Give something back to Richard House Children's Hospice
Why not volunteer for Richard House Children’s Hospice?
Not only is it a way of giving something back but our volunteering project scenarios make great team-building exercises.
It is a way for the family to do something fun and challenging together or for a group of colleagues to get to know one another and better their team skills. There are a range of fun volunteering activities:
THE MAGICAL MAKEOVER
Benefits: Great team-building exercise, with immediate and
tangible results.
No of people: 2–8 per shop
Location: In one of our seven shops
Outline: A team of volunteers will undertake a re-fresh of one of
our shops. The scope of this challenge is varied, and can include various tasks from re-merchandising to a complete refit, including paint jobs and DIY. Some specific skills may be required
Possible PR: Internal newsletters, local newspapers and radio
RETAIL OPERATOR
Benefits: Great teambuilding exercise, with immediate and tangible results
No of people: 2–5 each shop
Location: In and around our seven shops
Outline: Volunteers will assist with the vital day-to-day tasks involved in running our shops and distribution network. Tasks vary from being a cashier, to preparation of donated clothing to driving and assisting with our van deliveries and collections
Possible PR: Newsletters, awareness raising and brand promotion
HIT AND RUN STOCK GENERATION
Benefits: Team-building, project management practise
No of people: 4 plus
Location: London
Outline: Volunteers will publicise a stock appeal in a location outside of our usual catchment areas (e.g. flyers and posters etc. at schools, offices, tube stations etc. on Monday evening, pick up donations on the Tuesday morning)
Possible PR: Newsletters, awareness raising and brand promotion
BRING 'N' BUY
Benefits: Sociable and fun teambuilding and fundraising
No of people: Any
Outline: Volunteers gather donations of saleable goods from friends, family and colleagues.A stall is then set up on the volunteers premises where the goods are sold, with proceeds going to the Hospice
Possible PR: Internal newsletter, press releases, branding opportunities
AUCTION OF PROMISES
Benefits: Great social element – fun way to engage with colleagues whilst raising money
No of people: 8
Location: Office of corporate supporter
Outline: Volunteers will hold an auction at their workplace, community centre or home. The lots will consist of services and goods that have been pledged by the participants, drawing on their skills and creative flair, it can be small or large scale. The only limitation is your imagination!
TAKING A CUT
Benefits: Contribution of a legacy to Richard House, development of sales skills, team-building, PR, community links, access to shared local business database
No of people: 2 plus
Location: Initially within catchment area of shop(s), possibility for later expansion
Outline: Volunteers are allocated a street, area, or section of the phone book
Their mission: To create a database of local businesses who the Taking A Cut team have persuaded to donate their services to Richard House. e.g. A hairdresser would donate one haircut per month to Richard House, a cafe would donate a breakfast per month/week. These donations could be sold at retail value from Richard House shops using a voucher system, or the money donated directly from the donor
Possible PR: Promotion of the donation and the company that helped sourced it to local press and in internal newsletters and websites of all three organisations.
THE APPRENTICE
Benefits: Teambuilding
No of people: 2–5 per team
Location: Hospice, Corporate HQ or Richard House shop
Outline: This will involve two or more teams who will execute their allocated task in separate locations, later regrouping in the ‘boardroom’ where results are compared, and a winner declared
Possible PR: Internal newsletter, possible press release
THE METAMORPHOSIS
Benefits: Development of sales skills, teambuilding, contextualising of own work environment
No of people: 2–5 per shop
Location: In and around our seven shops
Outline: Volunteers engage with the various stages of the life cycle of the supply chain, from the donation of an item through to it’s eventual re-use by a paying customer. This can involve any (or all!) of the stages involved, from sourcing donations to processing them, all the way through to their eventual conversion into hard cash! If the donations involve clothes, a specially allocated rail in one of our shops can then be used for the pro-active selling of the stock
Possible PR: Internal newsletters, local newspapers and radio
SOURCE, SNAP, SELL AND SHIP
Benefits: Easily measurable contribution to Richard House, volunteer benefits from buyer feedback on eBay
No of people: Any
Location: Desk-based
Outline: Volunteers will acquire saleable items and list them for auction on eBay, nominating Richard House as the beneficiary through eBay’s ‘Missionfish’ program. Volunteers will send the item to the winning bidder. (Postage covered by Richard House, listing fees refunded by eBay if a charity is the beneficiary).
LEAD GENERATIONS
Benefits: Excellent opportunity to develop B2B, B2C, and direct sales techniques with tangible benefits
No of people: Any
Location: Desk based
Outline: Donating one hour per week or month, volunteers will particpate in building a database of prospective donors of saleable goods, developing these leads and ultimately procuring donations for Richard House, which will be sold in our shops. Activities will be structured across several stages, ranging from data admin (including mailshots, data entry etc) through to direct, warm telephone and personal contact with prospective donors
Possible PR: Internal newsletters, intermittent newspaper and radio
THE SHOPKEEPER
Benefits: Direct contribution to Richard House income generation and awareness raising
No of people: 1 plus
Location: Home or office based
Outline: Volunteers will be allocated a quantity of Richard House merchandise which they will then sell to colleagues, friends and family at a temporary on-site shop where volunteers sell donated goods
Possible PR: Newsletters, awareness raising and brand promotion
