Cash for Kids Day highlights
We pay tribute to all the heroes helping make a difference
I have a fantastic job leading this wonderful local charity and we were a little nervous how this year would go as we're so used to so many of you hosting many get togethers and fundraising events which this year just wasn't possible.
It's strange to think back to just two years ago we hosted a huge event in Sheffield Peace Gardens and at Magna in the same weekend entertaining over 3,000 people, we knew we were up against it to find new ways to bring the fun. So if there's a lesson in resilience to witness then you're in the right place...
So here goes...(takes a breath)
We wanted our Cash for Kids Day campaign to reach as many people as possible. Not everyone can listen to the radio at school or at work, so it's important we try and give everyone the opportunity to get involved so a few thank yous to those who helped raise awareness; Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce shared the press release on the news pages on their websites to engage our fabulous business community.
The Sheffield Star also shared the story to their readers and I'm extremely grateful to Nancy Fielder and her team for their continued support of not just Cash for Kids but all the amazing charities in our region doing amazing things to help those in their time of need.
Lastly a shout to OO**HYes** who have been showing off Cash for Kids Day to thousands of commuters every day on their huge digital billboard on Sheffield Parkway. A fabulous run of their inventory they've helped us massively.
Boozy Bingo in Big John's Bar
I've had so many messages about this! Our website nearly crashed with so many people booking on in the final hour in the build up to the event Michelle did an amazing job firing out those links to make sure you could join.
Shout out to Liesl who gave up her birthday plans for the evening to join us as a co-host with Big John & Producer James. Some of James' one liners for the numbers I'm still giggling about now. After such significant feedback, hopefully, we do this one again in the future.
We managed to get through two games of bingo giving out £1,000 worth of prizes from gadgets, toys and a full garden package to the winner. Players made my phone melt with 700 messages received for people competing for random prizes - fabulous stuff! I'm so pleased you all had a great time.
Big John @ Breakfast
Big John has been on Hallam FM for 21 years. I've been a listener for about 10 of those and had the pleasure of working with him, James and Liesl in my six years with the charity and even after all that time and that many shows, Friday morning completely blew me away. The show literally had everything.
They shared many stories, they spoke to our beneficiaries and celebrated a fun night of bingo and more importantly shared the reasons why we do it. It's so important we take our listeners on that journey as it'll encourage you to donate, but not only that, really see the value in how we make your donations provide some hope to families who have been staring at nothing bus despair in recent times.
Hallam FM News
I featured on Hallam FM News bulletins talking about poverty. For the communities across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire it's so relatable. We all know someone who has hit tough times or for many people I see and meet, grew up in it.
Many thanks to Chief Reporter Ben Bason and his colleagues who helped share the story of not just poverty but our mental health project too. It's so important these causes get talked about to raise awareness and his team constantly go above and beyond to give those a voice.
Greatest Hits Radio
Greatest Hits Radio dedicated the entire day to listener requests and some absolute classics played all day long taking donations for requests. They also interviewed IMH Recruitment who feature in one of my video visits below..
Alice Middleton
14-year-old Alice is making the ultimate sacrifice by shaving all her hair! This is a truly remarkable sacrifice for Alice to be making to help fellow children, please visit her fundraising page:
https://www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/hallam-fm-greatest-hits-radio-cash-for-kids-day-2021-fundraising/fundraisers/alice-middleton/
On the road
I've spoken to and engaged with thousands of local people in this job over the years and one thing that everyone gets excited is feeling part of the journey.
Our Mission Christmas appeal for example I've been making behind the scenes videos to take you on the journey and many people I know are fascinated at how we do things so even in pandemic times I still felt that I could take you on a journey of what this campaign is about by meeting those who fundraise and also those we help. So what was a long and exhausting day last Friday, was actually an absolute pleasure to share with you the people I get to meet and work with every day and share their motivations.
So here in several mini videos, meet our heroes without capes...
Visit 1 - iDeal Flooring Chesterfield
Visit 2 - Reeds Rains Woodseats
Visit 3 - Reeds Rains Hillsborough
It turned out that both Reeds Rains in Woodseats and Hillsborough are a little competitive. They were both neck and neck with their fundraising where the team at Woodseats said if they finished level they'd donate an extra pound just to beat them but Hillsborough bullishly replied that Woodseats never beat them at anything! I'm curious to see how this one ends..
Visit 4 - Introducing our biggest ever mental health project
Visit 5 - Barnsley Foodbank
Visit 6 - IMH Recruitment
Visit 7 - Mexborough Foodbank
More fundraising heroes
The team at Dobson & Hodge in Doncaster walked a MARATHON between them to raise well over £800. Superb, and fantastic for your teams mental health.
Westfield Health donated £1,000 to the campaign. Sheffield Mutual donated £500. XPO Logistics also sent a donation of £1,000.
Pandemic response
We launched our Cash for Kids Appeal last March in just five days. Our campaigns traditionally take months of work in recruiting, PR, radio, they're so complex which makes these numbers even more overwhelming that with small teams, limited resources, a fractured economy we simply kept on going to help those who need it most.
A huge thank you to all our colleagues who all do their bit and some. We are in a privileged position to be able to organise and deliver these campaigns so the the fact we can help thousands of children is a tribute to you for your continued support of our fabulous charity.
What's next
The government roadmap progress is encouraging and we have announced some events across the Summer.
Providing we manage to secure sponsorship we may see an Outdoor Cinema and an additional Golf Day (our first one sold out!)
Michelle is also very keen to reconvene our annual celebrations of South Yorkshire's famous live music scene and live music may well be at a venue near you soon.
If you can help with sponsorship support to help us launch fundraising events across the region we'd love to hear from you.
If you're heading back in to the office in the coming weeks we'd love it if you can help engage your colleagues with some fundraising ideas (we have MILLIONS!) - so do reach out.
Sports Challenge
Grass roots sport across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire have been able to pull off incredible projects thanks to our annual fundraising competition. If you manage a junior sports team that either needs funds to subsidise children in families on low incomes or your sports team needs help with large capital projects to help kids flourish then this could be for you. Email cashforkids@hallamfm.co.uk for an application form.
Killamarsh Dynamos were awarded over £12,000 last year
Auction
We will be ending this Summer with what will hopefully be our biggest ever auction, you'll find a piece of everything in there. We've already received some fabulous donations from gadgets, to sportswear and bikes.
If you have a brand new item you can donate or your company wants to donate a voucher for your services, please email cashforkids@hallamfm.co.uk
Mission Christmas
I know, I know - it's only May.
We start work on Mission Christmas in July/August. Fundraisers will be raising funds from September and we will launch our gift appeal in early November. If your business would like to enquire about the limited volunteering opportunities, please email cashforkids@hallamfm.co.uk
And finally...
As always it's a huge pleasure for me to help coordinate another huge campaign so we can help those around us that need it most. It's been a bloody tough year I'm not going to lie. Your support is incredibly humbling and if you're reading this and thinking I've left it too late to get involved and do something you really haven't. Our work has only just begun. Plenty of ways you can still make a difference whether you speak to your school or workplace or introduce us to someone you know, all your efforts are greatly appreciated.
A huge thank you to absolutely everyone and we'll share some more stories over the summer of who we help.