Fundraising tips for upper Teesdale groups

COMMUNITY groups in upper Teesdale have been learning how best to be financially sustainable and how to attract vital funding through a unique workshop.
Organised by environmental group Middleton-in-Bloom, the workshop held at the village’s Masonic Hall was presented by Durham County Council community support worker Isla Ballard.
Groups such as the village hall committee, photography club, community gym and Women’s Institute, learned how to prepare funding plans and how to make funding applications through practical exercises. People came from as far as Bishop Auckland to attended the workshop.
Legal requirements, such as having to register with the Charities Commission if a group has more than £5,000 income, were discussed.
Ms Ballard said: “The public have a bit more confidence in you if you have a charity number. You are making sure your charity has a good name. The idea is to make yourselves sustainable. Look at events that really work for you and build on them year on year.”
A problem identified was how charities are competing for funding in Middleton.
A representative from the village hall said: “All of us here in the village are all after the same money, so we shouldn’t step on each others’ toes.”
It was suggested by John Boocock, also of the village hall, that groups should work together on fundraising schemes.
Middleton-in-Bloom, which helps Beaver and Rainbow troops earn their gardening and community work badges, was used as an example of how groups can work together successfully.
Ms Ballard said charities can use volunteer’s working hours to win applications to bodies, such as the Lottery, which require match funding.