Why do we need to fundraise?

 

As First Steps is a charity (registered with the Charity Commission, No. 1167009), fundraising is essential for developing the playgroup environment to provide the best possible experience for our children while keeping fees as low as possible. Our staff & committee do a fantastic job (in their own, unpaid, time) organising events and activities to raise money. 

For more details about past and forthcoming fundraising activities, please see our 'News & Events' section on the website.

 

How can I help with fundraising?

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Fundraising events

Are you great at organising events and fundraisers and have some spare time? If so, please let us know as we would love your help!

Also, if you fancy having a go at face painting, love baking or don't mind helping out on the cake stall or tombola, we also really need you...  just let us know and we can add you to our group of valuable volunteers.

Alternatively, if you would like to raise some money for the playgroup yourself, through sponsorship, a coffee morning or even a cake sale, we would be absolutely delighted. Just contact the manager and let us know so we can help publicise your event.

 

Helping out at First Steps

We are always in need of help to keep playgroup running smoothly! Volunteers are welcome to come in and help during playgroup sessions in a support role or perhaps you have some skills or experiences you can share with the children or to do DIY jobs. Please contact us if you can help out in any way.

 

Easy Fundraising.org.uk

Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/firststepsbarlestone to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay, and many many more. Whenever you buy something the retailer makes a donation to First Steps. It won’t cost you a penny extra to shop and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes. Please make a difference to First Steps and take a look today!

 

Employer matched funding

Many employers have a matched funding scheme as part of their corporate responsibility program where any money you raise for a charity like First Steps is matched by your employer. It varies from company to company, but generally an employer will either match the fundraising total for an entire First Steps event, for the stall that their employee is working on, or for the specific sponsorship money their employee has raised for First Steps. Usually, the employee will need to supply them with a letter from First Steps detailing the date and nature of the event, together with the total raised and details of the charity itself.

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We understand that high street banks, building societies, supermarkets and many other large corporations are likely to have matched a funding scheme. but these are not exclusive to the major corporate grants; if you work for an independent company, they may be interested in charitable giving through matched funding too as it can be a tax efficient way for a business to promote its profile in the local community!

We would be grateful if you could see if your employer has a match funding scheme, or if they are willing to match fund any of our events. If you can't help out this time but you know the company you work for has match funding policy, please

We would be grateful if you could see if your employer has a match funding scheme, or if they are willing to match fund any of our events. If you can’t help out this time, but you know the company you work for has a match funding policy, please let us know.

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Do you have a business and want to help?

 Are you a business and would like to help us? Please email firststeps@live.co.uk