Your fundraising will raise the money that’s crucial to help Marmalade Trust support some of the loneliest people in our region to make connections and have fun in 2025. It will also help us run national and international campaigns to raise awareness about loneliness across all sections of society.
And it can be fun and rewarding – you get to choose exactly what you do! Here are some ideas for anyone keen to help us out by raising some money in support of Marmalade Trust.
1 - Host a community crafting day
Organise a crafting session where attendees can pay a small fee to learn a new skill like pottery, knitting, or card-making. You can partner with a local artist or crafting expert to offer workshops, or keep it simple by providing materials and guidance yourself. The event could be themed around seasons or holidays, with participants taking home their creations as a memory of the day and their contribution to Marmalade Trust.
2. Get your pets involved
We're truly a nation of pet lovers! A number of organised charity events have launched for those that want to spend time with their pets and raise money for a good cause. Some like the Dog Jog are open to all abilities and are a fun way to spend a day out with other dog owners, where both you and your pet get some exercise and help raise money for Marmalade Trust.
3. Take part in a running event
Planning to get back into running in the new year? Why not pick Marmalade Trust as the recipient of your 5k, 10k or marathon sponsorship money! There are a lot of races taking place around the country in 2025, so it should be easy to find one near you. Whichever event you choose, our team will support you on your event journey - just shoot us an email to let us know what you're up to!
Sally Greenland, one of our superstar fundraisers, ran an incredible 46 muddy miles around Bristol to support Marmalade Trust, smashing her £2,000 target! Read more >
4. Give up something you love
It might not be easy for some, but it should be relatively simple for most people to give up something they enjoy for a month in order to raise some money for charity. This is another option for the creative among you, as you can choose to ditch the thing that you know your supporters will be most surprised you are giving up. Whether it's chocolate, coffee, or social media, use the time or savings to focus on raising funds and let your supporters cheer you on!
5. Take the plunge and swim
Challenges that involve swimming are great for all ages and all abilities. Organised events such as the Swimathon are becoming more and more popular, and allow people to take to the water to raise money for a cause they really care about.
6. Set a personal goal
If a marathon doesn’t appeal, you can set your own personal target, or arrange an event in collaboration with a class you attend. Choose whatever works for you: skipping, rolling, swimming, rowing, yoga, zumba or kickboxing… anything goes! Set the time or distance for your challenge, and you can use a range of apps to record your progress.
Ruth Yudkin set herself the challenge of getting to Grade 1 on the jazz trumpet in 3 months. She passed (with a merit!) AND raised a whopping £1,686 for Marmalade Trust! Read more >
7. Host a garden party
Whether it’s a picnic, tea party, or barbecue, invite friends, family, or neighbors to a fundraising event in your garden. Add some fun elements like lawn games, raffles, or bake sales to boost donations. You could even include a theme, such as a vintage tea party or a tropical barbecue, to make the event extra special. Encourage attendees to donate what they can, and enjoy a relaxed day of connection and community!
8. Organise a school event
A great way to raise money and engage with your local community is to organise a charity event with your children’s school. Having an activity day, that is linked to an online fundraising page, is an innovative way to teach kids about loneliness as well as social responsibility and ICT.
9. Host your own live stream event
If you love gaming, this is the challenge for you. Read the guide to setting up your live stream here, then get started with spreading the word with family, friends and followers! If streaming isn't your thing - grab some retro consoles, borrow some TVs, and you’ve got yourself a gaming event. Go all night, and you’ve got a marathon. This fundraising event is great for the whole family.
10. Set up a silent auction
Gather your friends, family or colleagues and host a silent auction - you could even do this online. Get creative with the auction items. Think about experiences instead of things. Perhaps you have a donor willing to grant access to their holiday home for the weekend, for instance.
Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to fundraise for Marmalade Trust over the past year. And to everyone who sets themselves a challenge in 2025 - whatever you decide to do, thank you for supporting us!
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