With both the Covid19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis have significant impacts on the fundraising efforts of voluntary sector groups, organisations have to think of new ways in which to fundraise. One way in doing so is to host large scale community based fundraising campaigns.

As part of their campaign to raise funds for the construction of a youth centre in Tolpits Lane in Watford, WMYCT in partnership with Dean Russell MP and Watford and Three Rivers Community and Voluntary Services (W3RT CVS) to run a fundraising campaign encouraging individuals to sponsor Dean Russell to fast during Ramadan. As part of the campaign, Dean agreed not to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.

To allow the WMYC to do so, W3RT CVS offered to host this appeal through its website. This process, which take little to no time to set up allows organisations to run appeals which can bring in income for those organisations. As a result of this appeal and the efforts of Dean Russell, £613.34 was raised which will go towards the construction of the community centre.

Imran Khan, one of WMYC’s trustees thanks W3RT CVS for hosting the appeal and said “that the whole process from setting up the appeal’s page to having the funding transferred was quick and simple. In addition, we could claim gift aid on all eligible donations and that W3RT CVS sent us a list of all the donors so we can contact then, thanking them for their donation. We would recommend all organisations considering public fundraising appeals to contact W3RT CVS and see how they can help”.

If your organisation would be interested in running your own fundraising campaigns, please speak to the W3RT CVS team by contact [email protected] and one of the team will be in touch to discuss this further with you.

W3RT CVS is funded by Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council to support voluntary sector organisations to become more welcoming, effective, accountable and sustainable. For more information, click here.

Watford Muslim Youth Centre Trust are a registered charity and are working to construct a multipurpose community centre. This interactive space will offer a wide range of educational and recreational activities to people of all ages and backgrounds. For more details about the charity, click here.