Fundraising update

The year in review

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted our fundraising plans for the year, in particular those activities that were associated with celebrating our 65th anniversary. However, the team’s creative approach and our supporters’ immense generosity meant that we came through the year significantly over our fundraising target. We would like to thank everyone who donated to the charity this year, whether you gave £1 or £100,000, at a time when there was so much uncertainty, your support was appreciated more than ever.

With plans cancelled and fundraising amongst companies, groups of friends and in local communities at a standstill, we relied on the support of individuals and grant giving trusts more than ever. Our existing supporters were the backbone of our fundraising activities and their response to our appeals was phenomenal. As well as financially donating, supporters helped us by making bunting to be used within the communities for small scale celebrations and knitting ‘Botton Bunnies’ for sale at Easter. Our extended team of crafters inspired people we support to make their own bunting and bunnies and helped to bring some cheer to the communities.

We would like to thank those grant giving Trusts who made such a difference to the charity sector in this difficult year. The Wolfson Foundation were particularly generous to us through their Covid support fund.

Our approach to fundraising

Our charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and complies with the Code of Fundraising Practice. There are no known incidences where we failed to comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice. Our fundraising literature always carries the Fundraising Regulator logo.

Our Director of Fundraising & Marketing is a member of the Institute of Fundraising. All our fundraising is carried out by in-house staff. During the year, we did not work with any external professional fundraisers or commercial participators.

The fundraising activities of the charity are monitored by the Executive Team, Chief Executive and the trustees. The Board of Trustees recently approved a matrix approach to support decision making on fundraising activities. This is used by the charity to decide if a fundraising activity sits within the charity’s ethical framework. All of our supporter data is stored and processed in line with the General Data Protection Regulations. We have had no compliance issues during the year.

Fundraising received one complaint in 2020-21, this related to a product that had been sold via our online shop, which was replaced, and the complaint resolved. We received no complaints in respect of our fundraising practice. Our website includes information on our fundraising promise to our supporters, and our fundraising complaints policy is available from the appeals office.

A member of the fundraising team completed a Data & Marketing Association Course on protecting vulnerable adults. This training is being cascaded down to all team members.

Our approach to fundraising is to develop long-term relationships with our supporters. Of all our friends who donated in the last previous three years, 55% began supporting the charity more than 20 years ago.