Fundraising to help Rescue Animals and Animal Welfare

Fundraising for Warrington Animal Welfare

Fundraising for Warrington Animal Welfare

We could not do what we do without the fundraising efforts of our amazing supporters.
 
We simply could not and would not exist without you. With no Government funding towards the running costs, it is our sincere and genuine hope that you realise just how important you, and generous people like you, are to us.
 
If you would like to help WAW to continue to help animals and would like to actively support us through fundraising, you can do this in several ways.  You can take part in one of our organised events or organise your own event on behalf of Warrington Animal Welfare.
 
Fancy running a marathon on behalf of WAW? Or maybe you are a fantastic baker and want to hold a bake sale? Or are you giving up wine for a month and want to raise money for WAW’s animals in the process?
 
No matter what you want to do, we can support your activities the best we can - we can send you a sponsorship form out or can create your personal sponsorship page and link to us on JustGiving.  We will promote your event on our Facebook page to our 60,000+ followers if you do!
 
This section has lots of ideas and practical advice on raising funds for us.

Fundraising Ideas

There are many ways that you can raise money for WAW, here are a few ideas just to get you started…
  • Bake Sale
  • Sponsored – swim, silence, run etc.         
  • Music event
  • Swap event
  • Swear box          
  • Pub quiz              
  • Office bingo
  • Raffle   
  • Car boot sale     
  • Bring and buy sale          
  • Sponsored dog walk       
  • Coffee morning
  • Collection box at work (for donations or items e.g. pet food or tombola items)
  • Work tuck shop box
  • Dress down day / Non uniform day
  • Guess number of sweets in a jar
  • Name the Teddy
Contact us about Fundraising and we will support you with sponsorship forms, help setting up fundraising pages and promotion.

Top 10 tips for planning a fundraising event to get you started

  • Keep it simple.  If you are a first-time fundraiser, keep it simple. You can always get more adventurous with your next fundraising venture. Turn something you do every day into a money spinner and make sure you pick something you enjoy. These fundraising ideas will help get you started.
  • Set a target.  Every amount raised – small or large – is vital for us to continue our work. Setting a target will help you keep focused. Aim high, stay positive, and work out any costs before you start to make sure you’re going to be in profit.
  • Decide how to raise the money.  Once you have your target, break it down into manageable pieces so you can decide how the money will be raised. Will you charge for tickets, or an entry fee? Are you going to sell cakes? Will you be needing a collecting tin?
  • Set a date.  Check that the event date does not clash with any other local events in your area or any national, school or religious holidays which may affect attendance.
  • Find a venue.  You might need to book a venue, and whether that is the Olympic pool or your village hall, get in touch as soon as you can to ensure the date is available. Make sure it has appropriate facilities for your event and that you know how to work any equipment you will need.
  • A little help from a friend.  Don't feel you have to do everything on your own. Ask for help and support from friends and family so you can share the workload.
  • Spread the word
  • Word of mouth – tell your family, tell your friends, tell the postman... tell everyone.
  • Get social – use your own social media accounts and tell our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
  • Write a blog – share your fundraising experience.
  • Posters – put posters in local shops and businesses.
  • Local press and radio - if you are hoping to get coverage in your local newspaper or radio station, please email info@warringtonanimalwelfare.org.uk first so we can advise you of the next steps to take.
  • Maximise your money. Set up an online fundraising webpage – online giving is easy to set up, and you can personalise your page with words and images. It also means friends and family can sponsor you, day or night, wherever they are in the world with all the money pledged coming straight through to our dogs and cats.
  • Gift Aid it – if your sponsors are UK taxpayers, they can make their donations worth 25% more. Simply make sure they tick the Gift Aid box on the sponsorship form.
  • Get your money matched – some companies take part in matched giving schemes where you may be able to double the money you raise - simply check with your employer.
  • WAW is on JustGiving and you can easily link your fundraiser to our page.
  • Be legal and safe.  We are so grateful to everyone who fundraises for us. However, it is important to remember that fundraising is regulated by law.  Insurance for Fundraising Activity.  Any person organising their own fundraising activity for the benefit of Warrington Animal Welfare is not covered by our insurance. We advise that you obtain your own cover as necessary.  If you organise an event that involves the public in any way, you will need to ensure that the venue has got the appropriate public liability insurance.

Risk assessment before Fundraising Event

Whatever your event, it is always advisable to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that you have proper plans for public safety.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines a risk assessment as nothing more than a careful examination of what (during your event) could put others in danger, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken appropriate precautions or need to take further action to prevent harm.  Visit the HSE website https://www.hse.gov.uk/ to for further guidance and template risk assessments forms.

Food Safety at Fundraising Event

Food safety laws apply when food is available at an event whether it is for sale or not, so you must make sure you follow the relevant food hygiene procedures. For information on food hygiene and safety legislation contact your local authority environmental health department.

Drink regulations for Fundraising Event

If you want to sell alcoholic drinks at your event you need a license unless you use a venue that is already licensed, such as a pub or restaurant.  You can apply to your local council for a short term license, known as a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). Make sure you know all the rules of a Temporary Event Notice https://www.gov.uk/temporary-events-notice
You can serve alcohol if you are not asking people to pay for it, so you could think about increasing your ticket price and including drinks for free or asking for a voluntary donation rather than minimum payment per drink.

Animal food/treats regulations for selling at Fundraising Event

Making and selling pet food, even for charity, is highly regulated, with many pieces of legislation applicable to the activity. This is to ensure that all feed given to animals is produced hygienically, is safe for the animal, and is fully traceable.
 
All feed businesses (including pet food manufacturers) must not operate without being registered or approved (as appropriate) with their local authority (usually Trading Standards) - this includes all sizes of operations from large factory scale productions to homemade dog treats made in a domestic kitchen.
 
Additionally, European Union (EU) regulations require the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), as the competent authority, to approve manufacturing plants where pet food uses or incorporates products of animal origin - for example, eggs, meat, milk, butter, honey. This includes premises manufacturing pet food in domestic houses, even if using products of animal origin deemed fit for human consumption.
 
The pet food must be labelled with mandatory labelling requirements, which are sometimes still referred to as a 'statutory statement'. 
 

Lotteries (Raffles) Fundraising Regulations

Lotteries are a fun way to raise much-needed funds to support our animals. Ask friends and family to donate items, such as unwanted gifts, or contact local shops and businesses and ask if they would like to contribute too. WAW can provide a letter of authorisation to prove that you are raising money for us, just get in touch .

Small Lottery Fund Raiser

This is a raffle held at a one-off event where tickets are not sold in advance. For this type of lottery you do not require a license, but there are several rules that you must adhere to:
  • Tickets can only be sold during the event.
  • The price of every ticket must be the same i.e., you cannot sell bundle deals such as three for the price of two.
  • You must not have cash prizes although store vouchers are accepted.
  • You cannot spend more than £250 on prizes. Donated prizes with a higher value are accepted.
  • The result of the raffle must be drawn at the event.

Private Lottery Fund Raiser

This is a raffle or prize draw where tickets are sold in advance but within a particular organisation, for example at work or at a social club. Please note:
  • Tickets can only be sold to members/employees of this organisation.
  • Tickets must include the name and address of each of the lottery's promoters, the ticket price and give details of who is allowed to buy tickets.

Society Lottery Fund Raiser

If you are planning on selling tickets to a wider group of people, then you must obtain a license from the relevant local authority. Please note that as the promoter of the lottery you are liable for the organisation of it. Tickets must include:
  • The name of the society on whose behalf the lottery is being promoted (i.e. Freshfields Animal Rescue)
  • The name and address of the person that the society has authorised to promote the lottery.
  • The date of the draw.
  • Tickets cannot be sold by or to people under the age of 16 and must not be sold in the street.

Prize Competitions Fund Raisers

You do not require a licence to run a prize competition that people pay to enter as long as the participant displays a certain level of knowledge, judgement or skill in order to be eligible for the prize. This is unlike lotteries, which rely wholly on chance.  For further information on prize competitions and lotteries please have a look at the:
Institute of Fundraising https://ciof.org.uk/ and Gambling Commission https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Home.aspx
 
10. Get in touch
We're here to help, so please contact us to talk about your fundraising plans and ask any questions you may have. Please include your postcode in any email enquiries so we can quickly and correctly direct your enquiry to your most local fundraiser.
Just get in touch

Sending in your collection to Warrington Animal Welfare

After you've done all the hard work of holding a fundraising event or taking on a challenge for WAW, you need to send your hard-earned funds to us so we can put them to good use.

Please follow these steps to send in your collection:

  1. Collect – when your event is finished, it is best to collect the money you have raised as quickly as possible.
  2. Count – ensure that two people are present when you are counting cash.
  3. Write a cheque – bank any cash or cheques made payable to you and then write a cheque payable to Warrington Animal Welfare for the amount collected. Please don't send cash through the post.
  4. Sponsorship forms – include any sponsorship forms you have used or a note so we are able to claim Gift Aid.
  5. Complete our Money Return form  – please enclose a note with your name, address, postcode and details of the event so we can thank you properly for your fantastic fundraising help.
  6. Send – send your cheques to: Warrington Animal Welfare, FAO: Trustees, Slutchers Lane, Bank Quay, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1NA
  7. Drop in – you can drop in and drop off cash / cheques every day 12-4pm, if we know you are coming, we can arrange to show you around and take some pictures.
Thank you so much for your donation, it means to world to everyone and all the animals at WAW – our happy endings are only possible with your support.
 

JustGiving – a fantastic fundraising tool

Do you hope to do something GREAT this year, like raise vital funds for WAW? Try using this great fundraising tool...
A great way to boost your fundraising is to create your very own fundraising page using Just Giving.
Whether you are taking part in a team event, running a marathon, trekking up a mountain or collecting donations in exchange for a product or service Just Giving can provide you with the tools you need to promote your fundraising to friends, family and colleagues and to collect their donations!
There are loads of tips and advice on the site along with great ideas for promoting your page using social media. It’s easy to set up, eligible events can boost donations with gift aid and if you let us know about your page, we can help to publicise it too!
Why not visit the Just Giving page and register today

Collection boxes for Fundraising

Every penny counts to Warrington Animal Welfare and the pennies in our collection tins add up to pounds, which go to fund the ever-growing expenses and providing for the animals every day.
 
If you want to help raise funds for WAW be that regularly in your place of work or via your own one off (or regular) fundraising event, then we can help support you by providing posters and collection tins or buckets.
 
WAW have charity collection boxes in shops and businesses in Warrington and the surrounding areas, so if you are a business owner and would like to put a donations tin at your work, please contact us and we can arrange to have one dropped off or ready to pick up.
 
Could you put a large box in your office to encourage your colleagues/staff to drop in unwanted gifts for our tombola’s and raffles? We have done this at a few workplaces, and it works well and is a way for people to donate without spending a penny.
 
Every contribution, however great or small, makes a difference to the lives of to the animals at WAW.
 
Please Contact us to find out more.