Raise money for Shelter with your Rag

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This guide tells you all you need to know about raising money for Shelter. It’s packed full of ideas and helpful hints and tips. Every penny you raise is important to us. Thank you!

WewouldloveyoutochooseShelterasyourcharityoftheyear,toraisemoneyforusduringRagweekortochooseusasthebeneficiaryofanyotheractivitiesorchallengesyoumayhaveplanned.

WecanprovideyouwithlotsofmaterialsandinformationaboutShelter’sworktosupportyou.Wemightevenbeabletocomeandmeetwithyoupersonally,orarrangeforyoutovisitoneofouradviceorsupportservices.

Anyonecanfindthemselveshomelessorinhousingdifficulty,andyoungpeopleaged16to25aremorelikelythananyotheragegrouptoseekShelter’shelp.Whetheryou’releavingtheparentalhome,havingtroublewithyourlandlord,orlivingwiththeflatmatefromhell–Sheltercanhelp.

Shelter’swebsitecontainshousingadviceforyoungpeople.Itexplainsyourrightsandoptionsinstraightforward,accessiblelanguage.Morethanhalfamillion16-to25-year-oldshavevisitedShelter’swebsiteforadviceonline–that’ssevenpercentoftheentireUKpopulationinthisagegroup.Ofthosewhouseditforhousingadvice,78percentsaythatShelterhelpedresolvetheirhousingproblem.Butifyoucan’tfindwhatyou’relookingforatwww.shelter.org.uk,youcancontactusfortailoredadvicebyemail.

IfyouwouldlikeSheltertobeyourchosencharity,we’dverymuchliketohearfromyou.Pleasecontactusatstudents@shelter.org.ukorbycalling0844 515 2219.

Where the money you raise could go n £15couldpayfor

aschoolpack,tohelpahomelesschildsettleintoanewschool

n £50helpspayforaSheltercaseworkertoattendcourt,tostopafamilybeingevictedfromtheirhome

n £500couldfundaChristmaspartyforhomelesschildren,givingthemthechancetomeetotherchildrenwithsimilarexperiences.

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RaidsWeallknowthatraidsaregreatfun,andoneofthemosteffectivewaystofundraise.Everyyearwesecureawiderangeofstreetcollectionpermits,socontactusforavailabledates.

Ifthere’ssomewhereyou’dliketocollect,letusknowandwe’lltrytogetyouapermit.Pleasegiveusasmuchadvancenoticeaspossible–mostcouncilsbookuptheirSaturdaycollectionsayearinadvance!

Ofcoursewecanprovideyouwithbuckets,collectiontinsandT-shirts.We’llevengiveyouplasticponchosincaseitrains,soyoucancollectwhatevertheweather!

Raidsneedn’tbelimitedtostreetcollections.Howaboutraidingalocalsupermarketorshoppingmall,orevenatheatrelobby,trainstationorabusypartofyouruniversitycampus?Ifyou’rebasedinoraroundLondon,wecanarrangeatubestationcollectionforyou.Ifyoucollectinprivatespacesliketheseyoudon’tusuallyneedapermit,justpermissionfromthemanagerandaletterfromus.

Seepage7forthelawonstreetcollections.

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Event ideasWeknowthatexperiencedfundraiserslikeyouwillhaveplentyofbrilliantideasforfundraisingevents,sothefollowingarejustsuggestionstogetyoustarted.

n Maskedball

n Cocktailevening

n Cheeseandwineparty

n Bingonight

n Carolsinging

n Karaokenight

n Play

n Pubquiz

n Sponsoredeventwithpost-eventparty

n Filmnightinhalls/students’union

n Party/clubnightinyourstudents’union

n Bring&buysale/swapshop

n Coldturkey(egbeer,cigarettes,make-up,TV,sweets...whateveryou’dfindhardesttogiveup!)

n Bagpacking/supermarketcollection

n Speeddatingevent

n Carwashing

n Pramrace

n Rubberduckrace

n Fashionshow

n Currynight

n Treasurehunt

WecanprovideyouwithallsortsofShelter-brandedmaterialsforyourevent:stickers,balloons,banners,collectiontinsandbuckets,T-shirts,pens,bags,postersandleaflets.Pleaseemailus,requestingthematerialsyouneedandgivingusplentyofnoticesoyou’llreceivethemintime.

Don’tforget:wealsohaveplacesinexcitingracessuchastheFloraLondonMarathonandtheGreatNorthRun.Forinformationaboutthese,pleasevisitwww.shelter.org.uk/marathon

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Top tips for a successful eventn Know your marketChooseanideathatyouknowwillbepopularwiththe

peopleyouplantoinvite.Thesimplestideasareoftenthebest.

n Fundraise effectivelyForanattendanceeventsuchasaplayorkaraokenight,youcouldchargeanentrancefee,sellticketsororganiseacollection.Sponsorshipworksbestforanactivityorchallenge.

n Get the timing rightWouldtheeventbebestattheweekendoronaweekdaynight?Makesureyoureventdoesn’tclashwithanyothereventoroccasion.Giveyourselfenoughtimetoprepare.

n Work as a teamGetfriendsonboardtohelpyouorganise,divvyinguptaskstoeasethestrainonyou.

n Be realisticEstimatehowmanypeopleyoucanexpecttoturnup.Halvethatnumber,andworkoutifitwouldstillprovetobeasuccessfuleventornot.

n Read the small printCheckyourvenue’savailability,capacity,toiletfacilities,parkingandaccess.Seeiftheownerswillletyouuseitforfree.Doyouneedtoapplyforanylicenses?Ifit’sinapublicplaceyouneedtonotifythecouncil.

n Rain or shine?Ifyoureventistotakeplaceoutdoors,makesurethere’scover,incaseitrains.Or,perhapstheeventwouldbebetterindoors?

n Set a budgetPrepareadetailedbudgetbeforetheevent.Tokeepcostsdown,seeifyoucangetthingslikeprintingandvenuesforfree,oratadiscount.Thinkaboutthedifferentwaystomakemoney,suchasbartakingsorticketsales.

n Create a buzzGenerateasmuchpublicityaspossible.PleaseadviseShelterofanypublicityyou’replanning,andrunthematerialspastusfirstbeforeprinting.

n On the Big DayMakesureyouhaveenoughhelpers,andcontingencyplansincaseofbadweather.Checksafetyandsecurityplans,andletpeopleknowwhattheyareraisingmoneyfor.Watchallyourhardworkcometogether–andenjoyyourself!

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Shout about it!

n Get your facts rightDonorswillwanttoknowwheretheirmoneyisgoing,andwhatShelterisgoingtodowithit.Makesureyoucanexplainwhyyou’reaskingthemtosupportShelter.Forthemostup-to-dateinformationaboutourwork,visitwww.shelter.org.uk.WecanalsosendyouleafletsandinformationaboutspecificShelterservices.

n Spread the wordWordofmouthisthebestkindofpublicity.Telleveryoneaboutyoureventandgetthemtotelltheirfriends.Themorepeoplewhoknowaboutit,themoresupportyou’llget.Peoplearefarmorelikelytoattendyoureventiftheyknowsomeoneelsewhoisgoing.SendremindertextsandFacebookmessages.

n Use email and the webEmailyoureventnewsaroundandaskpeopletoforwarditontotheircontacts.AskifitcanbepostedonyourstudentunionwebsiteandsetupaneventgrouponFacebookorothersocialnetworkingsites.

n Put up posters and flyersThesearearelativelycheapandsimplewaytopubliciseyourevents.Displaythemonnoticeboardsinyourstudents’union,hallsofresidence,library,ordepartment.Pleasesendusaproofofanypostersorflyersyou’reproducing,sowecanofferadvicepriortoprinting.

n Seek media coverageDon’tforgettocontactyourstudentnewspaperandradiostations.Localmediamayalsobeinterestedinyourevent–wecansendyouasamplepressrelease.Ifyoudogetpublicity,we’dlovetoseeit.

Please make Shelter your charity of the year or Rag week beneficiaryEach year Shelter advises thousands of students and young people about their housing rights. By supporting Shelter and encouraging others to do so, you’ll be making a vital contribution to our work.

Amanda’s storyAmanda was just 16 when her mum threw her out. Life on her own was difficult and lonely, but Shelter helped get her back on track:

‘Mymother’salcoholismwasunbearabletobearound.Shewasconstantlyaskingmetoleavethehouse,slappingmeandgettingridofmybelongings.Oneday,shethrewmeoutforgoodandIwenttostayonmyfriend’sbedroomfloor.Itwasagenerousofferbutverycramped,becausemyfriendlivedwithherparentsandthreesiblings,soImovedtoahomelesshostel.

‘Ifounditscary,lonelyanddangerous,anditwashardtomanagemycollegework.

Eventuallymytutorshelpedmemoveintoasmallbedsit.Butitwasinadangerousareaand,afterbeingthevictimofaviolentcrime,Imovedinwithanotherfriend’sfamily.

‘ShelterputmeintouchwithaConnexionspersonaladviser.I’mnowstudyingtobeasocialworker,soIcanusemyexperiencestohelpothers.IwouldurgeanyoneinthesamesituationtoseekadviceandguidancefromagenciessuchasShelter.’

By fundraising with your Rag for Shelter you will be making a difference to the lives of homeless and badly housed people across the UK – people like Amanda.

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Sending in the moneyPleasesendinthemoneyraisedfromyourcollectionoreventwithinamonthofwhentheeventisheld.Please don’t send cash through the post.Bankanycashorchequesmadepayabletoyouandthenwriteasinglechequeforthetotalamountcollected,payabletoShelter.Pleasereturnthischeque,alongwithadonationform,to:

Rags Co-ordinator Community and Events Team Shelter 88 Old Street London EC1V 9HU

It’sessentialtoincludeadonationformsoweknowwherethemoneyhascomefrom,andsowecanthankyou.Wecansendyouoneofthese.

Keep in touch We’dlovetoknowwhatyou’vegotplanned,howit’sgoing,andanyopinionsandideasyoumayhave.Youcancontactusbyemailatstudents@shelter.org.ukorphone0844 515 2219.Andifyou’reinthearea,popinandseeus–we’dlovetomeetyou!

RafflesForsmallrafflesthatarepartofabiggerevent,youdonotneedalicensesolongasyousellticketsandmaketheprizedrawonlyduringtheeventitself(NB:cashprizesarenotpermitted).Thesameappliestoprivateraffleswhereyouareonlysellingticketstomembersofaclub.

Forlargerrafflesandlotteriesthatinvolvesellingticketstomembersofthepublic,youmustapplytothelocalregistrationauthority(localcouncil)beforehandforalicencepermit.

Ticketsmustnotbesoldbyanyoneundertheageof16.Forguidance,seetheGamingBoardofGreatBritain’swebsitewww.gbgb.org.uk

CollectionsIfyouplantoholdacollectiononprivateproperty,suchasapuborshoppingcentre,gainpermissionfromtheownerormanager.Ifyoucollectonthestreetyoumustsecureapermitfromthelocalauthorityfortheareayouwishtocollectin(wecanhelpyouwiththis).Collectingmoneydoortodoorisillegalwithoutalicence.

Theminimumlegalageforcollectingmoneyis18inLondonand16everywhereelse.Ifyouwanttoholdacollection,useasealedcollectingtinandcarryanIDcard(wecanprovideyouwiththese).

Followtherulessentwithyourcollectiontin;manycouncilsrequireabreakdownofhowmucheachpersoncollects,somakesureyoukeeparecord.

Other points to rememberIfyouaresellingalcoholyouneedaliquorlicence,whichyoucanapplyforfromthelocalmagistrates’court.Ataone-offevent,youdon’tneedalicencetosellfood,butyoushouldfollowthefoodhygieneregulations–visitwww.food.gov.ukforthis.Foreventsthatrunoveranumberofdays,registerwithyourlocalauthority.

Eventsinvolvingentertainmentsuchassinging,musicordancingrequirealicence.IfyourvenuedoesnotalreadyhaveaPublicEntertainmentLicence,youneedtoobtainonefromthelocal

authority.Venuessuchasstudents’unionsshouldalreadyhavethis.

LetShelterknowabouttheeventyouareplanning.Wecanmakesureyouareproperlysupported.IfyouwouldliketousetheShelterlogowearehappytosupplyit,butyoumustletusseethepublicitymaterialsfirst.

Fundraisingmaterialsyouproduceshouldcarrythewording:In aid of Shelter. Registered charity in England and Wales (263710) and in Scotland (SC002327).

Health and safety – points to consider to ensure your event, and everyone attending it, stays safe:

First aidDoyouhaveaqualifiedfirstaiderpresentorwillitbeenoughtohaveafirstaidbox?StJohn’sAmbulancemaybeabletohelp.Makesureyouhaveaphonetohand.

VenueDonotexceedcapacity,andensurethereisgoodaccessandemergencyexits.Doesthevenuehaveadequatecarparking,toiletfacilities,disabledaccess?Doyouneedon-sitecateringfacilities?Wherearethefireextinguisherskept?

FoodEnsurefoodisstoredandhandledcorrectly,followinghygienerules.Foodsthatcontainnutsorotheringredientsthatpeoplemaybeallergictomustbeclearlylabelled.

HelpersProvidehelperswithinformationabouthealthandsafetyandmakesuretheyknowwhat’sexpectedoftheminanemergency.

MoneyKeepcashinalockedbox.Takeextracarewhencarryingmoneyaround.

ChildrenEnsurethatchildrenaresafeandadequatelysupervised.

Shelter cannot accept responsibility for injury, accident, damage or loss as a result of your event. It is essential that you ensure your event is safe for all concerned.

Be legal and safeP

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