Why set up an ActionAid fundraising group?It’s great to hear you’re thinking of setting up an ActionAid group in your area. Our network of groups is invaluable to ActionAid thanks to its support for our vital work helping people free themselves from poverty. And you’re not alone – we’re here to support you every step of the way to get your group up and running.

What are the key requirements of an ActionAid group? Every ActionAid group is unique so we don’t ask for a set amount to be raised annually. However, we do recommend you hold at least two or three fundraising events or activities per year.

Our groups organise a huge variety of fundraisers including quizzes, collections, gigs, sponsored walks and much more. It’s entirely up to you what kind of activities you decide to do. It’s also worth seeing if you can piggy-back on other events planned in your area – such as local concerts or street fairs – to raise even more. ActionAid can offer you plenty of event ideas (see the fundraising ideas enclosed for some suggestions).

As a group you’ll be responsible for managing your fundraising activities, from coming up with the idea, to publicising it, coordinating it on the day and finally sending the funds in to ActionAid. This may seem daunting initially but remember that each group member should take responsibility for a different aspect and we’ll provide any guidance you may need to ensure your event is a success.

What is expected of the group coordinator?As the person setting up the group, you may be in the best position to take on the role of group coordinator. The group coordinator is responsible for:- the overall running of the group and ensuring each group member knows their role - being ActionAid’s key point of contact and communicating with us regularly- sharing communications from ActionAid with group members- bringing new group members on board (with ActionAid’s support).

A guide to setting up your ActionAid group

Remember: just because you have chosen to set up the group, this doesn’t mean you have to be the one to coordinate it. If you would prefer to give this role to another group member then that’s fine!

ActionAid supporters celebrate their fundraising successes at an event in Leeds.PHOTO: GARY CALTON/ACTIONAID

How will the money you raise be spent?

ActionAid can link your group to a specific community-based project in need of vital support in Africa, Asia or Latin America. We’ll give you a choice of projects and then it’s up to your group to decide how your funds are spent – for example, you could raise £2,000 to get girls off the streets in Bangladesh, or £260 to buy kits containing food and essential household items for 10 families affected by HIV and AIDS in Burundi. Alternatively, we can also direct your funds where the need is greatest at the given time.

We’ll send you detailed information on the work you are supporting, as well as regular updates on how your funds are making a difference. We’ll provide this in a format that makes it easy for you to share with others in order to inspire them to support your fundraising efforts – take a look at some of our current work at www.actionaid.org.uk/priorityprojects.

could help 30 girls gain

access to employment and

housing in Bangladesh

could pay for one awareness-raising meeting of 200 landless women in Gujarat, India

Former bonded labourer Shiva Tharu (far left), his wife and children stand on the foundations of what will be their new brick home in Kalika village Nepal, built with funds raised by ActionAid fundraising groups.PHOTO: KARI COLLINS/ACTIONAID

Beauty Akhtar, aged 12, attending lessons at the ActionAid-supported Happy Home, Bangladesh. PHOTO: G.M.B. AKASH/PANOS/ACTIONAID

Rajan Ben on land she gained ownership of with the help of ActionAid. PHOTO: SRIKANTH KOLARI/ACTIONAID

Choose a name!Your group’s name could reflect the area you wish to represent and could include ActionAid’s name (e.g. North Herts ActionAid) but this is entirely up to you. It’s a good idea to check whether we have another group operating nearby at www.actionaid.org.uk/community, as then you can ensure you are covering a different area. Please let us know your group’s name when you complete the registration form.

Get others involvedHow many people do I need on board and in what roles?Before you register your group, we recommend it is made up of a minimum of two people – a group coordinator and someone to hold the purse strings! Ideally, we would recommend you have at least four people on board so you can share roles and responsibilities as your group develops, though we recognise this isn’t always possible from the outset. Often people’s existing skills dictate the role they take – though the group may also offer an opportunity for people to develop new skills!

The coordinator is usually the person who takes overall responsibility for the group and is the key point of contact with ActionAid. The person responsible for the financial side of things keeps a record of funds raised and any expenses incurred, and takes charge of sending donations in to ActionAid. In addition to these two roles, it is also very useful to have someone responsible for publicising your fundraising events and activities.

Tip: Try to avoid a single person taking on the majority of the workload and ensure group members can switch roles when necessary so the group can still run effectively if someone is absent.

Who can I get involved? Anyone at all is the short answer, provided they are passionate about eradicating poverty! Think about existing networks of friends, colleagues and members of groups to which you already belong. We can also help put you in touch with established ActionAid supporters in your area.

How do I inspire people to join me?Spread the word! Try to publicise your new group and the fact you are seeking members as widely as possible and through a variety of channels. Think particularly about where those ActionAid-friendly people might congregate!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

rather than an advert or they may want to charge you.

Hold your first group meetingInvite all those interested to an initial meet-up. We recommend keeping the setting fairly informal and relaxed by bringing everyone together over a meal or a drink in your local café or pub for example. It’s a good idea to talk briefly about ActionAid’s work to get the message across as to why their support is so vital. Visit www.actionaid.org.uk/priorityprojects for examples of our work. If you would like further support with this, please get in touch and we can provide you with plenty of information about ActionAid, including photos and video material.

You should also use this meet-up as an opportunity to find out more about people’s interests and the kinds of fundraising activities they might like to get involved with. It’s also useful to find out more about people’s skills to help you to gauge what roles they might be best suited to in the group.

Step-by-step guide to getting your group started

At the end of this session, ensure you capture the details of everyone who is keen to be involved. Email addresses are particularly useful. The day after the meet-up, send round an email to thank everyone for coming and set a date for a follow-up meeting.

Designate roles and responsibilities This follow-up meeting is the time to to set out roles for specific members. It’s particularly important to ensure you find someone who’s good with numbers to look after the group’s finances (ideally not the same person as the group coordinator).It’s up to you whether you choose to hold regular meetings but this works well for many groups and is a good opportunity to plan, share ideas and pass on information about ActionAid. Some groups plan a calendar of events and then slot in meetings in advance of each event to be organised.

Hold an ideas session for your first fundraising activityYour first meeting is also an opportunity to discuss ideas and a potential date for your first fundraiser. If

best to keep it simple and to think about group members’ interests and skills to ensure the event is fun for everyone involved. We’ll give you more detail in your welcome pack about how to organise an event and maximise the funds you raise.

Fill out the registration formOnce you’ve come up with a name for your group, got your first members on board and worked out a potential event idea, please complete and return the enclosed registration form. We can then officially register your group and send you a welcome pack. There is no need to have your first event fully finalised in order to register, as once you’re up and running we’ll work closely with you to help you get it off the ground.

What support will ActionAid give you?

to welcome you to the team and provide information and advice to help make your fundraising as successful as possible and resolve any hitches.

Support with publicising your fundraising activities and recruiting new group members through our press team, website, social networking pages and targeted emails.

This includes step-by-step guides on how to organise events, fundraising tips, sponsorship forms, advice on paying in your funds and much more. We will send you your welcome pack as soon as you have officially registered your group by returning the enclosed registration form.

Action, three times a year.

groups, and find out more about ActionAid’s work. In the longer term, opportunities may also arise to visit the projects first-hand you help to fund.

If you require any further support please get in touch with the Events and Community Engagement team on 020 3122 0508Email: events@actionaid.org

ActionAid volunteers come together to fundraise and promote ActionAid at the Big Chill festival, Worcestershire.