2023 Fundraising Pack

Firstly, thank you so much for buying a ticket to Step Into Christmas 2023! We can’t wait to take on The Peak District and raise money for some great local causes with you!

Sheffield RAG stands for ‘Raising and Giving’ – and that’s exactly what we do! In 2022-2023 RAG raised over £100,000. This is the first time we managed to raise this amount in many years - Thank you to everyone who helped us reach this target last year!

Raising your sponsorship doesn’t have to be daunting – just look at some of the ideas below or follow our top tips and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to bringing in some lovely cash for some lovely causes! And as an incentive, GiveStar are giving everyone who raises our recommended target, either the choice of an additional £15 onto their fundraising amount, or a £15 voucher for food delivery!

In 2023, Step Into Christmas will be raising money for Whirlow Hall Farm Trust, as well as Roundabout (https://www.roundabouthomeless.org/) and Emmaus (https://emmaus.org.uk/sheffield/), more information surrounding which, can be found on their respective websites (included above). All the charities will be local to Sheffield or the surrounding areas.

How to set up your Online Fundraising Page: GiveStar

All the money raised through online sponsorship must be raised on a GiveStar fundraising page linked to Sheffield RAG. Make sure you read the instructions below outlining how to set up your online fundraising page and pay special attention to any of the orange ‘IMPORTANT’ pieces of information- otherwise you might miss out on a free Deliveroo voucher! 

1. 1. Go to givestar.io or download the GiveStar app on your phone

2. Sign up and create your profile (Add a profile picture!!)

3. Head to 'Basecamp' and click 'create campaign'

IMPORTANT: When creating a campaign, make sure to enter the promo code SHEF50 to access the following kind offer from Givestar:

“To help you get going, GiveStar are offering a £15 Deliveroo voucher (or a £15 donation boost) to Sheffield students who set up their Step Into Christmas fundraising page on their site and raise at least £50.

To get your voucher or donation boost, just:

1. Download the GiveStar app or go to givestar.io

2. Set up a campaign and enter the promo code SHEF50 

3. Start fundraising! Once you hit £50, GiveStar will email you and organise your voucher/donation boost “

4. IMPORTANT: Choose 'SHEFFIELD RAG' as your charity. DO NOT SPLIT YOUR DONATIONS as we won't be able to track your fundraising accurately and add all of your donations towards your Step Into Christmas total. 

5. Name your event/campaign- make sure your campaign is easily identifiable as being a part of Step Into Christmas.

6. Upload a profile photo, write a bio about what you're doing, add your fundraising target of £50 (the target that we have set for people to aim for, in order to best support these charities (or aim higher if you want!)) and click 'create campaign'!

7. Share this Page everywhere!!! And watch the donations roll in.

Fundraising as part of a team, club, committee or society? Set up one big online fundraising page for your whole club or society! Just make sure to set your target as the sum of £50 x the number of members taking part.

Please remember that Gift Aid does not count toward your fundraising total as it is additional money claimed back from HMRC rather than donated money from a donor.  As such, Gift Aid does not count toward a fundraising total but is used to help RAG meet their core costs.

*Are your donors unsure about whether they can claim back Gift Aid? If you’re a UK tax payer and donate to an online fundraising page, you are eligible to claim Gift Aid.

Remember when creating your page:

1. Make it fun and exciting! Show off what you’re doing and what makes it unique and challenging

2. Make sure you have a profile and cover photo - the more creative the better!

3. Write a paragraph about the challenge you’re taking on and the charities you will be supporting

4. Share your page everywhere!!! You will get your own link, make sure you spread this across social media and anywhere else you can think of. A lot of RAG money has been raised by just sharing fundraising page links before.

How to Pay in Cash Sponsorship

If you have raised cash sponsorship it needs to be paid in to your account as follows: 

1. Go to The Activities Zone Desk in the Students’ Union Activities Zone Union (opening times: Monday - Friday: 10:00-16.00) 

2. Ask for and fill in a ‘Sheffield RAG Paying in Slip’ (given and explained at The Activities Zone Desk) 

3. The Paying In Slip for Step Into Christmas should say 528410/FUN on it and the Event Code is SSTE. 

4. MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE PAYING IN SLIP AND KEEP THE PINK COPY OF THE SLIP (the pink copy of the paying slip is your receipt and should be kept as proof of payment) 

Street Teams

Street Teams are an opportunity for you to sell glow-sticks or other merchandise (such as glitter, toast and other toastable items, cupcakes etc) inside Bar One or a Students’ Union club night to raise money toward your sponsorship.  We’ve got dates booked in especially for Step Into Christmas!

Ask us as soon as possible if you would like to join one! RAG provide the glow-sticks, glitter and toaster for free, plus up to 6 of you can get on the guest list for the night’s club night as long as you book in advance and get the names to us 2 days before your Street-Team! Fill out our Adopt a Charity Inquiry Form to get involved!

Supermarket bag packing 

Supermarket bag-packing can also be a good way to try and raise money! Just pop in to a local branch or try emailing or calling suitable venues.  We can provide a letter for you to verify that you’re a charity collector, as well as the collection buckets of course! Fill out our Adopt a Charity Inquiry Form to apply!

Bake Sales

Bake sales are always popular! Fill out our Adopt a Charity Inquiry Form and our Adopt a Charity team will help you with all the steps you need to take to organise your own bake sale in the SU.

Fundraising Tips - Do’s and Don'ts

DO

DON’T

- Be confident

if you don’t ask, you don’t get, so make sure you pluck up the courage to ask people to help you.  It’s for a good cause after all. 

- Learn the facts

assure people that you’re raising money for charities.  

- Know the charity

by knowing who you are raising for, people will be more inclined to sponsor you / donate (Sheffield RAG is known for donating to lots of local causes).

- Smile and stay positive

you probably won’t raise all your sponsorship straight away, so it’s important to stay motivated and keep smiling.

- Be creative

as much as cake sales can be effective, it’s important to remember that there are many ways to raise sponsorship, so use your initiative and get thinking!  

Pressure a potential sponsor

if someone decides to say no, even after hearing all the information, smile and move on.  There are plenty of other people out there!

- Shake your bucket on a RAG Raid  

it’s important to stay polite whilst fundraising and people will often be put off by a bucket shaken in their face (it’s also illegal to do anything that may be misconstrued as aggressive or intimidating).

- Stay quiet

If you're struggling for ideas or need some inspiration, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

- Forget to plan

decide as early as possible on how you’re going to raise your sponsorship money.  Take some ideas from this guide, or think of some of your own to make sure you raise your money in time.

- Give up

Keep on keeping on!

More Top tips…

• Use your contacts – make sure you tell your family and friends what you’re doing – those you know are the best starting point! 

• Tell your story – what the challenge is –hiking through the peaks at night!  Your motivation and passion will get people on boar

• Use your USP!  What different fundraising ideas can you come up with – what’s your Unique Selling Point?  What would people pay to see you do or not do?  If you speak another language, play an instrument or you’re good at art, perhaps you can offer tuition for an hour for donations?   You can also busk at a RAG Raid collection in town, so don’t hide your talents! 

Quirky Fundraising ideas… 

1. Charity Auction

Can you get businesses to donate prizes and then run a charity auction night?  A good technique is to dress up as smart as possible when you go around businesses and sell the causes you’re raising for (use some of RAG’s stats – how much we raised last year, how much gets donated locally…!)  Prepare your speech in advance and let the businesses know you can promote them and let students know about their organisation on your fundraising page!  Targeting local businesses and businesses who want to attract students is your best bet!

2. Themed Quiz Night 

Could you book an area in the Union (Activities Zone or an area in the Interval or Bar One) and run a quiz night?  Charge for entry and maybe have themed rounds or a whole quiz with one quirky theme!

3. Gig / Band / Comedy / Karaoke / Film Night

Do you have any friends who could play at a gig night or perhaps do comedy stand-up?  Book a space in the Union or in the City Centre (they should give it to you for free if you’re bringing in customers and it’s for charity).  A Karaoke Night is another option.  Charge an entry fee and then up your income with a raffle.  Or maybe offer to run a special film night for your friends and ask them for an entry fee?  

4. Games / Competitions / Scavenger Hunts 

Can you think of a quirky game that will grab people’s attention?  Maybe a scavenger hunt around Sheffield?  A chocolate hunt around the Union?  What about an eating competition?  Places like Bloo 88 are very interested in these kind of events…(check in with The RAG Team about any help you need with Health & Safety / Risk Assessments etc) 

5. Come Dine With Me

How about cooking dinner for your friends and asking them to pay you for the privilege?  Remember to tell them it’s for charity and ask them to be generous! 

6. Helping Hand

Do any friends or family need chores doing, such as mowing the lawn, walking the dog, gardening, washing the car?  Offer to do the jobs for small donations? Promises Promises – can you promise someone a service for a donation, e.g. you’ll do the washing up for a week?  Or clean the house?  Your housemates should jump at the chance!   

7. Crowdfunder and Online Fundraising Platforms

Post a video about what you’re fundraising for and see if people can donate to your cause in exchange for something.  Maybe if they donate £10 you’ll send them a postcard, or if they donate £20 they’ll get an exclusive video blog? 

8. Swap Shop / Jumble Sale 

Get your friends and housemates to donate clothes, books and other items they don’t need anymore, then hold a jumble sale / re-sale with the proceeds going to your sponsorship 

9. Sponsored Wax / Headshave / No Make-up / Fancy Dress Day or Sponsored Silence!

People love to donate to something wacky or see something crazy!  So if you’re prepared to have your head shaved with a crazy style or get your legs waxed people will donate to see you do it!  Or maybe people will donate to see you go without something you usually can’t live without!   Or they might even donate just to have you be silent for a day!  Fancy dress or a crazy hat is another popular option which works a treat!  

10. Ebay and Amazon

Get rid of something you don’t need or that you want to sell.  People will buy lots of items if you sell them in the right way! 

11. Host a Party!

Host a party for charity and collect donations by charging admission. In 2019 two Bummit participants held a 'traffic light party', charged guests £3 entry and raised £340 in one evening all whilst having a great time!

12. Join the #trashtag movement

In 2019 one Bummit participant has pledged to do one Sheffield based litter pick for every £10 that is donated towards her. So far she has raised over £1,000 and her story has been picked up by the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-47864591/trashtagabi-litter-picker-on-a-mission-to-clean-up-sheffield

13. Go Sober for October!

October is typically the month in which to go sober, but there are lots of different challenges you could undertake from things such as marathon running to the ice bucket challenge, to shaving your head!

Or How about…

• Loose change jar - get everyone in your house to chuck in their coppers - it all adds up!

• Sponsored haircut

• Car wash

• Target people nearer to pay day-they may be feeling more generous!

Want to get Involved with RAG all year round?

Have you considered:

• Becoming a RAG Rep 

• Fundraising through our Adopt A Charity Scheme

• Asking us about Student’s Union/Concourse Stall Bookings