Mission Christmas 21 blog - Pre launch
A round up of stories about Cash for Kids gift appeal
Welcome back!
Last year we were launching Mission Christmas under the most testing of circumstances. Retailers and offices closed, the population staying at home, social distancing and doing everything we could to protect our NHS. We still managed to deliver Mission Christmas, thanks to some sheer resilience and your continued generosity. Part of that journey last year was trying to ensure our communications were as varied as possible to ensure we can take all our donors and supporters on the journey. So last year I introduced this blog. With less volunteers around we were busier than we'd ever been from a hands on perspective, so the opportunity to sit down at the end of the week and just blast off a load of short stories seemed fitting for the occasion as we struggled to keep up with our social media.
Lots of people said they enjoyed reading the blogs over the weekend. It's an additional communication medium we have capacity to provide and with some generous feedback I've decided to reintroduce it this year so people who don't use social media every day to view our updates and videos, can digest a week in the life of Cash for Kids behind the scenes! - I hope you enjoy reading them over the next several weeks.
At the time of writing we have already had applications for over 17,000 children needing our help. Poverty has increased up to 6% locally so we don't know what the end goal is yet as new applications are still coming in every day.
Announcements
We've had some big changes to our team this year which adds to our challenge for this years Mission Christmas. Earlier this summer, our regional charity manager Katy Egerton left Cash for Kids to focus on recovering from Long Covid. She's one of the most inspiring women you could ever wish to meet and her story so far has seen her appear on BBC Look North and in The Daily Mail and various other national media as she aims to help others with her recovery. Katy was honoured at our Cash for Kids Conference in October with a Special Recognition Award celebrating over 14 years service at an emotional ceremony. Katy will be cheering us on from the sidelines and we're sending our love to you, Pete and Eva.
Replacing Katy is Steph Simpson, she's been with Cash for Kids based in the North East for nearly 20 years so brings a significant amount of experience to support our team in South Yorkshire. We can't wait to see what we can achieve with your support.
Towards the end of the summer, Michelle Osborne secured a management role with Doncaster Rovers charity Club Doncaster. Michelle has worked with me for five years, plus another year as a volunteer, so she will be greatly missed. Good luck to Michelle and also congratulations as she gets married this month! An announcement on Michelle's replacement will be made in due course.
Molly Jones-Coffey is our new student placement from Sheffield Hallam University who joined us at the end of August. Molly has helped me with a lot of the operational set up to get Mission read for launch next week. She's also helped our two golf days run smoothly and helped put together an auction which raised just shy of £2,000! Molly will be helping me manage our Giving is Easy platform to ensure a smooth operation for those charities and organisations collecting toys from Mission HQ over the next five weeks. Well done Molly on making such a great start to your placement year!
Drop off Point changes
Last year with all the restrictions it gave us an opportunity to re-evaluate our operation and logistics. In 2019 we had over 500 public drop off points across the region and with a small team and only two vehicles and part time volunteer drivers trying to manage them pushed our resources beyond capacity. Last year we restricted the drop off points and saw a significant increase in productivity. So this year we have decided to keep things the same as last year. So anyone setting up collections this year we ask you to take them to B&M, Wickes or to our Mission HQ (where you can get a photo handing them over). We once again have fantastic logistical support with B&M and Wickes and this will help provide a more efficient operation.
To help aid your collection and your fundraising at school and your workplace, this handy online folder with loads of posters, social media graphics and fundraising pack related to your activity can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QBYpOtD8eQnA7bv_9GM6F_ft97qaWF0H?usp=sharing
Meet some of our Drop off Points!
Along with all branches of B&M (including their new branch at the former Toys R Us on Lakeside in Doncaster), and Wickes across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, Worksop and Retford, we're working with a number of partners and sponsors to ensure there is a drop off point near you. These will all be visible via the map on our website next week and we'll feature some in each blog.
Welcome to Chesterfield! - Vicar Lane Shopping Centre
Following our expansion into Chesterfield with Greatest Hits Radio we're looking for supporters across Chesterfield to join Mission Christmas. A huge welcome to Vicar Lane who are at the heart of Chesterfield's retail in the town centre. The drop off point is at the Management Suite just by the huge screen.
The team at iDeal Flooring also answered our call for support across North Derbyshire. Their base is just by Morrisons on Chatsworth Road providing a local drop off point for thousands of people. Thanks to Kev and the team for getting involved and you'll hear them on Greatest Hits Radio.
Paradise Island Adventure Golf!
The team at PIAG, based on Centretainment in Sheffield just by the arena and Meadowhall Retail Park, are not only collecting for us but for everyone that visits them to drop off a toy or a gift they will present you with a 20% off voucher to play crazy golf at a later date. How amazing is that!?
Alhambra Shopping Centre - Barnsley
At the heart of the town centre in Barnsley is Alhambra and you can leave your donations in our box outside The Entertainer!
Mission HQ suppliers
We've spent months planning Mission Christmas and the last few weeks preparing Mission HQ. Our team of volunteers you'll meet in future blogs but I'd like to express some further thanks to those who help our HQ operate;
DJB Recycling have once again provided support with our recycling collections. Murphy Com Hire have loaned us Radio's so the team can communicate across the warehouse and with our volunteer teams efficiently. Royal Mail at Brightside have provided our large sacks which we fill with toys and gifts. AB Graphics have signed our fabulous Mission Christmas Van, which was loaned to us by Burrows Toyota in Barnsley. Our super Electric van will be kept on the road thanks to our neighbours at Jenx who have kindly allowed us the use of their brand new on site electric vehicle charge points.
Fundraising
A huge thank you to Yorkshire Caravans who celebrated the company's 90th year anniversary by holding a charity golf day in aid of Cash for Kids a few weeks ago. £2,000 raised on an absolutely cracking Autumn day in Chesterfield.
Rotherham Netball Leagues held a tournament with neighboring teams and raised a whopping £1,300!
Dozens of you have already set up a fundraising page for Mission Christmas. We'll feature as many stories and events as we can in the coming weeks and you can set up your page here: https://www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/hallam-fm---greatest-hits-radio-mission-christmas-fundraising-2021/
Radio Launch
Tune in to Big John at Breakfast via DAB, the App or the Website and listen to our launch on Monday 15th November.
Website
Our super smashing Mission Christmas website is now live and some more updates will be added to it this week, including a new integrated system that lets you order toys from Amazon and they come straight to our HQ package free! Take a look here: https://planetradio.co.uk/hallam/charity/events/mission-christmas-south-yorks/
See you next week
We are receiving a high number of enquiries and we are working through them as quick as we can. Most information regarding the appeal is found on our website but do email us any questions and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks for all your support.
Allan & Molly
cashforkids@hallamfm.co.uk | 0114 2091100