FUNDING YOUR PLAYDAY EVENT 

Big or small, the sooner you start to think about funding your event, the more opportunity you have to take advantage of funding that may be available to you.

Playday events don’t have to cost the earth - the average Playday 2009 event cost only £500! When it comes to Playday, it's suprisingly easy to get something for nothing - it doesn't have to be money; it could be time, food or even furniture!

And don't forget, whilst expensive activities and displays can be impressive, simply providing an environment where children and young people can play freely will ensure they have a day to remember for years to come.

This guidance includes:

 

TEN THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

The main thing to think about is that the Playday campaign promotes free play opportunities for all; therefore events should be free so that all children and young people can attend. Here are some ideas to help you fund a great fun event, without charging on the door.

1. Plan your projected budget and resource needs before you start to fundraise.

2.  Some high street chain stores have policies of supporting local community projects or supporting projects in which staff members are involved. Check out the help and advice section on the Fit4Funding website for a list of funding policies of high street shops.

3. Contact your local volunteer centre to see if there are people available who can help you with your event, either setting up beforehand or coming along and helping on the day.

4. Download the official Playday 2009 magazine and use it to inform potential funders/donors.

5. If you are approaching local businesses and individual funders, think about what benefits their contribution will make not only to the local community but also to themselves, and don’t be afraid to highlight those benefits.

6.  Consider sourcing a sponsor for your event. Sponsors are often keen to be associated with positive community events, especially those benefiting children and young people. A key bargaining tool is to allow the company’s logo to appear in marketing and banners.

7. Get partners involved early. Developing contacts with partnership organisations will give you access to more resources and further contacts. Partners can also help with planning, gifts in kind, activities and volunteers. Take a look at the 2009 Get organised! guide for ideas of who to approach.

8. Get everyone involved! Many companies will match fund staff fundraising, so ask everyone you know to get fundraising and ask if their employers will contribute.

9. Ask local companies or service providers for freebies that children and young people at your event can play with. Your local recycling scheme may give you cardboard boxes, builders’ merchants can provide sand for an urban beach, and straw bales from a local farmer are an instant crowd pleaser! You could even ask if they’ll collect them back after your event.

10. And finally…don’t be afraid to ask. As the old saying goes, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

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Finding funding sources

 

There are a huge amount of resources available to those looking for funding advice and guidance. Check with your local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) to see if there are free sources of funding information available in your area (for example at libraries) before paying a fee for funding websites or resources.

J4bCommunity.co.uk
Free searchable online database available for registered users and fundraising advice.
www.j4bcommunity.co.uk

FunderFinder
A charity producing software and other resources, for grant-seekers. Some resources are free; contact them to find out if there is a local agency offering public access to the resources that cost.
www.funderfinder.org.uk

Government funding
Free database of Government funding for the voluntary and community sector.
www.governmentfunding.org.uk

UK Grants Online
Searchable online database available via subscription (or free trial).
www.grantsonline.org.uk

GRANTnet
Free searchable online database available for registered users.
www.grantnet.com

Trustfunding
Directory of Social Change’s searchable online database of trust funds available via subscription.
www.trustfunding.org.uk

Directgov

Your local authority may provide funding for your community and voluntary organisations, such as Community Chest grants. To find out what funding opportunities are available from your local authority, visit the Directgov website.

www.direct.gov.uk  

Playday forum

From time to time we'll post grant opportunities on the Playday forum, or via Playday email updates. If you become aware of a funding source that would help other Playday event organisers, help others by posting it on the forum too. At present you can find details of the Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards on the Playday forum.

 

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Funding applications

 

Once you’ve found your source of funding, you’ll need to fill out a funding application. Successful applications give funders all the information they need to make their decision – check out the tips below to make sure you give them what they want.


Be a real advocate for play

If you’re not excited about the cause, the funder won’t be either.

Build infrastructure
Apply for funds for posts. Think about activities that you want to do but don’t have time to do – that list could become a job description.

Develop a funding strategy
Develop a wish list and write down ideas – new, more, better etc. Prioritise – think about who could fund each element, when you need to apply, and when the funds would be released.

Don’t assume knowledge
It may be obvious to you, but the funder may know little about play.

Focus on solutions
Funders are interested in solutions to problems and the positive benefits a project will bring – tell them what will happen if children and young people miss out on play.

Get facts and figures
For example, demonstrate whether or not your Playday is accessible. How many children, young people and families do you expect to attend, and how many of those fit in with the funder’s target demographic?

Highlight a gap in the market
Tell funders what makes you or your application unique.

If at first you don’t succeed…
Don’t be put off if you’re not successful the first time.

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Further sources of information

 

How2fundraise.org
How2fundraise.org is a free online resource for volunteer fundraisers, from the Institute of Fundraising. Their comprehensive website includes lots of ‘how to’ guides as well as information and inspiration from fellow fundraisers.
www.how2fundraise.org

Children’s Play Information Service (CPIS)
Check out the CPIS factsheet: How to Raise Funds for Children’s Play, available from the CPIS website or call them for further advice on 020 7843 6303.
www.ncb.org.uk/cpis  

Fit4Funding
The Charities Information Bureau’s Fit4Funding website has lots of tips and practical advice on obtaining funding from a wide variety of sources. Go to the Funding page of the Help and Advice section on their website.
www.fit4funding.org.uk

Council for Voluntary Services (CVS)
Your local CVS provides information, advice and guidance to voluntary and community organisations, including advice on local funding opportunities. To find your local CVS visit the directory page of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) website or call 0114 278 6636.
www.nacvs.org.uk/cvsdir

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Go to the sustainable funding section of the website.
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

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For more ideas, check out our top funding tips from fellow Playday event organisers. If you have your own funding tips you want to share, then don't forget to post them on the Playday forum!