You're about to do something amazing!

Transcription

1 You're about to do something amazing!

2 Thank you for joining Team Beat This pack will give you all the information you need to get started, help you plan your event, and raise as much as possible for Beat! Why join Team Beat? Beat is the UK s eating disorder charity. We exist to end the pain and suffering caused by these serious mental illnesses. How we work As a fundraiser, you can play a vital role in our vision: to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. Your fundraising will help us to provide our Helplines, online support groups and message boards, training for professionals and help us campaign for better treatment and understanding. Much of our work is focused on getting people with eating disorders into treatment as early as possible, as the sooner someone gets help, the better their chance of fully recovering. Anyone of any age, gender, or background can develop an eating disorder, with an estimated 1.25 million people suffering in the UK. Since Beat was founded in 1989, we have supported thousands of people. But there is still so much work to be done. And we need you to be part of it. You can help change the future for millions of people across the UK. So let's start your fundraising journey... If you have any questions, contact the fundraising team on , or fundraising@beateatingdisorders.org.uk. Just knowing other mums are out there feeling the same, doing the same, trying the same. I am on my own... it feels really lonely. I assume I am messing it all up a lot. We are all trying our best. So good that we can listen and support each other Online support group for mums. I ve just been to the GP about my bulimia. Originally the GP said he could not refer me; however, I then presented him with Beat s GP leaflet and he is now referring me on for support! I want to thank Beat for all the work you re doing. I hope this is the start of my recovery journey! Adult service user via phone

3 You Can Make a Difference Find out how your fundraising will help. These are great for sharing too! 5 could help fund a Beat Advisor to respond to s from someone worried about their loved one. For many, contacting Beat is the first step towards recovery. Simon organised a clay pigeon shoot. Friends and family loved the idea, and the event raised 2, ,100 could help our Helpline Advisors take calls and give guidance and support to someone who urgently needs it. could help to run an online support session, giving sufferers and their families positive encouragement from others experiencing the same feelings. could help to produce our Spot the Signs posters, raising awareness of the early symptoms of eating disorders. Early treatment is crucial to a full and fast recovery. could help to run the Helpline services for one day, supporting carers and sufferers of all ages and backgrounds when they need it most. With input from Anna, our daughter who is suffering from anorexia, we asked friends to donate to Beat. We were fortunate that the farmer running the day generously gave a charity rate to make the event affordable. Having set up the Just Giving page (really easy!), I ed the link to friends and contacts. I was overwhelmed by their generosity, and particularly those who donated even though they couldn t attend. It was very rewarding to tell everyone what their donations totalled and the difference it would make. For me, it was a way of keeping channels of communication open with good friends and family about this illness, and raising awareness generally of those suffering. It was a reminder to all that we can enjoy a day out and make a difference at the same time. You can make a difference. Be part of Beat's work to support those affected by eating disorders. Remember: most importantly, fundraising is FUN! It s a great way to get together with friends and family and contribute to the support of people from across the country. Pg 02

4 Fundraising Ideas There s a fundraising event out there to suit everyone, no matter whether it s your first event or your fiftieth. Check out some of our favourites below, but if you are still looking for inspiration, see the A-Z of fundraising ideas on our website. Think about your own interests and skills if your event draws on your own enthusiasm and passion, then you ll feel motivated and confident, and can make it a real success. Share your creativity Are you a craft whizz? A cool crocheter, delightful doodler or a superb sewer? Put on a workshop for friends and family, encouraging them to donate to Beat, or sell your wares online. Bake sale A fundraising classic. A great way to get friends and family involved, whether you are baking for the first time or a master baker, hold this simple fundraising event at home, school or work. Get your family rolling their sleeves up, and decorate with our Beat bunting to finish off the perfect tea party look. Collect donations in your Beat fold-up collection box! Bag-packing at your local supermarket Many supermarkets let fundraisers pack bags for a day and ask for donations from customers. Why not pop in to find out if your local supermarket will support your fundraising quest? We can provide buckets and a letter to show you re fundraising for Beat. Yoga class Are you a Yogi? Put on a class for friends and family and charge for ticket entries. Go bald for Beat Feeling brave? Why not go for a brand-new look in aid of Beat? Get friends and family to sponsor you - you could even get your local salon involved! My journey with anorexia was so very challenging and moments like this remind me how far I ve come. If you told me I d accept myself with or without hair two years ago I wouldn t have believed you. Beauty does not equal worth. Worth expands far beyond what you can see. Katy, went bald for Beat 2017, raised 1,060. Pg 03

5 Prize pets Get competitive with a cutest pet game at work or school. We love to see our supporters pets! Skydive An unforgettable, thrilling and once-in-a-lifetime experience! Raise a minimum of 395 and you can jump for free. Join an organised event Whether you would like to join a run, an overseas trek or sign up for a skydive we can help you get to the finish line. You can take part in any organised event simply sign up through the event website, then get in touch so we can help you start fundraising. If you re not sure where to start, check out our most popular events on our website. We have places in a range of activities across the UK! Alternatively let us know about your own ideas, we would love to hear from you! Contact the fundraising team on or fundraising@beateatingdisorders.org.uk. Seeing my family, my boyfriend and the amazing Beat supporters cheering me on kept my feet moving, and crossing the line was a moment I ll never ever forget. Jane, raised 1,300 for Beat. Pg Hannah raised an amazing 1,302 as sponsorship for a skydive by organising a bake sale and spreading the word in her local community. I really wanted to raise awareness about eating disorders. Having been diagnosed with anorexia at 16, I understand and still know it s very hard, and such a battle, but I wanted to help Beat to help those suffering or struggling. I enjoy baking so I made lots of cupcakes and caramel squares and my mum helped. We held the sale in a local shopping centre on a bank holiday weekend and I took leftovers into work for people to donate. My mum shared my sponsorship page on Facebook at the end of every month (just after payday!) and my family took sponsor forms to work. My nanny rang up everyone she knew and received donations! They were so generous! I didn t expect to raise as much as I did and I m so happy! With more money, Beat can help more people, and that s why I wanted to raise as much as I could. 04

6 Getting Started Use our planning checklist included with this pack to make your planning straightforward and simple. Remember, we are here to help you every step of the way! 3 What? Decide how you are going to fundraise see page 3 for ideas. Charlie joined a local inflatable run and raised a brilliant When? Set a date how long is it going to take you to plan your fundraising? Be ambitious but realistic give yourself plenty of time to plan. The earlier you start, the more you can raise. How? Fundraising sites like Just Giving are the easiest way to collect donations, which will be sent straight to Beat along with Gift Aid. Sign up at justgiving.com/beat in the time it takes to boil the kettle! For advice or help setting up a page, get in contact with the team. Use our sponsor forms for those who prefer to give cash. Why? Think about what made you choose to fundraise. Now share that passion and drive to inspire others to give. Who? Enlist family and friends with useful skills and connections to support your goals. From sharing your Just Giving page or Beat leaflets at work, to baking cakes, don t be afraid to ask for help! People are often eager to get involved and help. Chat to the fundraising team! We have everything you need to help you fundraise. From bunting and flags to running vests and T-shirts, you can show that you are part of Team Beat whatever Pg 05 your fundraising plans might be. chose to raise money for Beat because I m at such an amazing point in my own recovery. I wanted to ensure I others can continue to receive Beat s support. I asked for sponsorship through word of mouth, social media, s around work and giving sponsor forms to my family. I contacted the Beat team about fundraising and didn t expect to be sent flags, a donation pot and T-shirts but was thrilled and ever so grateful! I wanted to fundraise in a way I would be smiling and having a good time all things I have acquired by persevering in recovery.

7 Hints and Tips Stay Social Keep everyone updated with your plans. If you re organising your own event, create a Facebook event page to see how many people are planning on attending. You can also post updates in one place for everyone to see. Post training updates to keep things varied and interesting. Share Beat s news to show how donations help. See the back of this pack for details of our social media. Spread the word Social media is great, but it s not the only way to share! Could you tell your story in a staff newsletter? Or put a collection tin next to the kettle to remind colleagues on the tea round? Remember to tell anyone who might not have access to the Internet about your plans. Use our handy template poster in this pack to advertise your event. See if you can put up posters in your local shop or community group people will be willing to help support a good cause. Make the most of your fundraising page Share your passion and inspiration to make a difference, and your friends and family will be more than happy to support you! Adding a photo and a description can increase donations by up to 46%. Don t be afraid to share your page and ask people to sponsor you remember every donation will help you reach your target. Make the front page If you want to share your story in local newspapers, we can send you a press release template to get you started. Simply fill in with your story, then send with a picture of you in your Beat T-shirt and we can help share your fantastic fundraising antics with local media! Always say thank you! One of the most important parts of fundraising. Make sure you thank those who helped and donated to your fundraising event. Add an update to your Just Giving page, and all your donors will automatically receive an . Pg 06

8 Legal and Safe Fundraising Fundraising is great fun, but please follow our advice to keep your activities legal and safe. Each fundraising event is unique, so don t hesitate to get in contact with the fundraising team who will be more than happy to help with any questions. Things to consider If you re under 18, make sure your parents or guardians are aware of your fundraising plans a great excuse to get them involved. If your event is in a public space, ask for permission from your local council or the police before setting a date. If you want to collect money in a public space you will need a licence from your local authority you should find details on their website. If your event is open to the public, you need to think about public liability insurance. Some home contents insurance can cover this check! Follow food safety guidelines with care see food.gov.uk or your local authority for tips. Always display a full ingredients list as well for allergen purposes. If you are serving alcohol at your event, make sure you get the appropriate licence. Most events run smoothly and there is nothing to worry about, but just in case, consider having first aiders present. Some community groups may be able to support you with this. Even just making someone responsible for calling 999 in an emergency is a good step. Beat does not accept any responsibility or liability for your fundraising activity in aid of Beat. For full fundraising guidelines visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk. Pg 07 Can I say a huge thank you! I phoned today for advice for my little boy who is in recovery with anorexia. The lady I spoke to was calm, helpful and lovely it really helped. Carer service user via phone A lot to take in and process. Certainly worthwhile and grateful to Beat for organising this chat. Hope we all take something away from this. Looking forward to next time! Online support group for dads The conversation I had with you really did help in picking myself up a bit, and now I ve calmed down I will be ringing the support services I used on Monday morning. I really am looking forward to the online group tonight, as I think it will really help to hear from others. Once again thank you so much I didn t know who to talk to last night, and I m so glad you were on the other end of the phone. Adult service user via phone

9 Last Steps Match funding Some companies may support your fundraising by matching donations to a certain amount this can be a massive boost. Make sure you ask your HR team! Gift Aid For every 1 donated by a UK taxpayer, Beat can get an extra 25p completely free. If you use an online page, any Gift Aid will automatically be processed and sent to Beat. However, for paper sponsor forms, remember to highlight the importance of Gift Aid so that your supporters fill in their information correctly if they re eligible to Gift Aid. Let us know how you got on Send pictures of your event to the fundraising team or share on social media and remember to tag Beat. Why not write a blog about your fundraising so we can share it on our website to inspire future fundraisers? Paying in your donations Use our enclosed paying in form to send us your donations. Remember to include a note or reference to let us know who the donation is from so that we can thank you quicker! Thank you Beat for making this support possible. We are not alone. We can help each other. User of anorexia online support group The psychologist I met with actually remarked on how relaxed I was and so I want to thank Beat for the support in reassuring me beforehand. It made going to the appointment today a whole lot easier! Thank you! Under 18s service user via Pg Paul raised an incredible 3,612 by doing a tandem skydive for Beat after the tragic loss of his daughter. Our daughter Anna died in March 2010 as a result of her anorexia. I have since been very involved with Beat, especially the campaign for early intervention. This struck a chord and I wanted to help by fundraising for Beat. I m fortunate in having a lot of relatives who are supportive of my fundraising exploits, so they are a first port of call for any fundraising. There were a lot of previous and current neighbours, work colleagues and business associates who I ed too, to share the link to my fundraising site. It helped to people regularly with a blog to jog people s memory. I m not a great one for social media but I am on LinkedIn, which generated donations. It s about getting information to as many contacts as possible, and then refreshing the information without becoming a nuisance to people. Everyone wanted to see a photo afterwards, so it helps if you can send them that, and a thank you note to everybody who donated. 08

10 Continue to Support Our Vision Thank you for supporting Beat and choosing to fundraise for us. But after your event finishes, please don t be a stranger! This could just be the start of your journey with Team Beat. Subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to keep up to date with our campaigns and news. Campaigning Help Beat campaign for better services and treatment for anyone affected by an eating disorder. Visit our website for our current campaigns and how you can share your experience. Eating Disorders Awareness Week Join us each February to raise awareness of these serious mental illnesses and campaign for change. Join our annual fundraising event, Sock It to Eating Disorders, and sport your brightest, boldest socks and donate to Beat. Beat Champions Another great way to help people affected by eating disorders is to become a Beat Champion. Champions form a community of people, from across the UK, who give regular donations by direct Champions debit. You set the gift amount and the frequency. Gifts in this form are a vital source of funds, helping us to ensure we can keep providing our services to people who need them. Could you stand with us in this way? Champions are regularly updated on our work through e-newsletters. There are opportunities to campaign for change, take part in research and receive our supporter magazine. Our eating disorders do not define us! We are worth more than the negative voices in our head! We are worth more than our insecurities! We are worth more than not feeling good enough! We are worth more than obsessive thoughts to do with calories and food and weight! We are worth LIFE living, not just surviving. Lauren, Beat Blog Your organisation is worth its weight in gold for people like myself who have no other outlets for support. Adult service user via I ve kept this all in for years. I feel incredibly lucky to have spoken to you; you ve made me feel I can overcome this. Thank you again! Adult service user via phone Pg 09 To find out about all of the above visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk.

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12 Looking for support? Helpline: Youthline: BeatEDSupport Online support Visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk for message boards, online support groups, one- to-one chat and more information about eating disorders and recovery. Use helpfinder.beateatingdisorders.org.uk to find services in your Beat.eating.disorders Unit 1, Chalk Hill House, 19 Rosary Road Norwich, NR1 1SZ Beateatingdisorders.org.uk A charity registered in England and Wales (801343) and Scotland (SCO39309). Company limited by guarantee no

13 When? Where? Why? To end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders For more information please contact the organisers:

14 Use our handy guide to help your fundraising be a huge success! Decide on your fundraiser Let the Beat team know your plans Set up a Just Giving page Tell your friends and family Share your story with the press Share photos from the day Paying in your donations Take a look at our A-Z on our website for ideas We can offer advice and support Add a picture, this can boost donations by 46% Staff newsletter? Ask if you can include a link! Contact Beat for a press template and contacts We love to see how our fab fundraisers got on Finished fundraising? Let us know so we can thank you