The BBC’s Red Nose Day is back on 24th March. From now until then you’ll see little red noses popping up in supermarkets, on the television and on your social media feeds. Children’s schools often support Red Nose Day too, if your children are in school you’ll probably start hearing about their fundraising plans soon. I think Red Nose Day is a wonderful way to introduce children to the benefits of fundraising and thinking of others while having fun in the process.
Your children may be too young for school but you still want to get involved. Or maybe your school isn’t participating this year. Or maybe you want to do something above and beyond what school has already planned so that you can raise money as a family. I love the idea of getting children involved with fundraising- I think it teaches them valuable lessons about thinking of others and working toward a goal.
Firstly, if you are planning on fundraising for Red Nose Day, visit their website to register, get a free fundraising pack and get some ideas for fundraising. Plus there is a tab that shows what a difference fundraising makes. The website is easy to read and navigate, so why not sit down with the kids and let them take the lead with setting up your plan? I think they will be really interested to see how money raised can make a difference in so many children’s lives.
The aim of Red Nose Day is to have fun and work together while raising money for children at home and abroad. We’ve put our head together in the what2buy4kids office and have come up with some additional child-friendly ideas that you and the kids could try for fundraising:
Do a hula-hoop challenge or a skipping rope challenge:
Get your children and their friends, and parents and even grandparents involved and set up a challenge. Grab your hop or skipping rope, and sponsor each other for how many hula hoops or skips you can do and make it a competition. The one who does the most could win a little prize like a sticker or a little sweet. Kids will love seeing parents and grandparents hula hooping and skipping too!
Raise money by offering your services to your neighbours:
You and your child can offer to walk your neighbour’s dog or rake some leaves or sweep their front path. Explain that you are fundraising, ask for donations and work together to get the task done. This is a wonderful way to spread some kindness and do some fundraising at the same time.
Have a bake sale:
Not sure who to sell your cakes to? Bake cakes at home and send them into yours or your spouse’s work! There are always hungry people at work and if you ask for donations rather than pricing the cakes individually, you are sure to raise more.
Hold a Cinema Night (or afternoon):
Set up a cinema experience in your home, invite the children and their friends, and your friends and family too. Get the popcorn popped, sweets ready and ask everyone who attends to make a donation towards your fundraising. Red Nose Day supports doing something funny for money so show a funny film and get everyone laughing.
Do a ‘Make me Laugh’ or a ‘Tell me a Joke’ Fundraiser:
Children can do a funny skit or tell a joke to a friend of family member for a small donation. 20p to hear a good joke sounds like a good deal to me! There are lots of great websites with funny jokes for kids…here are couple we’ve heard just recently:
Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7? A: Because 7 “8” 9!
Q: How do you get a tissue to dance@ A: Put a little boogie into it!
Funny Hair Day:
If you belong to a playgroup and you’re looking to do a group fundraising activity, why not arrange a Funny Hair Day when everyone comes with a funny hairstyle. Everyone who takes part can pay a £1 donation. Or if they don’t want to mess up their hair and don’t want to take part, they can pay a £2 donation!!
Whatever you do, I hope it is fun. Having fun while doing good for others really is the best way to approach fundraising with children. And if you wish, take a photo of you doing your fundraising and email it to the BBC, through their Red Nose Day link- it may be shown on the television or on their website!
We will be doing our own fundraising in the what2buy4kids office, look at our Facebook and Twitter feeds on the 24th March to see what we get up to!
To support Red Nose Day, we will also donate 20% of all orders place on the 24th March.
Lisa is the managing director of what2buy4kids. Lisa’s wish is to make your job of finding a gift for the children in your life easier, or help you to take some of the time and frustration out of the search for that special gift for kids.