I am one of the trustees for the Trelawnyd Community Association which is a charity .
It’s “official remit is as follows
The TCA was formed in 2018 by a group of friends to try and enhance social cohesion and reduce loneliness in our small rural village. The aim was to provide activities, entertainment and education as well as advocacy and help for those that needed it
A recent subgroup of the charity has been formed to take on the running of the Memorial Hall, a building which given the recent financial crash , has proved to be an expensive place to run. I am a member of the sub committee which is in the process of marketing and fundraising for the hall.
One of my ideas is to make use of the buildings massive windows
There are five in the hall proper , each with 48 individual panes of glass in it.
That’s 336 panes of glass in total.
I was thinking that we could offer each of the panes out for sponsorship , in memory of a loved one and that person’s name could be memorialised on a plaque or on the window itself
After all the Hall itself was built at the turn of the century by Michael Ralli, in memory of his wife Polynmia
Sponsoring a pane for say 30£ Could earn the hall over 10, 000£
That's an excellent idea, John. Similar to the "buy a brick" our local hospital did some years ago. It worked well for them.
ReplyDeleteWe could also sponsor a chair , and just have a regular small direct debit to support the hall too
DeleteI like that idea. All I can think of is an art/craft show, where locals can exhibit their work, for a nominal fee and charge a small fee for entry. Probably wouldn't raise much though. I'm sure there are many of your followers with much better ideas than mine. xx
ReplyDeleteGood ideas ,,,
DeleteJust thought, with your culinary skills - how about a cookery demonstration? I'm sure there are others in the village with skills they could demonstrate/teach. xx
DeleteThat would be a great fundraiser! You could get a batch of people together to cook a portion of the meal. Someone make dessert, another a salad, someone a soup or bread, and so on and so forth, and serve a community dinner, selling tickets to it.
Deletewe have an excellent secretary in our community council who knows how to access all the grants available, more or less paid for the hall extension with them
ReplyDeletethey also run a very successful whisky auction every year, raises a lot of money, bottle bingo etc, thats in a small village in scotland
We too have a couple of egg heads who know how to apply for grants etc, our remit is to market the hall and to get the running costs covered ….we are thinking of weddings on a budget ! Film nights , etc etc
DeleteWhat’s wonderful idea. My DIL did that for awhile. Cheers from Canada
DeleteA Repair Shop" idea once a month where local people with skills could do stuff for other people without skills. Knitters/ sewers mending, hoover repairs etc for a donation. I'd be there first!
ReplyDeleteNow this isa good one
Delete£30 is a lot of money to an old age pensioner at the best of times and current times are hard.
ReplyDeleteAren't the ones who can't really afford it going to feel terrible when they see others doing it?
Our village hall survives from the groups that hire it, yoga, pilates, parent and toddler, art group, book club, Sunday church service (we don't have a Church in the village now) There's always something going on. Also a weekly coffee morning and a fortnightly community lunch (food provided by the village pub) a Knit & Natter group, line dancing class, seniors exercise class. They're all popular and bring in residents of neighbouring villages too. There's a self defence class starting in 2 weeks too.
The hall hire fees have gone up due to the increase in energy costs so some of the groups have put up their joining fees but it all seems to be as busy as ever. Most of the groups do concessionary fees for the oldies.
I think 30 £ is a fair amount . We could sponsor a chair for less.
DeleteI like some of your other ideas
The TCA Already runs a toddler group, youth club, coffee mornings all which need financing too
DeleteLong ato, I was in a group of nurses and it was falled "Stitch and *itch". It suited all of us!
DeleteHugs!
As an addition to the ideas - most of our groups made flyers and advertised in the surrounding villages, not only in our village. Flyers through doors seemed to be the most successful..
ReplyDeleteYes good idea but quite labour intensive
DeleteIt 's the people who hire the hall and run the individual groups who make their own flyers and deliver them. I was at the yoga class yesterday and as the number have dropped she said she was going to drop flyers in the neighbouring villages and nearest town.
DeleteFancy dress buffet party/picnic-bring your own and a pud or cake to share - a tenner each ? x
ReplyDeleteAnother good idea flis
DeleteThe Repair Shop in Conwy my friend went to has a part where you register your repair at the door then can go shopping etc and are told when to return or you can stay and buy tea and cake made by volunteers... more money earned... and it has become very popularwith people from all areas around.If your repair takes more time you come back another day.
ReplyDeleteGreat Megan , I’d love to see this on my day off
DeleteHaven't been myself but I think it's in a church? somewhere in Conwy. Good luck with the fundraising, the window memorial idea sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThank u
DeleteSpace to hire for yoga teacher, tap dancing - mobile hairdresser,zumba x👯
ReplyDeleteLooks as if, to get up and running, you need to start with minimum effort maximum return stuff. Table top sales on a regular basis, a market base for local producers and crafters a venue for specialist local group meets, like dog shower meets. A monthly raffle with
ReplyDeletemonthly sub, a big push event like a weekend festival, folk concerts, faith suppers, get into the rural cinema touring circuit. The budget wedding catering is a brilliant idea. A weekend breakfast club with bacon sarnies and good coffee that does a book sale or exchange for a minimal fee. There is a start to go on.
Another set of good ideas , I knew you all wouldn’t let me down
DeleteThat is an excellent idea for the window pane memorials. People could begin reserving their window on a first come, first serve basis. I've known churches to have a shop selling gently used items. Volunteers run the shop.
ReplyDeleteNow I like this idea , a rummage sale with everything donated
DeleteCheap weddings could be a winner and regular income?
ReplyDeleteNot sure about sponsoring a pane of glass as it is a one-off isnt it, and you want a constant stream of funding? Unless time-limited eg. there for a year then taken down?
Swingers club? Only a joke but you never know with all those lonely farmers!!!
A 10 grand one off ????
DeleteNo that is not what is needed is it however tempting it sounds.? It is not a lot of money maybe a couple of years fuel bills and then its gone . you need regular pipeline of money.
DeleteDisguised begging letters to wealthy business or land owners from the area - seeking their munificent sponsorship and donations. A well-crafted letter that hits the right notes can be surprisingly effective. Desperate times call for desperate measures. You might even contact your local MP - Rob Roberts. He may have been partly disgraced but he is paid handsomely to work for his constituents.
ReplyDeleteI think I need a PA
DeleteIn addition to repairs you bring in, how about adding small home repairs. Many folks need small jobs done like ceiling light bulb changing, small paint jobs or fixing a stuck window. Some people, especially older ones, can't manage these jobs on their own, but the jobs are too small for a repair man. Pat in Pennsylvania
ReplyDeleteI’ll sponsor a pane, let me know how/;where to send the money. Love farmers market idea. Some people like me would donate eggs and honey, but others (real farmers) could pay a stall fee only. I’m in the US though so I can’t contribute goods, although maybe a once a year fundraiser and you could have your readers like me send a special auction item. In my case it would be Northern California honey. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe local palliative care committee hosts a memorial Christmas tree lighting. Donations are made to the committee in honor of loved ones passed. The lodge where my mom lives hosts an annual "rummage" sale. Items aren't priced. The coordinator found that people often paid more this way than what the item would have been priced at.
ReplyDeleteIn a community where we once lives there was a once a month Parent's Night oUt on a Friday night. For a $5 fee, you could leave up to 3 kids and more than that was just $2 m extra. Vo Volunteers played with the small kids and others showed a movie (with popcorn) to the older kifs.. It lasted from 6p to 10p and that gave the parents time for a nice dinner out or a movie. It was lovely and out sones loveld it.
ReplyDeleteBother about the typos. Sigh.
Hugs!
Monthly film club - £7 for the film and £12 for film and meal (be careful about licensing)
ReplyDeleteQuiz nights - again higher cost if it includes a meal
Race night - horrible things but some like
Some sort of line dancing thing
Advent craft fair - supplement with a cafe and baked cakes
Spring plant sale - again supplement with cafe and cakes
Gourmet dinner - could be Valentines. Offer 5 courses, glass of fizzy on arrival plus wine (my village does this at £40 a head)
Themed dinner evenings - Indian, Italian, Thai etc…play music from the country
Wine tasting evening - could do a call my bluff event…need a few people to present and blag
Star gazing night - someone with knowledge of the night stars talks people through
Monthly lunch club on a Saturday
Art club
Whatever you do remember to factor in the heating costs.
Your "sponsor-a-pane" idea is terrific!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many good ideas here! All are worthy and I will be bookmarking this post as I hope to get into volunteer work in my own community in the fullness of time (unable to do much right now with the responsibility of my mother with dementia).
ReplyDeleteYou could sponsor a 'Best Bunting' competition. Entry fee £30; Fist prize £5.
ReplyDeleteNow I've had a sleep and time to think. How about Trelawnyd's Got Talent. I bet there are a few locals with hidden talents. Jumble sales, table top sales, toy sales where people donate old toys/children's clothing equipment, dances, hiring out the hall for children's parties. At most events, as well as the entrance fee, you can make some more money selling refreshments, and if some kind-hearted residents donate cakes or biscuits...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it all. xx
I live in a very small village and our hall is for hire for birthdays, retirement , wedding etc parties also meetings, touring theatre that wants to do a preview show before the “real” tour, open mic events. The fee is lower for those who live in the village than for others. Don’t know if this is of any use. Love the window idea. Best of luck, noreen
ReplyDeleteOur local church sold roof tiles, you signed your name on the underside, the whole roof got replaced, so it can work. I love your idea, and the name should be on the glass.
ReplyDeleteMy mom's church did the personalized bricks in the walkway through the memorial garden.
DeleteYou could make it a Pride Hall a beacon of gayness in north wales that would shock the locals!
ReplyDeleteI doubt the locals are as narrow minded as you are implying... nasty.
DeleteJo in Auckland
Monthly jumble sale! Saturday mornings 9.00am -12.00pm. All items donated and you could offer tea/coffee and cake to buy. Jumble sales are a dying breed with expensive charity shops having taking over.
ReplyDeleteour chapel applied to the council to become a warm hub , at least its helping pay their electric bill , do welsh councils run the same scheme ?
ReplyDeleteI did have your address somewhere, but can't find it. If you email it to me I will put a donation in the post. I will risk cash because I don't do electronic donations. This OAP can afford it. xxx
ReplyDeleteSell hugs for £1 a go. Judging by your comments that should fetch another 10 grand.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a whore x
Delete2£?
DeleteWith your followers and many more readers who don;t comment John I think the idea you give of sponsorship in a monthly account for the hall is a really good idea. I would happily send a couple of pounds a month on direct debit if you set up such a thing.
ReplyDeleteAn etching on a window in memory of a loved one would be beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSee below xx
DeleteA monthly farmers / local produce market - stalls charge for inside and out use of hall x
ReplyDeleteA show and sale space for collectors associations, coins, stamps, glass, antiques, toys. Corporate sponsorship with one year naming rights (get Tesco to pay the water bill for a year in exchange for it being the Tesco community hall for the year.) The obvious long term income strategy is rentals.
ReplyDeleteI’ll sponsor a pane of glass!
ReplyDeleteInstead of a plaque you could etch the persons name on the glass pane. Easy to do and with glass etching cream and stencils it wouldn't cost much or take much time to do it. How about a cake walk? Those are fun and generate money.. Let me know if you need an explanation...
ReplyDeleteI thought of this but as the hall is listed would would not be allowed. We are meeting with the listed buildings officer to look into this very soon
DeleteRather than permanently mar that beautiful old class, how about printing the message on a transparency and mount it to let the sun still shine through. That way you could sell it for a time, and change out as time and needs change.
DeleteThat was my idea , but we need to check with the official “ listings” officer
DeleteId search for donations from local businesses wherever i could. And if they do donate make sure their name is prominent somewhere. Maybe businesses would like to donate on a monthly or yearly for the upkeep and day to day running and have a prominent plaque somewhere with their name on it as long as they continue to donate.
ReplyDeleteOur local railway depot museum raises money each year with an auction and silent auction. The community is encouraging to offer their skills etc as well as donate items. A homemade pie per month for 3 months, a load of black dirt for your garden, window washing, cottage rental for the weekend, computer repair or instruction. We always used to bid on a dinner for eight cooked by a Vietnamese lady. Larger more expensive items are auctioned off by a local celebrity. They also had a white elephant table. They always do well in the fundraising department.
ReplyDeleteA group I'm involved with had great success with a raffle that consisted of group members donating a bottle of wine or spirits (can also ask local stores/pubs to donate). I think raffle tix were $5 each or 5 for $20. We ended up with a card table FULL of booze and tickets sold really well. And one person ended the night very happy. :)
ReplyDeleteDon’t limit it to memorials on the windows, let any names be sponsored, living or dead. £50 is not unreasonable, you could then offer seniors who are paying a discount. A Local rugby club did this for tiles in the new bath house, and raised a small fortune.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely space. I second the wedding venue, or anniversary, retirement, birthday parties, family reunions etc.
ReplyDeleteSorry all, I’ve tried to answer all comments but I’m late to bed and now face three 12 hour day shifts xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input xx
Any photographers in the village? Portraits, baby pictures? Family portraits? People are always eager to pay for photos. Suz from LA
ReplyDeleteI used to be on the PTA committee of my son's primary school and organised all the usual...car boot sales,raffles etc.Each taking lots of work. Another local school chose to have one big event each year ( Bonfire/ Firework display). They became famous for it and made more money than our numerous events. Maybe consider having a niche event which builds up over time?
ReplyDeleteNice post thank you Bonnie
ReplyDelete