Planning your event: top tips

So you want to stage an event to raise money for Cotswold Care Hospice. Here are our top 10 tips to get you started.

1. Ask for help

Planning an event should be fun - not a chore. Get friends, family and work colleagues involved. They will all have stacks of ideas and the project will be more enjoyable when it isn't all resting on one person's shoulders.

2. Tell us about your event

Our fundraising team is happy to support your event wherever we can and promote it on our website. We can help by providing a letter of authorisation, posters, fliers, tickets for your event and help you get press coverage. Download your fundraising event form, fill it out and return it to us.

3. Check, check and double check dates

Check that the date of your event doesn’t clash with other events near you or on holidays or school breaks.

4. Make every penny count

We are happy to advise on typical costs for a wide range of fundraising events and to share some top tricks to cut down expenses meaning more money is raised for Cotswold Care.

5. Make it legal

Depending on what you are doing, you will have to make sure you are complying with any legalities. Not sure about what you need? A great website resource is www.how2fundraise.org which runs through all the ins and outs of organising an event. From street collections and raffles, to serving alcohol and entertainment licences – it’s all there. If in doubt then ring our fundraising team on 01453 886868.

6. Stay safe

Health & safety of your guests is important. Your local council will be able to provide you with full details or contact our fundraisers for advice.

7. Be covered

Check with your venue and service providers on the night (for example bands, catering, marquee hire) if they have public liability insurance – they may well already be covered.

8. Promote, promote, promote

Don’t forget to promote the event with as much notice as possible – a save the date in your diary announcement, leaflets, posters, emails, newsletters etc all help remind people about your event. Our fundraising team can provide advice on putting a press release together. Don’t forget to try social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo – the more you promote, the more likely you will attract more people.

9. Say thankyou

After the event, don’t forget to thank everyone involved. It is always nice to be appreciated. A thankyou letter signed by the event organiser or, if you are a business, the Chairman or Chief Executive means a lot.

10. Enjoy yourself

The best thing about organising an event should be the event itself and seeing everyone have such a great time. So enjoy yourself - and be proud of that you are doing something to help a local cause.