An inspirational and fun night of giving raised over £10,000 to support vital new projects planned by Earthworks, HACRO and Small Acts of Kindness. The Funding Network is a refreshingly effective fundraising model, building links between potential donors and charitable causes, through live crowdfunding making giving fun, well informed and engaging. This global initiative raises money for small non-profits driving social change and helps both individuals and businesses to combine their giving with others, to make a bigger impact.
Local businesses and members of the community were able to meet and hear from ambitious charities with solutions to big social issues. Each charity had six minutes to tell the audience about the change they are making and what support they need, with an opportunity for challenging questions at the end. Richard Sved and Mandy Johnson, expert pledge masters, then helped facilitate the live crowdfunding session.
St Albans based charity, Earthworks, pitched to fund exciting plans to launch a new service ‘Earthworks on Wheels’. The scheme will be taking a team of adults with learning difficulties out into the community to maintain gardens of older people, also helping prevent loneliness and isolation. For more information visit http://www.earthworksstalbans.co.uk/ Carmen Nevado, Trustee, admitted to being truly humbled by the generosity of all who attended the event. “The monies raised will provide the equipment, materials and resources required to launch our 2-month pilot. This pilot will enable 45 Earthworkers to gain practical work experience by going out into the community to provide a gardening service to 40 older persons.”
Charity founder Lynne Misner from Small Acts of Kindness was, “Overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of everyone who supported Herts TFN this week. We extend our huge thanks to each and every person and business who supported the event and who made a donation. Their gifts will ensure that 150 older people in Hertfordshire will be warmer and less lonely and isolated this winter. Our thanks also go to the TFN team for such a well run and professional evening.” Visit www.smallactsofkindness.co.uk to discover more about this unique project.
HACRO were seeking funds for a cognitive behavioural therapy parenting course for male perpetrators of Domestic Abuse. The Caring Dads programme is proven to help improve parenting skills and enables previously abusive fathers to re-engage with their children and to understand and accept the damage their behaviour has caused. Joanne McIntosh from HACRO said “We appreciated the generosity of all the donors but also their enthusiastic response and feedback for what is not expected to be a popular cause. The donations received will help to save at least 4 families with 16 children potentially having the chance of not repeating the cycle of domestic abuse. To find out more about Caring Dads and the impact it is already having on local families visit http://hacro.org.uk/ “.
Richard Sved was delighted with the success of this year’s event. “Our Third TFN Herts Crowdfunding Event was a fabulous platform for 3 great causes to showcase impact and fund vital new projects. I was blown away by the standard of pitches this year and the generosity of the supporters in the room. What’s exciting is the ongoing value from the event in terms of engagement and a keenness to support the charities from now on. That good-will is so powerful and combined with the cash injection will literally transform lives.”
Each of the small local charities pitching at TFN Herts relies on community donations and corporate support. If you are able to help fund these innovative projects, or share your expertise to support the transformation of service provision, they would love to hear from you.
