Fundraisers and volunteer groups organise many great events every year to help us raise vital funds. Here are our top tips for planning and running your event or activity...

• Choose a date and venue
  Have a quick look around your local area and make sure you're not competing with any other major events in the area. Then decide where to hold your activity: in a local hall, at home, at the office, in a garden etc.
• Plan your theme
  Think about what you're going to do and why you're doing it and plan your theme to gain as much recognition as possible.
• Set targets
  It's always a good idea to have in mind how much you would like to raise and ensure that your outgoings are covered by the event. Think about entry fees and additional fundraising activities at the event that might raise additional funds ie tombolas or auction.
• Promote your event
  Remember to invite guests, get marketing material (email Fiona Carr for more information about how we can help with this), send out press releases and generate as much excitement as possible for your event. Remember to ask local shops, pubs and restaurants to donate items, prizes and display poster and ask everyone you know to help out where possible.
• Set up your own fundraising page
  Using the Just Giving service, you can create your own fundraising page to highlight the event and send around to all your friends, family and colleagues. It also makes collection much simpler.
• Collect donations
  Please remember to ask your donors to complete a gift aid form for all donations. This will enable us to claim an extra 28% on every pound raised at no extra cost to you or the person making the donation.
• Thank everyone
  Everyone who comes to your event will make a difference so let them know how much they have helped to raise funds for Royal Blind.
• Send in your money
  Please make cheques payable to The Royal Blind and send in to Royal Blind, PO Box 500, Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh, EH10 4HZ.

Fundraisers and volunteer groups organise many great events every year to help us raise vital funds.

If you would like to run an event or find out more please email colleen.watt@royalblind.org or give her a call on 0131 229 1456. We look forward to hearing from you.