A book fair, cake sale or marathon run, there are hundreds of ways you can raise money for a care home close to your heart.
If you are passionate about a group or charity, then fundraising can be one of the best ways to help them care for their trustees and provide the best service possible. There are hundreds of ways you can incorporate fundraising, a fun day out, dressing up sessions and even getting residents involved. Whether you are fundraising on behalf of the care home or you want to organise a fundraising event and give the proceeds to your chosen care home, there are some factors that need to be considered before you choose what event you would like to run.
Lucy Tennant from Brendoncare gave us some advice for those who work in care and wish to organise a fundraising session: “It can be difficult to raise money for a home where residents pay for their own care, as often people do not understand the need for more funding.
“A key feature when trying to raise funds is being clear about why you need money. Is it for a specific item – specialised furniture for people with limited mobility, an interactive board for people with dementia? Or perhaps you are fundraising for a new activity to engage residents? Supporters always like to know where their money is going and the difference it will make. So work out what your need is, communicate it clearly, and share images/stories afterwards, showing your donors the outcome of their donation.”
Once you have considered the factors for your fundraising event, it can be hard to decide how you want to go about raising some money for your chosen cause. We have come up with some fun fundraising ideas that the whole care home can get involved in.
BBQ
A BBQ, dependent on the weather, can be a great way to get residents and workers from the care home involved in an event. If you have a loved one who resides in a care environment, organising an event can be really beneficial for their health. Hosting a BBQ can be a really simple and cost-effective way to raise some well-earned money, inviting other family and friends and charging them a small fee for a burger or sausage can be an excellent way to get everyone involved.
Allow the residents to serve some food and encourage socialisation by allowing them to get involved in the event. Fresh air, exercise and love from friends and family can be really beneficial to those in care, and raising some money for a great cause at the same time it a great bonus.
Cake Sale
A common fundraising idea and one that many people love to get involved in is a cake sale. Baking can be a therapeutic past time and one that the care home residents could also get involved in. Bake a variety of cakes and sell them for a price per slice, inviting members of the public to make contributions as well as anyone else that wants to get involved.
A great way of keeping costs down is asking the public and care-workers if they would like to donate cakes to the fundraisers and do their bit for a great cause.
Lucy recommends making the most of the facilities that may be available to the home, including the kitchens or any connections the home may have that may be able to supply some ingredients: “A care home is a big operation to run, and we don’t do it alone. There are suppliers of food, catering equipment, call systems, sluice rooms, recruitment agencies, specialist furniture, and so much more. Every organisation will be vying for your business, so make the most of this upper hand!”
Much like the cake sale, you could also run an afternoon tea session that runs on the same principle. Invite other friends of the home to come and enjoy an afternoon of tea and cake for a small cost and put the proceeds towards further funding the home. It is always worth asking local establishments if they would be happy to supply anything for the event, they are often keen to support local homes and charities in exchange for a shout out on social media or a mention on a promotional poster.
Knitting Event
Knitting can be a popular past time for those in care, so why not turn this hobby into a way of raising money that can be put back into the pocket of the care home.
Whether you ask the residents to knit some of their favourite wares and sell them or run a knitting marathon and ask the public to donate as residents take turns to knit for a length of time this is something that can be a lot of fun. Some healthy competition between friends can strengthen relationships and can provide the residents with something to work towards as well as providing them with a sense of self-purpose.
Book Fair
If the care home you are fundraising for is in a town or city environment, a book fair could be a great way to raise some funds for the home. Set up a few tables outside and fill them with books donated by other local charities, any other relatives of the residents or from the care workers themselves.
If any of the residents want to get involved it could be nice for them to sit alongside and sell some of the books to passing customers. Interaction and socialising with others can be beneficial to their long-term health as well as their general happiness.
Marathon or Sponsored Run
This is an option that would be great for those who have a loved one in care and want to raise money by entering a competition or a publicised event. Entering a marathon or a run has always been a great way of raising money for charities, and is generally run on behalf of someone or in their memory.
Start an online donation page and get the public and other charities or businesses to support you by donating to you. You can choose to run on behalf of your loved one or run on behalf of the care home itself, even if your family or friend is no longer around or living in the homes care. If the care home allows, your loved one or some friends from the home can come along and give their support.
If you are a care worker planning an event, it is important to make the most of the supplies available to you, not only to keep costs down but to raise as much money as possible, Lucy explains:
“If you’re taking on a sponsored challenge to raise money, ask your local fruit supplier to sponsor you. Hosting an event? Invite local solicitors in to give information talks, introduce them to your residents, and also ask about their charity work. Don’t be afraid to ask for support, seize every opportunity to talk about the needs of your home, and make the most of existing relationships.”
Whether you want to enter a sponsored run, bake some cakes or help the care home residents sell some books, there are hundreds of ways you can help fundraise for a care home that is close to your heart.
If you have a loved one who is in care and paying for their own care fees, get in touch with us today and we can discuss the continuing healthcare checklist and whether your loved one qualifies for care home funding. Give us a call on 0800 008 7777 for more information.
Author: Tim Davies LLB
