The Coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live our lives. From interactions with friends and family, to our ability to travel abroad, it’s fair to say that we are all adjusting to a new way of doing things!
If you’re currently raising the money for your trip, you’ve probably felt the impact of the pandemic on your fundraising efforts, too. After weeks of being confined to our homes, the easing of lockdown restrictions has hopefully given you the opportunity to get back out there and get fundraising.
However, fundraising in this “new normal” can feel daunting. Large-scale fundraising events are now off-limits, and it seems likely that there will be some restrictions on events and gatherings for the foreseeable future.
With this in mind, we thought it would be useful to put together a list of 10 fundraising ideas that you can easily organise from home, and which adhere to social distancing guidelines. Enjoy!
Help your community
It’s likely that some members of your community, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions, are still uneasy about having to leave their homes to go shopping, walk the dog, or collect medicines. Create leaflets and drop them through your neighbours’ doors offering to carry out these errands in return for a small donation, and you’ll be fulfilling a community need as well as raising money for your trip!
Virtual quiz
A large-scale pub quiz may be out of the question right now, but most of us had plenty of practice at virtual quizzing during lockdown! Now that we’ve all had a break from the Zoom quiz phenomenon, why not resurrect the virtual pub quiz for one last time by hosting your own? Ask friends and family to donate towards your trip costs in return for participating. Virtual quizzes aren’t restricted by numbers in the same way that face-to-face gatherings are, so invite lots of people and watch the pounds add up!
Virtual run (or walk!)
Lots of sporting events have been cancelled this year – from the London Marathon to the Tokyo Olympics. That said, you can still compete in your own, individual sporting challenge. Whether it’s a 5k, 10k, half marathon or even a full marathon, an event of this kind could be as simple as asking for sponsorship before completing your run on your local streets. Why not get creative and encourage people to set you challenges along the way in return for an extra donation? You could run in fancy dress, hop your way round part of your route, or (carefully) run backwards!
Have a clear out
Has lockdown unleashed a desire to declutter? If so, you could make some extra cash by selling your unwanted goods on eBay, Gumtree or Depop. Alternatively, if you have lots of preloved items that are looking for a new home, head down to your local car boot sale for an easy way to top up your trip fund!
Donate the cost of your commute
Lots of us have been working or studying from home during lockdown, and, as a result, we haven’t been spending as much as we normally would on things like coffees, lunches, or commuting. For a quick way to boost your fundraising total, calculate how much you’ve saved on these things during the lockdown and donate it to your trip costs.
Online baked goods
A traditional bake sale may not be feasible right now, but, if you have a talent for baking, why not set up an online cake delivery service? Post your delicious baked goods on social media and offer to deliver them to people’s doorsteps in return for a donation. As well as buying for themselves, people may wish to send cakes to loved ones who they are unable to see, so this could also be a great way of cheering people up!
Get creative
Do you have a talent for a particular art or craft? Perhaps you spent lockdown learning a new skill? Whether you’re skilled at knitting, crocheting, painting, or making jewellery, you can easily top up your trip fund by selling your handmade crafts online through sites such as Etsy.
Hold a dinner party at home
If you love cooking, why not organise your own dinner party? Put on a lavish three-course meal for your family in return for a small donation from everyone, or invite another household over and do the same for them. Alternatively, ask your friends to join you for a virtual dinner party! Decide on the menu beforehand, cook the same courses, and ask each guest if they would be willing to donate the cost of the ingredients to your trip fund.
DIY haircut
Not one for the faint hearted! If you’re yet to make it to the hairdressers for a much-needed trim after lockdown, you could save yourself the cost of a haircut by cutting your long hair short, or even shaving your head, at home. Get a family member to record your haircut and post it on social media to encourage donations.
Use our online partnerships
Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of our online partnerships with easyfundraising and FundMyTravel, both of which can help you raise money without even leaving your home. Ask your friends and family to shop online with easyfundraising, and every time they make a purchase from one of over 3,000 retailers, you’ll receive a donation towards your trip. FundMyTravel is also a great way of publicising your trip and collecting donations online, and means you can easily promote your fundraising on your social media pages.
When fundraising, please adhere to government guidelines around social distancing at all times.
