Raising a mug in ‘solidari-tea’ with survivors of domestic abuse

By Leigh Amor|September 22nd, 2016

This week Facebook and Twitter feeds have been filled with people raising mugs in #solidaritea with Helen in The Archers. The court room climax of the domestic abuse storyline has gripped listeners of the soap and captured the nation’s imagination.

The storyline, which has been building over many months, has revealed the psychological grip of emotional abuse, as Helen struggled under Rob’s increasing controlling behaviour. The storyline was devised in association with domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid and shines a light on the issues faced by many people experiencing domestic abuse. The slow build up has helped shake off many common assumptions and judgements made about people experiencing domestic abuse, as listeners were able to put themselves in Helen’s shoes.

What’s remarkable is how this increased understanding has manifested itself on social media, breaking down the taboos around domestic abuse. By taking a quick selfie with a cuppa on social media and using the hashtag #solidaritea, you are joining an army of Helen supporters and reaching out in support of women like Helen in real life.

It’s not just raising awareness via social media either. An avid listener launched a JustGiving campaign in February 2016 in support of Refuge, a charity helping real-life Helens, which has so-far raised £169,000 and still counting. It’s a powerful message. Unlocking empathy via a radio drama has prompted a huge surge in awareness and support for domestic abuse charities.

But is this #FreeHelen viral campaign a one-off? Are there lessons here that charities can learn and apply to their cause? Awareness around ‘issues’ have been raised in dramas and soaps before, such as AIDS awareness, addiction etc, but these haven’t been harnessed effectively with a social media and fundraising campaigns. The slow-burn of the […]

Individual Giving – How can small charities compete with the bigger household names?

By Louisa|August 24th, 2016

Many of our clients are small charities (with an annual income of under £1m) and when it comes to Individual Giving fundraising we know that there is often a feeling that there is no point in competing with the ‘big boy’ household name charities. With their bigger budgets, bigger teams, better marketing they are able to reach infinitely more people and generate millions every year through Individual Giving. This reluctance sounds reasonable when you look at it like that – all of those facts are true.

However, research has shown that donors prefer to give to smaller local charities.

Smaller charities feel that they can’t be successful with individual donors as they can’t afford direct marketing, telephone agencies, face-to-face fundraisers. The reality is that donors are sick of these methods – they find them intrusive and often view them as an example of a charity wasting money.

Many small charities support local causes and this again is an advantage, as people like to see the benefit of their donation within their local community. However, a community can go beyond a geographical area and can be a shared interest, action, practice or circumstance.

One study found that donors preferred to support local charities through workplace giving, social media, local media partnerships and events that encourage community participation and connectedness. They preferred raising funds for specific items and stressed the importance of regular communication with donors regarding positive achievements. Social media is a useful tool for small charities as it enables regular communication and allows for responsive interactions.

We know that trust in charities is at an all-time low and that donors are looking to see that their support is having an impact. If you know a donor […]

Future proof your organisation with a Fundraising Strategy!

By Louisa|July 24th, 2016

Today more than ever charities need to be able to meet the pressures of maintaining sufficient levels of income from a number of streams and remain agile, adapting strategies and introducing new income streams when needed. This is where a strong fundraising strategy is key.

When we are approached by organisations for support to develop a fundraising strategy they are usually looking to achieve one or more of the following aims:
• To continue current work
• To expand services into new areas of work
• To reduce the risk of over-reliance on a single source of income
• To build up reserves
• To raise more regular long-term funding

A well-developed fundraising strategy will help to provide clarity about your organisation’s aims and priorities while also providing a ‘reality check’ to ensure  these priorities are realistic and achievable. Through the careful research and scoping of opportunities, the strategy will introduce a more targeted approach, increasing the likelihood of success and most effective use of time.

Another, often overlooked benefit of the fundraising strategy is that it encourages a shared responsibility for fundraising across the organisation. This is increasingly important as the new CC20 guidelines from the Charity Commission emphasises that trustees have responsibility for fundraising and should be aware of the strategy and activities taking place.

The scope and depth of a fundraising strategy depends very much on the activity. For example, a three-year fundraising strategy aligned to a business plan will look quite different to fundraising for a one-off occurrence, such as a Capital appeal or a big event. It’s important to remember that while the strategy is a ‘road map’ it should be subject to change as external factors require.

If your organisation is thinking of producing a strategy in-house then […]