Community fundraising

As an organisation that has been a part of the community since 1971, having strong relationships with local people and local groups is essential to helping us be a part of the vital support services available for Reading’s young people. Mental health is everyone’s business and that is why it means so much to us when members of our community get involved and fundraise for us!

Through our community fundraising, we work alongside individuals and community groups on projects that help us to raise vital funds to ensure that we can continue to support local young people.

We regularly do presentations for local community groups and have stalls at local community events where our team and Young Ambassadors are on hand to promote the work that we do and answer any questions people might have about our services and young people’s mental health. We also have our merchandise available at these events so come along to pick up one of our macrame rainbow kits, mindfulness colouring books, water bottles, tote bags, stress balls, and umbrellas!

How community groups can raise money for No5:

There are many ways that community groups can fundraise for No5, and we want to work alongside you to support your ideas and events. We can come in and chat to your group about the work that we do and what fundraising for us would mean for local young people, as well as providing leaflets, donation buckets and merchandise for your supporters.

Any amount of fundraising, however big or small, makes a difference to the hundreds of young people we support every year.

Here are just some of the things that community groups have done for us in recent years:

• Chosen No5 as their ‘Charity of the Year’, raising money for us over a twelve month period through a variety of events and sponsored challenges
• Entered teams into sponsored events such as the Reading Santa Run and Reading Dragon Boat Festival.
• Hosted events such as fashion shows, bake sales and many more

Our top fundraising tips!

• Plan your event in advance – make sure you leave yourself enough time to organise everything
• Don’t go it alone – round-up some friends or colleagues to help with the planning and running of your event!
• Set yourself a budget, and stick to it! Events can be expensive if you aren’t strict with yourself about a budget.
• Set up an online fundraising page (JustGiving is the most popular) where you can post updates on your event’s progress and friends and family can donate directly
• Let us know if you are holding or taking part in an event and provide us with the details so that we can promote your fundraising efforts on our website and social media and provide you with leaflets and a collection tin.
• Ask your employer if they operate a matched giving scheme so that any money you raise is matched by them, or ask whether they could sponsor and promote your event.

We are incredibly grateful for the significant support from the Rotary Club of Reading Matins who have supported our Creative Expressive Wellbeing outreach projects, Reading Roadrunners and Terry Dixon of Terry’s Walkabouts who both chose No5 to be their charity of the year in recent years.

Reading Roadrunners raised over £11,000 for us through a variety of events throughout the year such as their Mortimer, Shinfield and Bramley 10k’s, car boot sales, Kerry & Trisha’s 100km Cotswold Way Challenge and Sev’s Super London-Surrey 100 mile cycle. http://readingroadrunners.org/

Terry Dixon raised £750 for us through his not-for-profit Reading walking tours!  https://www.facebook.com/terrysreadingwalkabouts/

The easiest way to get your donation to us is by donate online, or by bank transfer. We are also happy to accept donations by cheque made payable to No5 Young People and addressed to Carly Newman at 101 Oxford Road, Reading, RG1 7UD.

Interested in fundraising for No5 and want to find out how you can make a difference?

Contact the team today at fundraising@no5.org.uk or call Carly Newman; Operations and Relationships Manager 07342355425