Students harness power of social media for fundraiser
A team of six students from the University of Bath have created their own social media challenge as they aim to raise £400 for the NSPCC.
The group, made up of Hyunji Lee, Javier Galindo Forn, Kornkanok Teainchai, Lily Beynon, Madhav Yadav and Szu-ting Chen, designed the challenge as part of their work towards their MSC in sustainability and management and marketing.
Earlier this year the charity urged fundraisers across the country to take part in their new landmark Childhood Day, where people were encouraged to bring out their inner child and raise money with the theme of play.
In response to that, the six students designed a challenge where participants would share an image of themselves from their childhood, tag four friends who would do the same and donate £4 to the NSPCC, which is the cost of one call to Childline.
Student Lily said: “We decided we needed to come up with a fun challenge that would encourage people to follow our page and get involved.
“So, we came up with a#Pic 4 childhood day challenge where we asked people to post a picture of themselves on their Instagram story, donate £4 to our Justgiving page and then nominate four friends to do the same.
“This has been really successful in reaching an audience and gaining followers as well as raising money! Our Justgiving donations are currently at £155 and over 50 people have taken part in the challenge.
“It’s also a fun and interactive challenge which allows people to reminisce over their childhood.”
As another part of their fundraiser, the students have also created a drawing competition, in which children are encouraged to submit a drawing relating to childhood. The winner and runner-up will receive prizes kindly donated by businesses in Bath.
To enter, entrants simply have to submit their drawing via Google
Forms (https://forms.gle/ixqcv23 vuwj8cyft7), the link to which is posted on Childhood Day Bath’s Facebook page, to be in with a chance to win.
As well as claiming a prize, the winning image will also be used as part of any subsequent Childhood Day media-related activities in the South West.
Lily said: “The most enjoyable part of fundraising has been seeing people donate and engaging with our campaign.
“It is so rewarding knowing all our work is going to a good place and the money and awareness we raise will hopefully help to make a difference. It is also motivating and inspiring seeing people being so generous and kind.”
NSPCC community fundraising manager for Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, Emma Hildesley, said: “These students have done an incredible job to create such an imaginative fundraising event.
“It has been amazing to see their idea come to life, and then reach thousands of people on social media, while raising money for the NSPCC at the same time.”