Fundraising Pack
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FUNDRAISING PACK FuDris Fo oLi HeLo Thank you for choosing to fundraise for The OLLIE Foundation. We’re delighted to have you on board. Without you, we simply couldn’t do what we do. We all remember growing up. It’s an exciting and defining time. But for lots of young people, it can also be confusing and incredibly difficult. The pressures and demands they face can be overwhelming leaving them feeling stressed, anxious, depressed and unable to cope. Though suicide is something we’d rather not talk about, it’s the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK. Every year, thousands of young people choose to take their own lives as an alternative to carrying on feeling the way they do. Scared to speak up or unsure where to turn, they can’t see another way out. And those left behind are completely and utterly devastated. I’ve come face-to-face with young suicide myself. My son ended his life when he was just 15 years old. That’s why in 2016, with two other parents who’ve suffered the same loss, I set up The OLLIE Foundation. Standing for “One Life Lost is Enough”, our mission is to stop young people from taking their own lives. We train people – such as parents, teachers, health professionals and young people themselves – in suicide awareness, prevention and intervention. By developing support for young people at a community level, we make sure they feel they have someone they can turn to if they’re struggling. Someone who’s open, understanding and can guide them to the professional help they need. I know organising fundraising activities isn’t easy. It takes time, effort, commitment and drive. But it’s also fun and immensely satisfying, which makes it all worthwhile. Whether you’re a fundraising novice or seasoned pro, we want to make your experience as exciting and rewarding as possible. We hope this information pack will help you on your way. Finally, a huge thank you for supporting us to prevent more young suicides. We rely entirely on voluntary donations, so without your support our vital work wouldn’t be possible. I really hope you enjoy fundraising for OLLIE and we can’t wait to hear all about it. Stuart Falconer Founder, The OLLIE Foundation FUNDRAISING FOR OLLIE Wh cOoE Olie AbOUT Ollie Suicide is a taboo word. It’s something we choose not to talk about. Yet frighteningly it’s the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK. Every year over 1,600 young people take their own lives. Thousands more attempt or think about suicide, harm themselves or suffer in silence, afraid to speak up or unsure where to turn for help. And worse still, the rate of suicide among teenagers is rising. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right support and community education, suicide can be prevented. So in 2016 The OLLIE Foundation was born. Founded by three parents who had all lost their teenage sons to suicide, OLLIE stands for “One Life Lost is Enough”. Our mission is simple: TO sTOp yoUng peOple fROm takinG tHeiR own lives OUR WORK Based in St Albans, OLLIE delivers training in suicide awareness, prevention and intervention to communities in Hertfordshire. We train all sorts of people, including parents, teachers, health professionals, sports coaches, youth club leaders and young people themselves. Our four workshops are: An in-depth two-day workshop in suicide first A 90-minute exploration of suicide awareness, aid. Participants learn how to spot someone as well as how to get involved in creating a who might be having suicidal thoughts, reduce suicide-safer community, through open and their immediate risk and signpost them to the direct talk about suicide. This session can be help they need. provided for large groups of up to 50 people. A half-day workshop that trains anyone A one-day workshop that trains professionals aged 15+ to become a suicide-alert helper. how to support the recovery and growth of Participants learn how to identify someone at someone who’s attempted suicide. risk and connect them to lifesaving support. wHy We neeD YoUR Help For a small charity, we’ve already achieved so much. We’re well-established in St Albans and Harpenden, having trained over 600 local people by September 2018. Now we want to build on this success by growing our team and expanding our reach across Hertfordshire and beyond. We also want to make our training more accessible by providing more fully-funded courses. But we can’t do any of this without your support. OLLIE is funded entirely through voluntary donations and we rely on the fundraising efforts of the local community. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a real difference to us. £5 £10 £20 £50 Could pay for a Could pay for Could pay for a Could pay to train 30-minute phone organising and pop-up stall at youth ambassadors call with a school to booking a venue for a community events who can raise talk about suicide suicide prevention to raise suicide awareness among intervention training. workshop. awareness. their peers. Fundraising is a great way to “get involved with a charity that’s close to your heart. Helping OLLIE has given me a purpose and something meaningful in my life after losing my brother. I’ve met some lovely people, discovered new things and had great fun.” Sarah Brackley, Harpenden A FUnDRaiSeR’s StORy “I did a tandem skydive for The OLLIE Foundation in April 2018. I chose to do a skydive as I was inspired by one of my friends who did one for charity last year! Mental health has always been a cause that’s close to my heart. I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression since I was in my early teens. From feeling like there was no way out to now feeling happy, confident and content with my life, I want to help others who feel like suicide is their only option. I also chose OLLIE because it was set up by Stuart in aid of his son, Morgan, who took his life in May 2015. Morgan is the brother of one of my good friends from school. I have known them both since we were at primary school. On the day of the skydive, I was more excited than anything. I had raised over £1,000 so I was feeling very motivated. The most daunting part was probably when the plane door opened 13,500 feet in the air and I was sitting on the edge practically hanging out of the plane! The best part was when the parachute went up after 40 seconds of freefalling! It was one of my proudest achievements and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Georgiana Sophia McCarthy, St Albans A Big THANK YoU We’re so grateful to everyone who fundraises for OLLIE. Whether you’re an individual, business, school or group, we simply couldn’t do what we do without your support. We hope you find the experience fun and rewarding and we can’t wait to hear all about your plans. Together we can help stop youth suicide and save lives. BY wORKing CLosely WitH CommUNiTies We Can pRoMOtE gOOD meNtaL heAlTH aMOng YOUng peOple For help with fundraising please email: AnD Help THOSe [email protected] BatTliNg with SUiCiDAl THOUgHTs. FrOm US All AT Ollie The OLLIE Foundation, Faulkner House, Victoria Street, ThAnk YoU fOR All St Albans, AL1 3SE. Charity number 1167116 THe Help YoU giVe. FUNDRAISING FOR OLLIE FuDrisNg IdAs Fundraising for OLLIE is not only fun and rewarding. It also raises much-needed awareness about what we do and the issues facing young people today. Whether you want to fundraise in the community, at work or at school, here are some great ideas that’ll get the pounds rolling in. FUnDRAisiNg in THe COmmUNitY Car washing Find some clean buckets and sponges, recruit your friends and family, and head out into the community to make cars sparkle. Charge £5 for a wash and you’ll clean up in no time. Supermarket bag packing Why not ask the manager of your local supermarket if you can help shoppers pack their bags in return for a donation? It’s a great way to talk to people about OLLIE too. Quiz night Dust off your thinking caps and hold a quiz night at a local pub or other community venue. Charge an entry fee and sell refreshments. Fish ‘n’ chips or a curry always go down well. Treasure hunt Use an augmented reality app, or create your own treasure map and ask everyone to pay a small fee to take part. Make the most of local landmarks and history to engage the local community. Get businesses involved by asking them to provide small perks for the treasure hunters in return for making their business a stop-off Putting our heads together and point for a clue! “working as a team made fundraising a lot more fun. Not only did we Ball manage to get more people involved How about putting on a glitzy ball or dinner dance? but the treasure hunt was a much You could even have a theme, like James Bond or better success.” Moulin Rouge. People will love the chance to don their glad rags and dance the night away. And it’s the perfect Claire Reynolds, St Albans opportunity to hold an auction or raffle. Car boot sale Have a spring clean and sell your unwanted clutter with a car boot or jumble sale.