The outbreak of coronavirus is affecting all our lives in lots of different ways. We’ve put together a selection of ideas for virtual fundraising that you can do from home instead.
With many of us in isolation and with social distancing strongly advised, it is important that we stay connected with our network of family, friends or colleagues.
u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eCrafternoon is the nation’s craftiest fundraiser! Get together online with your favourite people and spend an afternoon doing some crafting, folding, stitching and sticking.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSet up a fundraising page online and ask your guests to make a donation for Oxfordshire Mind to take part.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eEnjoy a get-together with a difference and help make sure no one in Oxfordshire has to face a mental health problem alone.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernAll you need to do is download our step-by-step Crafternoon kit which will tell you everything you need to know. It’s full of crafty inspiration and the practical tips you need to hold a brilliant Crafternoon.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/crafternoon-registration-form/u0022u003eClick here to get your guideu003c/au003e
Socially distancing yourself but still want to connect with your friends? Enjoy yourselves at your own virtual ball and support a great cause whilst you’re at it! Find out more u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/virtual-fundraising-ideas/virtual-ball/u0022u003ehereu003c/au003e
Use Skype, FaceTime, Zoom or Google Hangouts to hold a virtual pub quiz. Set up au003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 aria-label=u0022 (opens in a new tab)u0022u003e JustGiving pageu003c/au003e and ask your guests to make a donation to take part.
Host your own virtual ‘u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/our-pets-and-our-wellbeing/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eYappy Houru003c/au003e’ from the comfort of your home! Simply get your friends and cuddly companions together for a Skype/Zoom video call and ask everyone to consider making a donation to Oxfordshire Mind. We’d love for you to share pictures of you and your pets with us so remember to tag @oxfordshiremind on social media.
For lots of us, playing games is how we relax, socialise and even find support. We know the gaming community is a great place to connect with people across the world.rnrnWhy not host a live stream fundraiser with your friends? With Live stream Fundraising on JustGiving you can collect donations for Oxfordshire Mind while you stream games or hobbies on u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ideas/gaming/livestreamingu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eTwitchu003c/au003e.
This can be a great idea to have fun with your workmates, friends and family. You can host it on a livestream platform or on Zoom. Start the game by explaining how it works and the rules around it. Create au003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e JustGiving pageu003c/au003e and ask people for donations.
Be active
Regular physical activity doesn’t have to be outside for you to feel the benefits to your wellbeing.
Take on the challenge to keep fit and raise funds for Oxfordshire Mind! Join by setting up a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJust Giving pageu003c/au003e and ask friends and colleagues to sponsor you for however many workouts you choose to complete. Find out more u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/virtual-fundraising-ideas/keep-active-fundraising/u0022u003ehereu003c/au003e
Take on our 7k in 7 days challenge to help you build exercise into your new daily routine. Start the day with a jog around the living room or dance around the kitchen making lunch. Find out more u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/virtual-fundraising-ideas/keep-active-fundraising/u0022u003ehereu003c/au003e
Lead an online class through Facebook Live or Instagram Live. It could be yoga, pilates or old school aerobics. Set up a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e and ask for a donation to Oxfordshire Mind for friends to attend.
It could be a dance lesson, a dance party with your friends or a Christmas party. One person makes a playlist and can share their audio over Zoom or other platforms where you can host a livestream event.rnrnWho said Festivals can only be in the summer? We can now host online Festivals from our rooms and if you love Christmas songs, you could organise a Christmas Carol or Christmas music Festival.rnrnTo fundraise you can open a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e and share the link to ask people who attend to donate. It’s easy and quick.
Take notice
Even at this difficult time you can still take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you.
Now is a good opportunity to declutter, and working through your possessions is a chance to remember memories associated with them. Sell your clutter on Ebay, or go to a website like Music Magpie, which will give you cash in return for your old CDs and DVDs. Donate the money you make to Oxfordshire Mind.
If you have a musical talent, take it online to a virtual gig through Facebook or Instagram live. Set up a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e so that those who join your gig can make a donation. Listening to live music is also a great way for others to take notice.
Decorate your room or living room with your favourite lights or art creations and why not organise a competition with your friends on who has the best decorations? Ask for donations to share your skills and have fun!
Learn
Learning something new has been strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing.
Share your skills with others through online tutorials. You could do cooking, a foreign language or flower arranging. Or why not host a decoration or lantern making workshops around Di-wali, Hanukkah time or Christmas time?rnrnAsk for a donation in exchange for sharing your skills, which can be donated on your u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e.
Take your book club online or set up your own online book club. Donate the money that you would have spent on drinks and snacks to Oxfordshire Mind. Find out more u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/virtual-book-club/u0022u003ehereu003c/au003ernrnWhen you’re done with your books, use u003ca href=u0022https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/worldofbooks/fundraisers/u0022u003eZiffitu003c/au003e to de-clutter your bookshelf and they’ll make a donation to Mind for you.
Learn something new with your friends or colleagues. You could create a virtual documentary club? Withu003ca href=u0022https://www.netflixparty.com/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e Netflix Partyu003c/au003e, you can synchronise the video playback on Netflix and chat with your friends at the same time. Donate the money that you would have spent on travel and food to Oxfordshire Mind.
Give
Research into actions that promote happiness has shown that committing an act of kindness once a week, over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing.
Creating a birthday fundraiser is a fantastic way to give back to a cause you’re passionate about on your special day. Staying at home and self-isolating mean social gatherings and parties are on hold, but you could ask them to donate to Oxfordshire Mind instead.rnrnEncourage friends and family members to forgo birthday gifts and donate to your birthday fundraiser by setting up a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e for Oxfordshire Mind or a donation page on Facebook.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://bit.ly/OxMindFacebookFundraisingu0022u003eMake a Facebook Birthday Fundraiser hereu003c/au003e
Why not set a baking goal to motivate your friends, family and workmates to get baking? You could see who is able to make the most cookies in six hours (you can choose a different timeframe), or set a goal of making a certain number of cookies. You could sell what you’ve baked to raise money, or ask every participant to donate to take part.
Bucket collections aren’t possible right now, but did you know you can collect online too? Set up a u003ca href=u0022https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordmindu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJustGiving pageu003c/au003e for Oxfordshire Mind, personalise it with your reasons for supporting Oxfordshire Mind and share the link with your friends and family. JustGiving lets you see your total as you collect and how close you are towards your target. If you are able to, you could also consider u003ca href=u0022https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/donate/u0022u003edonating the money you are savingu003c/au003e on travel or other expenses.
Thank you for your continued support helping us provide life-saving support and advice for everyone in Oxfordshire experiencing a mental health problem.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or would like to know more about fundraising virtually for Oxfordshire Mind, please contact our fundraising team by:
