Fundraise
Thank you for considering fundraising for Coda Music and Arts Trust. Whatever you decide to do, every penny raised will be appreciated and will improve and enrich lives across Dorset, Hampshire and the New Forest.

Your fundraising will help to maintain key areas of our work for the most vulnerable people in our local community, particularly disadvantaged children and young people, disabled adults and children and older people in care.

Coda works in a variety of local settings, reaching hundreds of people in need, through projects in special schools, care homes and community spaces. Donations help us to meet a growing demand and expand our work with local people in the many significant projects currently being run by Coda across the region.

Here are just a few examples of Coda’s work, which can be funded by your contributions:

  • Music Therapy can improve health outcomes across a wide spectrum of conditions – and by the skillful use of music, Coda’s Music Therapists help individuals to promote and restore aspects of their health. Music Therapy is delivered one-to-one both at Coda’s dedicated Music Therapy Centre and in other clinical settings and increases participants’ emotional, physical and psychological health and wellbeing through engagement with music. £50 will pay for a music therapy session.
  • Music can be used to address the health and wellbeing of older people in care. It has been shown to have a dramatic effect with soothing, stimulating, bringing back long-forgotten memories and reaching parts of the brain other forms of communication cannot. £70 will pay for a music session in a residential care home.
  • Music is a strong motivator for children and young people with special needs and benefits them in many ways. The use of instruments encourages the development of motor skills and allows those with limited speech to be able to express themselves. £150 will pay for a half day of music participation in a special education school.

If you would like to specify a particular area of work for your donation to support, we are happy to ensure your contribution is used specifically for this purpose.

Here’s your chance to give back!  We hope this information gives you everything you need to make your event a success, but if you have any questions we are here to help you.

Thank you and good luck!

FUNDRAISING IDEAS

MAKE MUSIC OR ART!

As Coda is a Music and Arts Charity, then the best idea is to base your fundraising idea around music and the arts.

Perform for people … or just get together and play. Organise a concert, music jam or go Carol singing.

Our friends ‘Swing Sounds’ and our own Coda Ukulele Band perform regular gigs at local events (small festivals, fetes, garden parties, etc) and venues (pubs, hotels, The Shelley Theatre, Community Centres, etc).

Sometimes the venue or event organisers will contribute a donation for your performance or allow you to take a collection (or both).

Or if you don’t want to perform, perhaps hold a music-themed fundraising event like a music quiz, party with musical entertainment or sponsored Silent Disco.

To add value to your event and raise even more money:

  • Hold a raffle – get your friends and family involved by donating prizes for the draw
  • Theme your event according to the season (e.g. a Halloween party or Christmas Carol singing with friends)
  • Make it a fun family event by combining it with food and drink – maybe a barbeque or picnic
  • Don’t forget to ask us for Collection Buckets, Gift Aid Envelopes and Sponsorship Forms!

 Alternatively, there are many other ways to get involved and help – here are just a few ideas you could consider:

GET ACTIVE

Maybe you could hold a sporting tournament – a football or cricket match, or even a pool or darts tournament if you are not so sporty – anything you enjoy! Or organise a sponsored event like a sponsored walk or hike.

Several local schools hold an annual beach ‘Sandwalk’. If you’re taking part, you can nominate to make Coda Music Trust the beneficiary … or just steal the idea and do a sponsored beach walk yourself with friends!

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

Have you always wanted to run a marathon or participate in a sky dive?  There are so many charity fundraising opportunities available – from walking on hot coals to wing-walking to taking part in a triathlon – we’d love to hear from you if you are feeling daring or plan to challenge yourself for charity.

Once you’ve chosen your idea, you need to put it into action. Here are some key questions to consider when planning your event;

TIMING

When will your event take place? It is important to consider the audience and location of your event. Make sure you’re not going to clash with any other big events that may steal your audience.

LOCATION

Where will you host your event – a local village hall, a pub, at your home, at school, or at work? Make sure it is easy to get to and big enough for everyone you are inviting.

INVITATIONS

Who are you inviting to your fundraiser – will it be invitation only or will you invite a wider audience?

BUDGET

Work out your budget and try to stick to it. Think about what you might need and get as much as possible for free.

MAKE IT EASY TO DONATE

Think about how people can give you their money: by cheque, cash or via an online fundraising page. And don’t forget to ask for Gift Aid!

TELL US ABOUT IT

We are here to help make your fundraiser a success so please let us know what you are doing.

ORGANISING YOUR EVENT

Depending on the type of fundraising event you choose, there can be lots of things to organise.

SET UP A FUNDRAISING PAGE

One of the easiest and safest ways to collect sponsorship money is online.

Create a page on JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving and follow their simple step-by-step guide. Alternatively, you can share Coda Music Trusts’s Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/codamusictrust

GET SOME HELP

It can be a lot of work to organise an event, so get some help from friends and family. Make a list of tasks that need doing, and then find people with the skills you need. Make sure they are well briefed on the day of the event.

GET PERMISSION

If you want to collect money in a public place, you will need permission from your Local Authority. For some events you may also need Public Liability Insurance – this may be covered by the venue, but you need to check. Anyone under 16 must get permission from a parent or guardian before they start fundraising.

GET SOME GIFTS

Ask local businesses to help out with free gifts and services – you’ll be surprised how generous people can be. Maybe you could get raffle prizes donated, a free venue or refreshments for your event – sometimes you just need to ask.

GIFT AID

Make sure you encourage people to tick the Gift Aid box on your sponsorship form if they are eligible and you will earn an extra 25p for every £1 that people donate.

KEEPING SAFE

Whilst you are having fun, don’t forget about health and safety. If you are expecting a lot of people, make sure crowds are managed properly, food is cooked thoroughly and alcohol served responsibly. It’s a good idea to have a trained first aider available and someone to look after children.

TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS

Photos are great to tell the story of your event, whilst you are preparing and on the day. We’d love to share your photos, but don’t forget to ask people’s permission to use them.

PROMOTING YOUR EVENT

Once you have planned your fundraising event you need to tell everyone about it to get the maximum support. Here are some tips on how to best promote your event.

LET US HELP

Give us the details and we can help to publicise your event on our website, Facebook and Twitter.

We also have a list of email subscribers who love to hear our news.

Don’t forget to give us the link to your fundraising page.

LOCAL PRESS

Your local paper is always looking for interesting stories, so let them know what you are doing and why you are supporting Coda Music Trust. Our Communications Officer can also help you with advice on who to approach and what to say.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Make the most of your Facebook account and link it to your online fundraising page. Create an event and invite your friends. You can tweet about your progress, training or preparation in the run up to the event. Remember to mention Coda Music Trust.

SPREAD THE WORD AT WORK

Don’t forget to ask your colleagues for support, perhaps your employer might like to match your target? Put up posters for your event on the notice board or recruit your workmates to help out on the day.

MAXIMISE YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE

Having an active fundraising page is vital to keeping the money rolling in so remember to update it regularly. Make it personal with lots of photos and respond to messages. You can post video updates of your progress and any fundraising successes you’ve had. Don’t forget to link it to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

AFTER THE EVENT

The hard work is over, you’ve raised the money, here’s what to do next!

PAYING IN YOUR DONATION

Don’t forget to let us know that you raised this money at your event – it’s really easy to donate the money collected!

  • You can make an online bank transfer to the Coda Music Trust account: HSBC sort code 40 34 25Account number 41168983
  • Or visit our website and go to the donate page to make an online donation
  • You can make a cheque payable to Coda Music Trust and send it to us at Coda Music Centre, Chewton Farm Road, Walkford, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 5QL
  • You can call us on 01425 276161 to make a telephone donation using a credit or debit card.

THANK YOUR SUPPORTERS

Use your social networks to thank your supporters and tell everyone how much you raised and what it will help us to achieve.

TELL US ALL ABOUT IT

We love to hear about how our fundraisers’ events went, so please remember to let us know how and why you decided to fundraise for us. Your fundraising stories can be an inspiration to others so please send us pictures, quotes and anecdotes to put on our website and social media.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about planning your event.

Music enriches everybody’s life; whether you play, sing, write or listen. There are other ways you may be able to help Coda – through sponsorship or local business

Sponsorship

You might be able to help us liaise with local businesses and companies and help us to negotiate some sponsorship from them for key aspects of Coda’s work.

Business

Or – you might know a company or business that would be willing to donate time or resources to us ‘in kind’.

Thank you for your support

SOME OF OUR FUNDRAISING STARS

The Coda Ukulele Band
Swing Sounds
Centre Stage School of Dance and Performing Arts