Fundraising Guide

Quite often, people are keen to organise a fundraising event for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance but they don’t always know where to start.  This section of our website is designed to help with a bit of inspiration for pointing potential fundraisers in the right direction to get started.

There are no real right and wrongs when it comes to raising funds for the YAA – just a bit of imagination at times!  We will however, highlight a few areas which need a little more consideration than others.

If you have any questions, need some fundraising resources, or just need extra help and advice, our lovely ladies at Charity HQ will be more than happy to assist you.  Call them on 01422 237900.

Fundraising for YAA

Raising funds is both fun and challenging.  Here are few points you need to consider before you start. 

• Brainstorm your ideas with friends and agree on something that is realistic and likely to work.
• Set yourself a fundraising target to aim for
• Give yourself adequate time to prepare and promote your fundraising activities
• If you will incur any overheads – plan a budget or get sponsorship, prizes donated or a venue provided free of charge by contacting local business and people you may know you can assist you.
• Contact the charity office and let us know what you are planning -   we can help you maximise your fundraising efforts.

Fundraising Ideas

There are many ways you can raise money for the YAA.  Here are just a few to get you started.

• The old ideas are often the best – organise a raffle, coffee morning, quiz night, sponsored challenge or host an open garden.
• Turn your hobby into cash – sell arts and crafts or delicious cakes and jams at summer fetes and local shows.
• Sporting challenge – host five–a-side football tournaments, family sports days, golf and darts competitions.
• Involve everyone – events that encompass all ages are often very successful such as family fun days, fetes and galas.

Skydiving

We often get approached by supporters who would like to do a Skydive to raise money for us but aren’t sure where to start.  In the past, many of our daring supporters (including some of our own staff members!) have used a company called ‘Click & Jump’. The YAA are already registered with these guys. To find out more about organising a skydive with ‘Click & Jump’, visit their website at www.clickandjump.co.uk/charity.html

Get Local Support and Publicity

Publicising your event/fundraising in the local media is a great way to attract support and also raise awareness for the YAA. Many local papers are very supportive of local events and local people getting involved.  The easiest thing to do is contact your local papers newsdesk.

Let people know why you are supporting YAA, and what inspired to raise money – whether you have a moving personal story or you could inspire others to join in.  These are the sort of stories your local press would love to hear about.

Remember to include the following information:

• Details of your event
• Why you are supporting the YAA
• How much money you hope to raise
• What you are planning to do.

Many newspapers welcome a follow up to the initial story with an accompanying photograph of the day/event so make sure and take lots of photos from your event.

Don’t forget to spread the word to your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.  Publicise your efforts on a notice board at your gym, church, college or work place.  You can even advertise your event on the YAA website, see here for details of how to go about this.

Money Matters

Collecting money can seem even more difficult than organising the fundraising, but the following advice should make things easier for you:

Online fundraising   

Set up your own fundraising page on www.justgiving.com and collect sponsorship without the hassle of dealing with cash or cheques.  Sponsors can donate quickly and easily online with a credit or debit card and their money comes straight to the YAA. 

Gift Aid

If you are organising a sponsored event or are asking for donations please ask supporters to ‘Gift Aid’ their donation.  This means if they are a UK taxpayer they can increase their donation by 25 per cent just by ticking  the gift aid box and include their name and address on the YAA sponsorship form or by completing a gift aid form.  This means that for every £1 they donate the YAA can claim an extra 25p at no cost to them.  Sponsor forms can be downloaded here.

Match Giving

You should find out whether the business you work for does matched giving.  This is where they will donate £1 for every £1 you raise.  It’s a great way to boost the money you’ve raised and an extra incentive for all your friends and colleagues.

Sending your money in to the YAA.

Please do not send cash through the post.

Wherever possible encourage people to write cheques made payable to the ‘Yorkshire Air Ambulance’ and forwarded to us at the following address:

Cayley House

10 South Lane

Elland

West Yorkshire

HX5 0HQ

If you receive cash or cheques payable to yourself, bank them and then write a cheque to the ‘Yorkshire Air Ambulance’ for the full amount.

We can also provide you with our bank details to allow you to pay funds directly into our account

If you have paid money from sponsors into your own account and would like to pay by credit or debit card – call us on 01422 237900 and you can pay over the phone.

However you send your money to us, please let us know details of the fundraising/event so that we can credit the money that comes into your fundraising activities.  All donations should be accompanied by a contact name, address and telephone number in order for us to acknowledge your donation.

Legal and Health and Safety Considerations

When fundraising, it’s not worth taking any risks with safety or the law.  Here are a few things you might need to consider.  If you are in any doubt please contact your regional Development Officer, Community Fundraiser or someone at Charity HQ who should be able to advise you.  You can find the relevant names and numbers on our ‘Contact’ page:

• Ensure all publicity material include ‘All proceeds/profits will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity’.  Events should be held ‘in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’ too. You must also state YAA’s registered charity number.
• Raffles are now carefully regulated and the only type of raffle that can be operated without a licence is one where the tickets are sold and the prize draw are on the same day.  You cannot pre-sell tickets without obtaining a licence from your local council.  You must do this directly with them, and not through the YAA.
• If you want to sell alcohol at your event you will need to obtain a licence for your local police station or alternatively you can sell tickets which can then be exchanged for drinks.
• Anyone collecting money in a public place will require a Street Collection Licence from their local council.  To collect donations on private property, such as in a supermarket or pub you only need the permission of the owner or manager.
• Safety is an important aspect of any event so always check any facilities in advance, including any fire exits.
• Consider any first aid requirements.  Some events/fundraising will not require first aid cover dependant on the size and nature of the event. You may consider contacting your local Red Cross or St John Ambulance for advice.
• If you are preparing food yourself, you’d be well advised to get someone involved who has awarded a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• If you are organising a fundraising event you may be required to take out adequate Public and Product Liability insurance cover. 

Top Tips

1) Have fun – and choose a fundraising project that you will enjoy.  If you are having a good time people are more likely to respond.

2) Keep it simple – the best fundraising projects are the simplest.  Be realistic and cost out any expenditure carefully.  Keep a checklist so you know exactly what needs to be done at every stage.

3) Keep it legal – make sure you have liaised with your regional Development Officer or Community Fundraiser to ensure that your fundraising efforts are legal.

4) Tell us about it – let us know what you are planning and we will provide you with advice, local support from experienced volunteers to assist you, fundraising materials and literature to maximise your efforts,  PR advice and YAA official merchandise

5) Tell others about it – don’t forget to tell your family, friends and work colleagues about what you are up to and display posters in and around your local area.