Support from your local community
Engaging with groups, clubs and associations within your local community is a brilliant way to raise awareness for BHF. Find out about the types of groups that may be in your area, and how to work with them to increase your fundraising.
On this page
Businesses, clubs and associations in your local area can be very helpful when it comes to fundraising.
Learn about any local group, club or association you want to contact so that you're prepared before you approach them. That way, you can show you their goals and how you can work together to benefit you both. Speak to your local Fundraising Manager before you contact any local groups. They may already be in touch with the group and could introduce you.
Local businesses
Lots of large companies now work with local branches of fundraising groups on fundraising initiatives. As a local volunteer fundraising group for BHF you can apply for these.
Different companies have different ways of working with charities, so get in touch with them to learn about the application process. They’ll often have an application form for you to fill out. They will be looking for:
- clear messages as to what the charity does
- the tangible results they can deliver
- the impact on the local community.
BHF fundraising groups have had lots of success with local stores of large retailers such as:
- Sainsbury’s
- Waitrose
- John Lewis
- Marks and Spencer
It’s worth having a look online to see who else you can contact in your local area.
Local social, networking and volunteer organisations
Making contact with local organisations is a great way to get others involved in your fundraising. Local organisations you could contact include:
- Rotary Clubs
- Lion’s Clubs
- Roundtable groups
- Freemasons groups
- Inner Wheel groups
- Women's Institute groups.
Typically these groups fundraise themselves and split their funds to charities at the end of the year. They will also host events for a specific charity.
They also have great community networks. Most of these groups have charitable goals and have fundraising as one of their main functions. You might find an opportunity to go to meetings for these groups to talk about BHF and meet the group personally.
The easiest way to make contact with these groups tends to be online. Search for local groups and email them.
Faith groups
Members of your group might be involved in faith groups who might like to raise funds for the BHF. If there’s a heart patient story within your group or local community (that you have permission to share) that can bring our work to life, that could also help get support from faith groups.
Sports clubs
Sports clubs hold fundraisers for charities or adopt a local charity for the year. Get in touch with as many as you can to see if they might want to lend their support to the BHF. If you have family or friends who are involved in sports, that might be a good place to start.
Schools
Schools often fundraise for charities. If you have a connection with a local school you could ask them to fundraise for BHF.