Friends Groups are a great way to raise funds and promote the charity in your community. We are looking for enthusiastic people to start up Friends Groups in their own area for Helen & Douglas House.
Examples of what Friends Groups get involved with:
- Attending functions such as Rotary suppers and Elvis extravaganzas
- Representing Helen & Douglas House by collecting cheques and giving talks
- Organising activities like balls, concerts or garden parties
- Using local fundraising opportunities, like having a stall at an event
- Helping at Helen & Douglas House events
Each group is unique! Some will love giving talks and representing the charity, others will take up local fundraising opportunities, or organise their own events.
The Role of the Friends Groups
- They are like an extension of the charity’s fundraising team and are incredibly valuable to the charity.
- They can act as ambassadors for the charity by attending events
- They mean we can take advantage of many more opportunities than we could on our own
Setting up a Friends Group
- Get together with a few friends or colleagues
- Contact the fundraising team and talk about your ideas
- We can help you promote the Group in your local area and organise an evening with speakers to encourage others to join you.
Support for Friends Groups
The groups receive support, advice, materials, and training from the charity. They are invited to Helen & Douglas House events and to visit the hospice houses at our three Open Mornings throughout the year, as well as our annual summer Open Day.
If you want more information about setting up a Friends Group, contact Ruth or Mary on fundraising@helenanddouglas.org.uk or on 01865 799150.
The Eynsham Group was set up in 2006 and up to summer 2009 they had raised over £34,000!! Thank you to everyone in Eynsham for their fantastic ongoing support.
‘In raising awareness of Helen & Douglas House in the wonderfully supportive village of Eynsham we have had lots of fun, made many new friends, discovered new strengths (and weaknesses!) and last, but by no means least, watched the money come rolling in, both pennies and pounds! Go for it!’
Sally Sale, founder of the Eynsham Group
‘The Eynsham Group was founded by Sally Sale, after Sister Frances gave a talk about Helen & Douglas House at Eynsham Baptist Church in February 2006.
I took over as Chair in April ‘08 and have enjoyed helping with a great variety of events, including two sponsored walks at The Cotswold Wildlife Park, our second collection on Eynsham Toll Bridge, a jumble sale in the church hall, a folk night in the village hall and even a guided ghost walk in Oxford! We hold regular quizzes at the Talbot, have collection tins in shops and businesses throughout the village and have visited both schools in the village to talk about the charity.
I’d like to thank all the members of the group for making this so much fun. We all greatly appreciate the support of local community and businesses. We welcome new members or new ideas to raise money.’
Sue Butler, Chair of the Eynsham Group
CONTACT DETAILS
If you would like to find out more about Eynsham Friends Group, please contact Sue Butler on 01865 881690 or email Sue19dove@aol.com
Over the year 2008/09 supporters from Wantage and the surrounding area raised a staggering £4,500 for Helen & Douglas House! They decided to form a Friends Group and the first meeting took place at Millbrook Primary School on Thursday, 16th July 2009.
CONTACT DETAILS
For more information about Wantage and the Vale Friends Group please contact: Sue Rout, sue.rout@ntlworld.com
