Member Article

North East business asked to support the region's beleaguered charity sector

The Middleton Foundation and its subsidiary Charity Escapes are asking local businesses to support a new fundraising platform being launched in the Autumn, designed to help North East charities, most of which are facing huge deficits in their finances due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Great Northern Raffle has been established as a way for the North East public and businesses to show support and raise money for many worthwhile causes.

Since Covid-19, all physical fundraising events such as charity balls, afternoon teas and quizzes have been cancelled or postponed. This has had devastating consequences for the sector, with a significant shortfall in the fundraising that enables the vital work carried out by the charities to continue.

Local businesses are being asked to donate a prize, or cash to purchase a prize, that can be used in the raffle to help raise funds for more than 20 charities every month.

The raffles will be extensively promoted to give businesses maximum exposure for their generosity. Each month the charities will be participating and promoting the prize donors to their own networks.

The Great Northern Raffle is a monthly free to enter draw via text with the option to leave a voluntary donation.

For every £5 text donation the participating regional charities will receive £4.75 with the text service receiving 25p. The Middleton Foundation will collect and distribute the donations to the charities.

Jeremy Middleton of the Middleton Foundation said: “It is our hope that the Great Northern Raffle will provide a real boost to our region’s charities at a time when many are facing their biggest challenge to date in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It has been reported that one in ten charities are facing bankruptcy by the end of the year as they struggle to cope with declining revenue and increased demand for their services.

“We are aware that smaller, locally based charities are especially exposed to the effects of the crisis with two-thirds having to make cuts to the services so many local people rely on.

“Now is the time for the North East business community to throw its weight behind the amazing organisations that do so much good for local people and communities across the region.

“The Great Northern Raffle is a simple way to do this. We are not asking for cash per se but will happily buy a prize on behalf of a local company if they prefer to make that sort of donation.

“Local hotels have already offered complimentary room nights and restaurants free meals out and we are hoping retailers and manufacturers will offer products, and service businesses will buy a prize, to offer to tempt people to buy tickets.

“If as many businesses as possible get behind it, it can be a very effective way to ensure we do not lose our third sector, which would be catastrophic for so many individuals and families.”

Dominic McDonough, Fundraising & Events Manager, If U Care Share Foundation, said: “The Great Northern Raffle is perfect for smaller charities such as If U Care Share Foundation. It is a tough time for us at the moment as demand has risen whilst fundraising has dropped. The Great Northern Raffle will help us to raise much needed funds, helping us to continue to save lives and help some of the most vulnerable people in the North East.

“It takes the leg work out of fundraising, allowing us to continue our life saving work whilst engaging with more people than ever. A fantastic idea that will help charities right here in our region.

“The Great Northern Raffle raises money for the North East from the North East, allowing local people to give generously to charities who support our communities, whilst having the chance to win amazing prizes.”

Suzanne McKenna, Head of Fundraising, The Percy Hedley Foundation said: “Percy Hedley is absolutely thrilled to be one of the benefitting charities of the new Great Northern Raffle! We’ve been supporting disabled people across the North East for almost 70 years and its support means more than ever during these very challenging times.

“As so many of our usual ways of raising vital funds for our work have been cancelled or postponed this year, we are so grateful to Charity Escapes for creating the Great Northern Raffle to support Percy Hedley and so many other fantastic local charities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by News Gathering .