Ideas, tips and tools to help and inspire your

your guide to

FUNDRAISING GUIDE Thank you for choosing to serve There are many different with us as a crew member. ways to raise money I know you will be a blessing to for your crew fees. We hope some of the options us and our patients. mentioned in the next few pages will help. We ask that our crew raise their own funds to cover the cost of your board and lodging during your sevice onboard. This ensures that entrusted to us by supporters goes directly to where they are needed most: our patients and their care.

It costs a lot to feed 400 crew members three times a day and there is also the cost of the electricity, water, internet and repatriation insurance, so we ask that every crew member raises approx. £18 a day to cover their time onboard. This cost is known as crew fees. Crew fees can differ depending on how long you are for, but generally £18 a day will cover the cost of your stay onboard.

We hope this guide will help you feel confident in making decisions about what sort of fundraising you will do. We This booklet is packed full of have a team in the Mercy Ships UK office, willing and ready to assist you in your fundraising for Mercy Ships and your information and inspiration time onboard. about how you can raise funds successfully for your time as a crew member with Mercy Ships If there is anything else you need to know, please don’t hesitate to contact your Crew Support Coordinator at [email protected] or call the office on 01438 727800.

FUNDRAISING GUIDE FUNDRAISING GUIDE Taking on a Fundraising challenge event ideas We are constantly amazed at the challenges that some of our crew members take on to raise their crew fees: from There are loads of ways to fundraise either swimathons, tractor runs, quiz nights and skydives! Come up with your own fun challenge or choose one that we’ve on your own or with your friends – from already suggested. Just let your Crew Support Coordinator the simple to the ridiculous know!

Swim! Be inspired and take on a challenge like Dr Laura Clapham (pictured right) who swam the Sponsored silence Skydive equivalent of the coastline in her local swimming We all know someone who we’re dying to recommend for Dare you leap from an aeroplane to raise money? pool to raise money for her crew fees. a sponsored silence! Tractor run! How about running an event like Ward Coffee morning Manager, Jane White (pictured below)? Her community Give something up Enjoy a brew, a chat and some treats to raise money. organised a tractor run in the local village. They charged Maybe you’re a chocoholic or a crisp fiend? If you’ve got an entry fee to include their tractor, they had prizes for the something you can’t live without, why not give it up for a Sponsored wax best entry and all donations went to Mercy Ships for Jane’s week? crew fees. Some other suggestions: Got hairy legs and feeling brave? Get sponsored to get it all waxed off! • Challenge yourself to join your local park run every week if Quiz night you’re not someone who normally runs? Gather your friends, charge an entrance fee, • Cycle the London to Paris route and test their knowledge with a fiendish quiz. Curry night • Take part in a trek through over a mountain range Download a Mercy Ships quiz from our website! Get together with your pals, eat loads of tasty food and raise • Do a sponsored walk. some cash! Who can eat the spiciest curry? No devices There are a lot of ways to challenge yourself and the greater Bake sale the challenge, the more you are likely to raise. Get people to sponsor you to give up your phone or social media! Ask everyone in your workplace to Get in touch with your Crew Support Coordinator bring in a cake and remember that for your personalised sponsorship form, a t-shirt or homemade or shop-bought is fine hoody and/or gift aid envelopes and how to set up H2Only anything goes, as long as you have your Just Giving page. No caffeine, no fizzy drinks, no alcohol. plenty of sweet treats to sell! Can you do it for 10 days?

FUNDRAISING GUIDE FUNDRAISING GUIDE w

Celebration Raising money Holding a giving with a group fundraising

Rather than accepting a gift for your birthday or Fundraising is a fantastic way to get your local Rotary event Christmas, why don’t you ask for a towards club, newspaper, church or school involved with your your crew fees instead? upcoming trip. We have a host of resources to help you. If you have chosen to hold an event, be it a bake sale or an Ask your friends or family to donate to your Just Giving acoustic music evening, or something else entirely - be sure page or send a donation through our UK website with to read our top tips for planning your event and also get in your name as a reference. We will then ensure it gets to Rotary clubs touch for resources. We also have a pre-made presentation you the ship for you. Mercy Ships have a partnership with Rotary, so we ask that can use, so you don’t feel the stress of creating one from scratch you go through us officially before approaching them. We yourself. want to ensure the relationship is managed well. We have a template letter you can use and tips on how to approach your local club in the best way. They have been very generous to 1. Make a plan Mercy Ships crew members in the past so they may like to Make a plan: Where will you host your event? Who will be your sponsor you also! guests? How will you drum up their interest in supporting you? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you plan the best event for your guests. Have you told your local newspaper? Church groups They may like to write a piece about your volunteering. We can Our website is packed with resources you can use at your help and have templates for you to complete and send to the church from Mercy Ships devotionals, Sunday School newspaper. resources, activities your church can get involved with, and videos to show in your church. Check out our website for 4. Gathering donations more or ask your Crew Support Coordinator. 2. Gather materials Do you need any specific materials to promote and run your If you use a personalised sponsorship form (which we can event? We can help with this and send you a presentation, make for you), or a Just Giving page then we can help you get Schools posters, bunting, press release templates, sponsorship forms the donations out to the ship for you in time for your service Download our engaging Classrooms of Compassion (can be personalized), magazines about Mercy Ships etc. onboard resources, packed with stories, lesson ideas and assembly plans, from our website. We can also email you a poster and a presentation. Visit mercyships.org.uk/schools 3. Set a target 5. Safety first Ensure your target covers your crew fees, flights, malaria pill However you choose to run an event don’t forget to consider costs, vaccinations, etc. Even if you raise more than your target your own safety and that of anyone who comes to take part then you can use it for the next time you go or you could gift it to or watch. another crew member onboard. A target helps you keep focused!

FUNDRAISING GUIDE FUNDRAISING GUIDE How to manage your donations

You will have a ‘Crew Bank Account’ on the ship to pay your crew fees, to buy something in the ship shop, buy a coffee or withdraw some local money for your trip out to the local market or beach. You will have a barcode on your ID badge which links directly to your Crew Bank Account. It makes life very easy and simple onboard: simply swipe your ID badge and pay for your coffee or bar of chocolate. 2. Website Your donors can set up a direct debit to your Crew Bank Account When you receive your email from Finance in preparation to on the ship. When you receive your four digit ‘Designation Code’ serve onboard, please say YES to having a designation code from the Finance team, please ask your donors to add this as as it helps us process your donations easily. a reference to the donation with your surname so (e.g. Smith Your donations raised in the UK will be transferred into this 1234). Please ensure you keep in contact with your donors and account onboard via the following methods: inform them of your service dates. If you end your service sooner than expected, then please ensure you have informed them so they can cancel their direct debit. 1. Online For more information or questions on both options above- We recommend you set up a Just Giving page. It is a trusted, please contact your Crew Support Coordinator in the UK office. safe platform to use and your donors will have a good user experience. Please select ‘Raise money for a ’ and then choose ‘Mercy Ships’. As long as your name is attached to 3. Post the Just Giving page and you inform your Crew Coordinator If your donors would like to send a cheque in the post or send in that you have set it up, we will ensure the donations go your one of your personalised sponsorship forms, please ask them to Crew Bank Account on the ship. It is the simplest and easiest ensure your name and Designation Code is written clearly. We way to process donations. Your donors can also claim gift won’t know where to process the donation unless it clearly states aid on their donation, meaning you get an extra 25% on your name. the donation made to you. This really helps you reach your Any further questions on this, then read the ‘Processing Money’ target! guide which your Crew Support Coordinator can send you.

FUNDRAISING GUIDE FUNDRAISING GUIDE Thank you

Good luck with your fundraising, and please get in touch with us to tell us what you’re doing and how you’re getting on. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

mercyships.org.uk Mercy Ships UK, The Lighthouse, 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF Call us: 01438 727800

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Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743. Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)

FUNDRAISING GUIDE