Do your own fundraising

Fundraising can be a great way to get your friends together and have fun, while doing something amazing for a cause you love.

BookTrust transforms lives by inspiring a love of reading. Need some more inspiration? Take a look at our A-Z of fundraising ideas.

There are no limits to your imagination.

Fundraising doesn't have to be a big deal. There are lots of small things you can do to raise a bit of cash.

The best thing to do is get your friends involved too - at school, at home, at your after-school clubs or summer camps - that way, you can share the work and the fun.

This June, Hana did a sponsored ‘Jumpathon’. Inspired by the Peppa Pig book ‘Sports Day’, Hana got into her pyjamas and did 1000 jumps all in aid of BookTrust. The money Hana raised is vital in ensuring that all children have access to books and the magic of stories.

You could do the same!

You might think about doing a bake sale. Get each of your friends to bake something, then bring it all together.
If you want to get a bit more active, but aren't ready to run a marathon, you could do a fun run instead. Or even get your friends involved and run a larger distance as a relay.

If you want to challenge yourself a bit more, there are bigger things that you can do. They might require a bit more effort on your part, but the rewards will be fantastic!

Organise an event like a quiz night, a school disco or even a school fair. Get creative and get everyone involved. You could make it a themed event, sell tickets, sell refreshments and have lots of activities going on at once.
Organise a writing competition. You could have different categories - like poetry, short fiction, journalism - and different age groups. You could have a 'guest judge' or a student vote to decide the best one. Get everyone who enters to make a small donation and the winner could get a small prize.

Once you've got an idea, it's time to set up your fundraising page. We use SuperKind and JustGiving.

Set up your own SuperKind page now – designed to empower children to make a difference. https://superkind.org/charity/book-trust
Set up a JustGiving page now – and start your fundraising journey. https://www.justgiving.com/booktrust

In the workplace

Organising a fundraiser doesn't have to be difficult. The most successful events are often the most simple. People are more likely to join in if taking part is easy. Keeping this in mind, follow these steps when planning a successful fundraising event. And don't forget to let us know what you're doing!

1. Start with a great idea

Our A-Z of fundraising has some great ideas to choose from.

2. Make sure it's legal (and safe!)

If you're fundraising at work or in a public space please check guidelines and procedures beforehand. If you are holding a raffle you will need to follow some guidelines to ensure your fundraising is legal. For advice on holding raffles and lotteries at work or in the community, visit www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Not sure if it's okay? Just ask our fundraising team.

3. Make a plan and stick to your budget

A well-planned event is a successful event. If you need materials or any advice, just get in touch with our fundraising team. Fundraising best practice suggests that what you spend should be less than half of the total income. Keep costs down with getting some resources for free!

4. Spread the word

If you want your event to be sponsored it's easy to set up your own fundraising page on JustGiving - and it's secure and reliable! Your sponsors can then stay updated on how you're doing, while photos and videos can inspire new sponsors to support you. Or alternatively, you can fundraise for us through our Facebook page.