Street Collection for BCS, and a note on fundraising

Yesterday we held our second street collection around the City Centre. Jamie had arranged everything with the Council and after he came down with Swine Flu, Ali organised our logistics on the day. However, alongside these two, a big thank you also goes to Roy for all his help in bagging and counting up the cash, and to Jo for staying to the end with him to help out!

Overall 25 volunteers went out to collect in locations from the Hippodrome to Snow Hill Station. We had 17 volunteers collect in the morning and 8 in the afternoon, and we are really grateful for our friends' energy and commitment. Although this was fewer volunteers than last year in all we collected £811.44 and this will make a real difference to our work at Christmas.

Our notable collector of the day was our new Trustee, Steve Johal, who raised £119.99. Great stuff!

One extra point-of-note is that our Fundraising Committee has this year worked so hard to exceed last year's total. We have been rewarded with two very positive responses, from Npower and Cadburys, and three more charitable trusts are considering our application to them for help.

Our "rainy" Dog walk was again a success, raising £631 to date. Zurich Insurance has also made another valued contribution this year.

Forthcoming events include Peter Brownjohn's "flower celebration" and Medini Richardson's "Bag packing". Lynne has done a fantastic job as Fundraising Committee Chair in raising valued funding for BCS and contributed to the largest single donation of £7000 in BCS history.

With Richard Hall's Lyke Wake Walk contribution, we have raised almost £11,000, before donations.

This is an amazing effort and we are so grateful for everyone's efforts.

Roll on Christmas.

Fundraising sub-committee

We held a Trustee & Volunteer fundraising meeting on Saturday @ St Georges Post-16 centre. In attendance were Jamie Reynolds, Richard Hall, Mike Davey, Lynda Gibbon, Lynn Murray, Sandra Ward and Karen Everett, with apologies from Pol Davey.

So, the Trustees are pretty driven by the need to extend our fundraising beyond donations [which we still need and greatly appreciate!!!]. We were really pleased that a new fundraising committee has been formed to ensure the future financial security of the charity and to raise its profile. All those who attended have agreed to take an active roll and Jamie has agreed to coordinate.

We agreed to investigate the following points around fundraising and awareness-raising.

1. Birmingham City Centre Street collection for Saturday 13th Sept 2008. If you are interested email volunteer@openchristmas.org.
2. Leaflet promotion, to local organisations e.g., Churches, mosques, Temples, Synagogues, Masons, Lions, Co-op, Golf clubs, Schools, Universities, Football clubs, Birmingham Bullets and Moseley Rugby Club.
3. To look for active patrons for BCS.
4. To investigate local industrial links, alongside community centres and libraries.
5. To work up a plan for local, devolved and sponsored events, that can be held at the same time rather than in the same space.
6. To attend the Woodgate Valley Urban Park Open Day on Sunday 8 June @ 11am. Come and meet us there!!
   
7. To evaluate how Facebook, YouTube and Blogs might be used. You can join our Facebook BCS group.
   

We are so grateful to all who attended today, its was very motivating. The new board of Trustee's are very grateful for your time, commitment and energy!!!

Our next Meeting will be 7.30pm on Wed 7th May 2008, Venue to be arranged.