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do something Chocolatey
useful information and fundraising tips
The information on this page can be downloaded as a two-page pdf here.
You are invited to do something chocolatey from 10 to 17 April 2010 but feel free to do your chocolatey thing anytime in April if it’s more convenient. Host your event at home, school, work, or in a local venue such as a pub, restaurant or community centre. It’s up to you what chocolatey thing you do. We’ve listed a few ideas here, but you may have a few of your own.
Tell us
If you decide to host a chocolate event for YWCA, please let us know: phone 01865 304205 or email supporters@info.ywca.org.uk. We may be able to give you extra advice, ideas and resources for your event.
Promote your event
Tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues that you’ll be doing something chocolatey. Keep it small with a few friends or think big and invite your whole community. The more people who join in, the more money you can raise and the more help you will be giving. Use your blog, Facebook, MySpace or Twitter page to tell everyone you know what you’re doing and that you’d like their support.
There are some useful resources to help you promote and run your event here.
Need extra help?
Ask local businesses (pub, shop or restaurant) to donate prizes and/or hold a chocolate raffle or quiz. Ask friends and family to help you organise your event. People are usually very willing to help you put up posters and especially to bake cakes and biscuits!
Keep it safe and legal
If you're going to do your chocolatey thing in a public place or on private property, you will need permission from the the owner of the property first. And as your event will probably involve food or drink, so you’ll need to make sure it's prepared and stored according to food hygiene regulations.
Thanking your guests, donors and participants
Everyone who comes to your event will be doing their bit to make a difference to young women from deprived communities, so make sure you thank them and tell them how much they helped to raise. If you would like any YWCA leaflets for your event please get in touch. If you would like us to send a special e-card thank you to your guests please provide us with your guests’ names and email addresses.
Sending in the money you raise
Send your money together with this chocolate event form to YWCA to: Supporters' team, YWCA, Clarendon House, 52 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3EJ. Send cheques or postal orders payable to YWCA England & Wales or just fill in your credit or debit card details. Please don't send cash.
Please send in the money you've raised as quickly as possible after you've collected it so that it can start helping straight away. And don't forget to include your Gift Aid form if you’ve used one.
Aim high!
Set yourself a fundraising target - this will help you rise to the challenge! If you’re planning a small event at home, work or with a few friends aim to raise £50. For a bigger event at work, school or in your local community aim for £100. As well as selling chocolate treats at your event, plan some extra fundraising on the day: how about a short quiz or a raffle, or rattle a tin and collect small change - just put one of these labels on an old jar.
Gift Aid
Make your efforts go even further by asking your guests to Gift Aid any donations they make. For every £1 donated we can claim an extra 28p from the taxman. This raises vital extra money for our work without costing you or your guests anything. So download this Gift Aid form now.
