Mind Your Business
With so many to support, it can be a real dilemma which charity to choose. If your choice is not relevant for your colleagues, it can be difficult bringing a team together to support it. Get it right and the results will amaze and inspire.
Because South Kent Mind focuses on the Dover and Folkestone & Hythe districts, we are confident it is of local interest. After months in lockdown, we also know good mental health will be at the forefront of most peoples’ minds. Our mission, improving the lives of people with mental health challenges across South Kent, is more relatable than ever.
Whatever your turnover, we want to partner with new and established businesses, as your charity of choice. With your support, we can deliver initiatives that benefit you and raise awareness and funds for the services and activities we provide. Experienced fundraisers or first-time novices, we welcome your support.
Whatever your company’s current circumstances, it is important that staff feel connected and part of a team. The welcome distraction of collaborative fundraising remains an effective way of team building, boosting morale and creating momentum. It is also a great way for a business to showcase how social responsibility is taken seriously.
So what can you can do to make a difference?
As a Company
Promoting
Your company ideally has a recognizable logo, a website and at least one social media channel that you post to. Let us know the dimensions and we can send files for bespoke graphics. These can be used on your website, social media, signature blocks, e-newsletters or to create posters for windows or signage.
We will also add you to our South Kent Superstars wall of fame and feature your endeavours across our social media channels and through local media. We will be on hand to support you from the start, middle and finish of each initiative and help you maximise opportunities.
Incentives
Create incentives for your staff to fundraise and your business contacts to donate. Whatever the challenge or criteria (most raised, furthest distance travelled, biggest donation), thank your employees and associates with appropriate rewards. For employees, this could be an extra day of leave or an agreed late start or early finish. For supporters it could be some welcome publicity. Remember to say thanks.
Match Funding
As your staff’s time spent fundraising is helping raise the profile of your business, it makes sense to match fund the total amount they raise for an unbeatable finish. You have a headline-grabbing fundraising total and your team will know their hard work has been recognised.
Payroll Giving
If your employees want to support South Kent Mind but don’t want to participate in fundraising, ensure payroll giving is readily available as an option. It’s an efficient and smart way for employees to support South Kent Mind and makes planning easier for the charity. You can find out more about it here.
Corporate Partner
If you want to be a corporate partner of South Kent Mind, and help safeguard the mental health services and activities almost a quarter of a million residents across Dover and Folkestone & Hythe districts can access, we would appreciate your support. To find out more and set up a meeting, please contact South Kent Mind.
As an Employee
Create a Team
Whatever the challenge, create your own unique fundraising page on either JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving then set up a team page that all individual fundraising pages can sit under. A single URL for a branded team page will be easier to share but all participating staff will be visible and their individual totals will feed into a single grand total. This could be an opportunity for your company to match fund.
Wellbeing Days
If your business is one of the many who are rolling out wellbeing days, make the most of this opportunity to start specific challenges (a bike ride, run, walk) that get you out of the house and that your colleagues can take part in, wherever they may be based.
Involve the Business
Involve the business in your fundraising. Smart businesses will see the benefits of empowering an employee and growing their profile. Perhaps they would like to be an event sponsor or maybe do a shout out across their social media channels or add a community-focused page to their website. Make the right people in your organisation aware of what you are doing and suggest how they may wish to help.
Payroll Giving
If you would like to help but lack the time, energy or inclination to get involved fundraising think about Payroll Giving. This is a tax efficient way to donate and these guaranteed funds will make it possible for South Kent Mind to plan more strategically. You can find out more about payroll giving here.
