Raise and Give Booklet

RAG

e v i G d n a e s i a R

hertfordshire.su/rag

Contents What's RAG? RAG Committee RAG Volunteers Benefits of Being Involved Chosen Charities Adopt a Charity What Students Say

What's RAG? Raise and Give (RAG) is a fundraising initiative seen in many universities throughout the UK. Hertfordshire Students' Union is pleased to have its own RAG team who oversees fundraising efforts here at UH.

Aims & Objectives 1. Raise the profile of fundraising on campus 2. Raise awareness and money for the selected charities RAG seeks to achieve their goals by making fundraising fun!

Events are put on throughout the academic year to accommodate this. This gives students that aren't so heavily involved the chance to do their bit when they can.

Past RAG events have included Blind Date with a Book EleHouse Weekender Jailbreak Zombie Run

RAG Committee RAG is run by a committee of students. This gives passionate students the chance to take the lead, allowing them to make a difference, all the while acquiring valuable experience.

The RAG committee is responsible for organising, promoting and running fundraisers. These can range from a bake sale or BBQ to the infamous Jailbreak or EleHouse Weekender. The committee has the freedom to be as creative as they like! We encourage them to be innovative and push the boat out.

The committee is supported by the Student Activities Team, but is largely self-sufficient. This support structure means that the Students' Union can be a helping hand when needed, but won't make all the decisions for you.

What's expected of the RAG committee?

Bring new ideas to the table Help facilitate the annual RAG charity selection process Advertise RAG on campus and in the student community Organise, promote and run fundraising events Ensure the longevity of RAG

RAG Volunteers

There will be many a time throughout the year when the RAG committee needs more hands on board. This is often the case with larger events. These simply couldn't run if it weren't for our volunteers, so your help will be really appreciated.

If you would like to do your bit for RAG, but can't dedicate enough time to sit on the committee, this is the perfect role for you!

Benefits of Getting Involved What's in it for you?

Personal

Sense of Achievement Raising money for charities is really fulfilling, so you will come away from your year in post feeling great about all that you've achieved!

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone This is a great chance to break out of your comfort zone and try something new! RAG has such a varied range of events that you'll find yourself taking part in stuff you'd never have imagined. This will make your university experience all the more rounded and boost your confidence too.

Make Friends Being part of RAG is a great way to meet people that might not otherwise have crossed your path.

You could broaden your social opportunities and make friends for life!

Professional

Receive a Certificate At the end of the year you will receive an official certificate which recognises the voluntary time you put towards RAG.

Develop Transferable Skills Your year on the committee will improve your communication, organisation and teamwork skills. These are all essential in the working world and will be useful for your professional life after UH.

Something to Pop on Your CV RAG is a recognised enterprise throughout the UK. To be able to say that you were not only involved in fundraising, but had a committee responsibility or volunteer role, will be well valued among employers.

A Way to Stand Out Want to make lasting impression in an interview?

Reflecting on your time with RAG while at uni is a sure way to impress employers. They will love hearing about the innovative ways in which you fundraised for charity.

Chosen Charities Who does RAG raise money for?

Each year RAG selects 3 charities to raise both awareness and money for. We always have one for each of the following sectors:

Local

This will be a charity that's close to home (Hertfordshire).

National

This will be a charity that works in the UK specifically.

International

This will be a charity that does work throughout the world.

The RAG committee shortlists 2 charities for each of these sectors. These then go out to a student vote, so to ensure students have a say in which charities their funding efforts go towards. Once the votes are counted, RAG will announce the 3 chosen charities.

Adopt a Charity

When student groups want to fundraise for a different charity

This is the chance for student groups to select a charity they feel particularly passionate about and fundraise for them, rather than the chosen charities, throughout the course of the year. This will make your fundraising efforts all the more meaningful to you.

We understand sometimes there will be more than one charity that takes your liking. Since we limit every student group to one adopted charity at a time, in these instances we recommend that you run one-off events for your charities. Or, if you are torn between two, you could commit to one in semester A and the other in semester B. Just be sure to keep us in the loop so we send your raised funds to the right place!

The "Adopt a Charity" scheme not only enables student groups to fundraise for the charity of their choice, but offers them the opportunity to claim back up to 50% for their student group too!

All "adopted" charities must be UK registered.

What Students Say Don't just take our word for it! Here's what students think of RAG...

I got involved wit because I wa h RAG while I was at uni nted to mak e a difference

s for life d n ie r f e d a Im ! through RAG

I had a great time organising - and participating in all the pub crawls!

It's a really rewarding way to spend your spare time!

putting the

n fu

in fundraising