Pandemic can’t stop fundraisers as they make £9k for NSPCC
‘Thankfully Leek and Moorlands area has some very generous supporters’
THE Leek branch of the NSPCC raised more than £9,000 last year despite the coronavirus restrictions.
The group has also raised more than £1,400 by organising an Easter quiz.
Fundraising during lockdown has been particularly difficult for many charities and it has been up to local fundraisers to rack their brains and come up with new ideas which actually work.
Sue Wardle, NSPCC branch chair for North Staffordshire said: “It is very difficult to keep asking people for donations, especially by email or social media, when you can’t see them face to face, but thankfully the Leek and Moorlands area has some very generous supporters and we have done very well, despite the restrictions imposed on us.
“Our Leek committee managed to raise over £9,000 during the year 2020/21 with various virtual events and sponsored walks, which is amazing.”
Leek and Moorlands NSPCC usually holds a quiz and supper at Leek Cricket Club at least once a year and had their last one cancelled, last March, due to the impending spread of coronavirus and lockdown.
So for their Easter fundraiser, they emailed personal contacts a set of 50 quiz questions and asked for a minimum donation of £4, which is the cost of answering a Childline call. They also used social media to get their appeal to as many people as possible.
Their target was £1,000 and to date they have raised more than £1,400 – and there is more in the pipeline.
Sue also had a request for the people of North Staffordshire.
She said: “The NSPCC has a special day coming up on Friday June 11. It is called Childhood Day.
“We are hoping that this will be an annual event and will be a date for everyone’s diary each year. We are hoping that all schools, nurseries and playgroups will take part and organise an awareness day and possibly a small fundraiser.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all schools organised something for this special day and got their children and parents involved?
“There is an activity pack available from the NSPCC website which has lots of lovely ideas for a Childhood Day based on play at www. nspcc.org.uk/support-us/eventsfundraising/childhood-day.
“It costs nothing to sign up and helps spread awareness of the wonderful work that the NSPCC does, all year round, in protecting vulnerable children in the UK.
“Other people might like to organise something simple like a sponsored walk around Rudyard Lake, or a fun run in their local park, or a small coffee morning with a cake sale.
“The possibilities are endless and every bit helps protect children, some of whom have suffered very badly during lockdown.”
Sue can be contacted on 01782 550258 or at checkleysue@aol.com if you are interested in discussing fundraising in any way for the NSPCC.