activity.

Fundraise as an individual

Set your own challenge or host a community event to raise money for help tackle dementia, depression, and loneliness for older people.

Here's some inspiration for fun and simple ways to fundraise:

• Get moving. Set yourself a running, walking or cycling challenge. You can sign up to a local run and get sponsored.
• Get Active with your own community sports day. Hold a mini Olympics event for neighbours, friends and family to have a go at different sports and charge a small donation for entering.
• Get baking and host a cake sale. Try adding gluten-free and vegan recipes to broaden your appeal. Can you make your bakes into a sporting theme?
• Give up gifts. Ask friends and family to make a donation to the Sporting Memories Foundation instead of buying birthday or Christmas gifts.
• Get together. Organise a coffee morning or afternoon tea for neighbours, friends and family – don’t forget to talk about sport!

Fundraise as a group

Fundraising as a group is a great way to do something good with your friends, family and colleagues. It’s great fun too! We’ve provided some great ideas to try as a group:

• Play team games. Organise a 5-a-side football tournament or other group sports and ask participants or spectators to buy tickets.
• Get outside. Take a group bike ride, hike or 5km run together.
• Break a record. Attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Record. Find the record you want to break, gather together your local community, and raise money for charity while you support them.
• Get washing. Hold a charity car wash and as a group clean cars for a donation.

Fundraise in the workplace

Fundraising in the workplace is a great way to raise vital funds. There are loads of engaging ways you can involve your work colleagues. Here are some of our favourite workplace fundraising ideas to help you get started:

• Walk or cycle to work. Challenge your colleagues to try a greener, healthier commute by ditching the car or a step challenge whilst at work.
• Throw an office bake off. Get your colleagues competing for the best cakes and biscuits and sell the results.
• Donate the coffee. Ask colleagues to donate the cost of their morning coffees for a month.
• Get quizzing. Hand out quiz sheets and ask for a donation to enter. Or run a sweepstake on a contestant knockout TV show or sporting event.

Can't take the day off?

Want to support us but can't find the time around work commitments? Why not set up a JustGiving page and donate an hour's or day's wages instead?

Fundraising Toolkits

Whatever you choose to do, your efforts will help us continue to make a real difference to older people across the UK.

For more ideas take a look at our Fundraising Toolkits for individuals, groups or companies.

Fundraising Top Tips

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you are a first-time fundraiser, keep it simple. Turn something you do every day into a money spinner and make sure you pick something you enjoy.

2. SET A TARGET

Every amount raised – small or large – is vital for us to continue our work. Setting a target will help you keep focused. Aim high, stay positive, and work out any costs before you start to make sure you’re going to be in profit.

3. DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO

Once you have your target, break it down into manageable pieces so you can decide how the money will be raised. You might need to book a venue or need equipment. Start to plan what, how and what you need to complete your fundraising. And don’t forget to think about how you will collect the money raised.

4. SET A DATE

Check that the event date doesn't clash with any other local events in your area or any national, school or religious holidays which may affect attendance.

5. LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT YOUR FUNDRAISING

• Word of mouth – tell your family, tell your friends, tell everyone
• Get social – use your own social media accounts and tell our Facebook and Twitter accounts

6. MAXIMISE YOUR MONEY

• Set up an online fundraising webpage – online giving is easy to set up, and you can personalise your page with words and images. It also means friends and family can sponsor you, day or night, wherever they are in the world with all the money pledged coming straight through to help our work
• Gift Aid it – if your sponsors are UK taxpayers they can make their donations worth 25% more. Simply make sure they tick the Gift Aid box on the sponsorship form
• Get your money matched – some companies take part in matched giving schemes where you may be able to double the money you raise - simply check with your employer.

7. BE LEGAL AND SAFE

We are so grateful to everyone who fundraises for us. However, it is important to remember that fundraising is regulated by law.

Insurance

• Any person organising their own fundraising activity for the benefit of the Sporting Memories Foundation is not covered by our insurance. We advise that you obtain your own cover as necessary.
• If you organise an event that involves the public in any way, you will need to ensure that the venue has got the appropriate public liability insurance.

Risk assessment

• Whatever your event, it is always advisable to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that you have proper plans for public safety.
• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines a risk assessment as nothing more than a careful examination of what (during your event) could put others in danger, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken appropriate precautions or need to take further action to prevent harm.
• Visit the HSE website for further guidance and template risk assessments forms.

Food regulations

• Food safety laws apply when food is available at an event whether it is for sale or not, so you must make sure you follow the relevant food hygiene procedures. For information on food hygiene and safety legislation contact your local authority environmental health department.

8. GET IN TOUCH

We're here to help, so please contact us to talk about your fundraising plans and ask any questions you may have.

Email: fundraising@sportingmemories.uk
Call us: 07592 639056

How to pay in the money raised

You can pay the money you have raised to the Sporting Memories Foundation in the following ways.

• Online. Pay online through our donate page.
• By Cheque. Please send a cheque made payable to ‘Sporting Memories Foundation’* along with a covering note. Our address is: Sporting Memories Foundation, Ashfords, 2 Manor Court, Manor Mill Lane, Leeds, LS11 8LQ.
• Bank transfer. To receive our banking details to send your fundraising via a bank transfer, call us on 0759 2639056.

*For donations for Scotland, please refer to ‘Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland’