If you’re thinking of putting on a staff challenge or active fundraiser next year take a look at our Top 10 Tips to ensure you get the most out of your event.
Check out the website for more detailed explanations of the 4 categories to planning a successful event for your staff or feel free to get in touch via Twitter or Instagram.
#1-3: Choosing your Challenge
- No idea is a bad idea when choosing your challenge
- Go big with ideas, think of the most amazing and challenging event you can, once you have that in mind you can begin to fine tune it into something that will work for you and your school!
- Your final event will most likely be a long way from the first idea, but thinking big from the start will help you create something amazing!
- Find an event that is ‘Challenging yet Achievable’, you want your event to be tough enough to turn heads, but not so unrealistic that none of your staff want to give it a go!
- Decide early on if you want:
- A big team taking on a smaller challenge (500 teachers run a 5k)
- A smaller team taking on a bigger challenge (10 teachers cycle London-Paris)
- Do a dry run of your event route as early as possible, either using Google maps or even better drive or cycle the route, the earlier you know any possible issues the easier it is to plan for them.
- Decide early on if you want:
- Watch your budget
- It is easy to go overboard with spending but remember, you want your staff to take part, and having a huge signup fee will be a potential barrier.
- Work with local businesses to see how they can support your event in a way that is mutually beneficial.
- Remember ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’, you will be surprised at how generous and helpful people are willing to be when they buy into your event.
CLICK HERE for more on choosing your challenge
#4 & 5: Building a Team
- Creating the Dream Team
- Make a list of who you think is the best person for each job you need to fill, then go and start building the team that will increase your chances of success.
- Who is a motivator?
- Who will the children want to see and support during the challenge?
- Who can build your marketing plan?
- Make a list of who you think is the best person for each job you need to fill, then go and start building the team that will increase your chances of success.
- You don’t need everyone to be best friends on your team
- Everyone on your team may not know each other that well at the start, but they will by the end.
- Don’t just pick friends; each team member needs to bring something to the team that will increase your chance of success.
- Do ensure though that everyone in your team respects each other and there is no bad blood that could divide your team.
Find your dream team!
Chose a charity that is meaningful to your school
Shout about your event to everyone, and get in touch with your schools press officer.
#6 – 8: Creating a Fundraising Plan
- Selecting your charity
- The charity you raise money for will determine how much you chose to fundraise.
- Pick a charity that is relevant to your school or community (people will buy into an event that has true meaning behind it that they can relate to)
- Get the backing of the charity you chose
- See how they can support you with equipment, marketing, contacts and engaging the pupils.
- Set a meaningful target
- Find a number relevant to your chosen charity and set that as your target.
- Do they spend £10k a year helping families in your area? That’s a impactful target people can see.
- Don’t be afraid to aim big, with the right number of build-up events and marketing you will reach your target (don’t forget you will get a big boost when you launch, then again on the event day)
- Find a number relevant to your chosen charity and set that as your target.
- Advertise in any way you can
- Be creative and keep your costs down
- Speak to any companies the school use often, they may be able to offer a donation towards costs or your fundraising (they will also have a large network they can share too)
- Put on smaller events in the build-up that may involve others from your community who are happy for the money they raise to go to your total.
- Such as a spin bike challenge in the local shopping centre
- Or getting sponsored to walk/run to work every day for a week/month/half term…
#9 & 10: Involving your School & Community
- Create opportunities to involve your community
- Use your event to bring your community together, whether that’s virtually or physically.
- How can they be involved?
- How can they help boost your fundraising?
- The children are the key to your event
- Build a FUN and ACTIVE event day for the children promoting Active Healthy Lifestyles, goal setting & risk taking.
- Highlight your chosen charity and why it is important to support those in need.
- The children and their families may be your main source of fundraising so keep them informed and involved.
- Let the children be a part of the journey.
- Include them in creating logos and other marketing.
- Put on bake sales and movie nights with the children.
- Challenge them to take on a similar challenge over time.
CLICK HERE for more on involving the school and community
I hope these tried and tested tips that have raised over £40k across the last 2 school staff events can help your school tap into the world of staff challenges as a way to raise money for some amazing charities!
CLICK HERE for more details on each of the points above.
Schools' Active Community Coach 