With a little help from my friends Dated: 07/Oct/2009
Dear Chevaliers and Dames,
Following on from my letter in June, I thought it time to bring you up to date with the progress of fundraising work in the North.
At the request of The Grand Prior, my efforts are targeted at raising funds for the Fairbridge Organisation, working with disaffected young people aged 13-25 years in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the U.K. The target amount I committed myself to raise was £3,000, to offer a 3-year rehabilitation course to just 1 young person that would be a life-changing experience.
I am extremely pleased to tell you that so far, I and a small group of friends/volunteers, have raised over £800 and will have cleared well over £1,000 before the end of the year. This has been accomplished by running small, regular events, that needed little organising but yielded steady amounts.
We started the ball rolling with a tombola at a birthday celebration, followed by taking a stall at a local fair and running games for children, before clearing our wardrobes and selling unwanted items at a car boot sale. This was followed by ‘doing a deal’ with a local Italian Bistro and having an Italian Night that brought business to the proprietor on a slow evening, who gave us 15% off the total bill and a bottle of wine for the raffle. Last but not least was a table top sale that realised £120.
We are finalising preparations for our Halloween Disco at the local Cricket Club at the end of October, and for this I have enlisted the help of several young people, who have volunteered their services in organising the event and selling the tickets. This will be done in several schools around the area. I believe success is guaranteed because it is an evening FOR young people, organised BY young people, with the proceeds benefiting young people.
Still in the pipeline, we will be having a stall at two local Christmas Fairs, selling accessories, and tickets for our Christmas Luxury Hamper are now circulating.
All in all much satisfaction has been gained in knowing that ‘every little helps’ as the slogan goes and we have found the challenge to be great fun.
We have attracted further helpers as we have gone on and this has introduced new ideas and possibilities. Whilst we are all busy, working people, the more help we get guarantees that the work will be spread among many and that no one person finds it a burden.
It has been extremely exciting watching the £’s coming in, knowing that they will be put to such good use in supporting disaffected and marginalised young people.
If you can help us in any way – either by offering fundraising suggestions, or by making a charitable donation, please contact me via these means. Any help will be most gratefully received. Cheques should be made payable to The International Knightly Order Valiant of Saint George.
I will report back in the New Year, when I hope that we will be halfway to meeting the target set.
My best wishes to you all.
Muriel Taylor,
DCStG.
Charitable Fundraising/Regional Organiser for the North.
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