CROWDFUNDINGFOR SUMMER SCHOOL

YOUR GUIDE TO CROWDFUNING AND HOW TO DO IT SUCCESSFULLY

Crowdfunding has been established in the UK for more than 10 years. It is one of the most popular methods of fundraising today – and rightly so. It is an extremely easy and convenient way to raise money. You don’t have to put a massive amount of effort into it but the return on investment is great.

As budgets tighten and funding becomes less available in education, crowdfunding can be a resourceful way for schools and education professionals to raise necessary funds. Education professionals can create a crowdfunding campaign to fund training if they or their school are unable fund it. We believe it could be a great way to fund your place at nurtureuk Summer School.

Summer School is our annual immersive four-day residential course providing training for those new to, or looking to upskill themselves on best practices for working with and for the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in education.

In this guide we will explain what crowdfunding is, why it is a good idea to use it to fund your place at Summer School and how to make your crowdfunding campaign a success.

WHAT IS CROWDFUNING?

Crowdfunding is a method of raising small amounts of money through the collective effort of friends, family and other stakeholders to reach a single large target. To put it simply, it is the act of raising funds from a crowd. Your campaign gives you a chance to connect with potential donors by telling them a compelling story with a call to action.

Crowdfunding is predominantly done online on websites such as JustGiving, Virgin Money Giving, GoFundMe and so on. This makes it easier to spread your campaign and receive donations from a wider audience as you can share your crowdfunding page via social media and your supporters can also share it on their social media networks, allowing for greater reach and exposure.

As well as raising money, crowdfunding gives you the platform to raise awareness to a wider audience about a cause you’re passionate about or something that needs attention in society.

WHY CROWDFUND FOR YOUR PLACE AT SUMMER SCHOOL?

Due to lack of funding, mental health and wellbeing support is often the first initiative to be cut in schools. School leaders know that some of their pupils are unable to learn without this support, however they may be in a position where they are unable to fund training for their staff that allows them to support their most vulnerable learners.

Additionally, most teachers are unable to self-fund their continuing professional development (CPD). Educational crowdfunding helps to solve this problem which is becoming more prevalent in times of austerity.

Summer School is a great opportunity for your CPD. Over the four days there is a selection of 30 specialist workshops, four big picture sessions, eight masterclasses and lots of networking opportunities. All of our workshops are based around four key themes: new to nurturing interventions, nurturing approaches for wellbeing, inclusive strategies for special needs and trauma informed schools. There is a wide range of workshop topics such as supporting special needs, fostering wellbeing for children and young people, combating trauma and strategic planning for nurturing schools.

Summer School will equip you with tools and knowledge to better support your pupils who are struggling in mainstream education. By crowdfunding for your place at Summer School, you can take control of your CPD and raise money to ensure that you can continue providing important mental health and wellbeing support to your pupils.

HOW TO CROWDFUND SUCCESSFULLY

“The networking and meeting likeminded people has been an absolute joy. I have learnt lots and the experience has validate my practice and made me feel confident in my current and future practice.”

- Summer School delegate

Fundraising online may be new territory for your school, but with a few tips and tricks, you can create an effective campaign to help you reach your goal.

Choose the right crowdfunding platform and make sure that you properly understand it. Some sites have an “all-or-nothing” policy, meaning you have to reach your monetary goal to get any of the funds. So ensure you read and understand the FAQs, guidelines, terms, and conditions before signing up.

Telling a compelling story will increase your chances of donations. Clearly explain to potential supporters why you are crowdfunding, why it is so important, how the funds will be used and the impact their generosity will have. Include facts, figures, pictures and/or videos to support your story.

Set a fundraising goal. Supporters like to help you work towards something and, it gives you something to message about during the course of your campaign. Sending out an email when you’re at 50% of your goal is super motivating and allows everyone to see how their donations are impacting your cause.

Constantly engage your supporters. Send campaign updates and keep them posted on your goals, where their money is going, how it’s helping and what it means to you personally.

Spread the word. Share your campaign on social media, with family and friends, and anywhere else you can get it out there. The wider your reach, the greater the opportunity for potential supporters to see it. Also share your crowdfunding page on payday.

Say thank you! This may seem like an obvious one but it’s also something we often forget to do. Thanking your supporters shows them you actually do appreciate their generosity and is a great way to increase chances of future donations if you crowdfund again in the future.

CROWDFUNDING SITES YOU COULD USE

Nurtureuk is a registered charity in England and Wales (1115972) and Scotland (SC042703).

Crowdfunder

JustGiving

GoFundMe

Virgin Money Giving

Crowdrise

Before you sign up to any of these sites, do your own research and ensure that it is the most suitable platform for you to create your crowfunding campaign.

Creating your crowdfunding campaign should be hassle-free, however if you need further help then please feel free to contact us at info@nurtureuk.org and we will support you. Good luck!