Other ways to fundraise
Climb Snowdon on stilts.
Bake a giant cake.
Shave your head.
Change the world.
'World change starts here' toolkit
You can do whatever you want. Just have fun, stay safe, and feel great knowing that every penny you raise helps people to overcome poverty.
Whether you do a little or a lot, it’ll go a long way.
Complete the form below, or phone us on 0300 200 1300 to order your 'World change starts here' toolkit and we'll post one out to you.
Spreading the word
Fundraising events, and your part in them, can be big news. Media in your area will always be on the look out for a local angle. Getting publicity is a great way to get more sponsors or people to your event.
An article in your local paper, or a piece on local radio or even regional TV news, will get you noticed and make it easier to approach people for sponsorship or get more people along to your event. You can include a cutting from the paper with any letters you send out to lend credibility to your efforts. Local news is also a good stage on which to acknowledge the support of your employer or other companies.
Planning ahead
Develop your publicity plan
Developing your publicity plan is key to successful fundraising.
Write a press release
Find out how to write a really effective press release.
Understand the media
It is important to understand the media to maximise your fundraising.
Organise a photocall
Top tips on organising a photocall to publicise your cause.
Rules and regulations
If you are running any fundraising activity that involves the public – YOU are responsible for ensuring that it complies with all the legal requirements. Oxfam cannot accept any liability for any activities run in our name.
The checklist
Events
- Contact your local council for any necessary permissions, licensing, trading standards, and health & safety issues.
- Contact the police if you are planning an event in a public place e.g. if the event is to be held on public roads and could cause traffic disruption.
Collections
- You need a licence from your local authority to collect funds in the street, in any public place, or house-to-house – otherwise it is illegal. Most authorities have details of how to apply for a licence on their website, but you should allow at least two months for it to come though.
- If you are collecting on private property e.g. a pub or supermarket, you must obtain written permission from the owner or manager, and when collecting you must always have a copy of this permission with you.
- Anyone collecting money in public, must be over 16.
- Please do not pressurise people to donate, and please do not act in a manner that might damage Oxfam’s good reputation.
Collection boxes
- We can’t supply collection boxes, buckets or tins for fundraisers.
- All donations must be placed in a sealed container – the seal can be a lock, or adhesive paper – anything that provides a way of easily detecting any attempt to tamper with it.
- Collection buckets and tins must be opened and counted by two people – you and someone to whom you are not related.
Raffles and lotteries
- These are subject to very strict and complex laws – therefore you must consult The Institute of Fundraising Laws, before organising a raffle or lottery.
- We also recommend that you get a copy of Lotteries and the Law, from the Gaming Board of Great Britain,
- In Northern Ireland contact the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action for a copy of their booklet Lotteries: A Guide for Voluntary Groups.
Health and safety
We want everyone to be safe while having fun and raising funds – that’s why we don’t encourage particularly hazardous activities, and definitely not without specialist supervision. Oxfam cannot accept any liability for accidents.
Staying safe
- Any activity must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (www.hse.gov.uk), and all other relevant legislation – and remember the Act applies to volunteers as well as to employees.
- If you are carrying money around, always consider personal security – use a safe route, be accompanied if possible, or carry a personal alarm.
- Make sure that no-one is fundraising, working or spectating in an unsafe environment.
- If using sub-contractors or facilities e.g. portaloos, bouncy castles etc. make sure that the they have the requisite experience and insurance cover.
- Think about first aid requirements and fire safety – contact your local St John’s Ambulance and Fire Station respectively for advice and help.
- You can get free health and safety advice from The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is very worthwhile checking their ‘five steps to a risk assessment’ before putting on an event.
What to do with the money
You've done the difficult bit – now you just have to pay in your hard-earned cash to Oxfam.
When paying your money in:
Online
Pay your money in via your Justgiving site – or pay in a lump sum using our online form.
Fundraise for a specific Oxfam project
Want to provide education in Viet Nam or support farming in Honduras? You can choose where you’d like us to spend the money you've raised.
By post
Pay all the money you’ve raised into one bank account, and then just write a cheque for the total amount, payable to ‘Oxfam’. Send your cheque with the Paying in form, together with all sponsorship forms, to:
The Oxfam Events Team,
Oxfam House,
John Smith Drive,
Oxford, OX4 2JY
Be sure to let us know what you did and send us pics!
Gift Aid
Remember to encourage your supporters to tick the Gift Aid box on your sponsor form, and you’ll earn Oxfam an extra 28p for every £1 they donate. Make sure they complete the sponsor form in full – to claim Gift Aid we must have their surname, first name (or initials), and full home address including postcode.
Tell us about it!
Your fundraising efforts are hugely inspiring to other people – here in the UK and around the world – who are also doing their bit to end world poverty. So don’t be shy. Please tell us about your event and send us your best shots of the action. You might find yourself and your friends starring in Oxfam’s supporter magazines or on the Oxfam website.
Email your story with pics to events@oxfam.org.uk or send us a letter to the address above.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Toolkit extras
Download your toolkit extras
email: events@oxfam.org.uk or call: 0300 200 1244 to get the extras posted out
Contact us
If you have
any questions about fundraising or about Oxfam events
in general – get in touch
events@oxfam.org.uk
