Charity world records

The desire to be officially recognised as ‘the best in the world’ drives people to do all sorts of weird and wonderful things.

People have braved extreme conditions, baked jumbo-sized foods, and done extraordinary things to their bodies.

But for charities, the benefits of smashing a world record go way beyond prestige.

Record-breaking has the power to unite people around a common goal, supercharge fundraising efforts, and take brand awareness to new heights.

Intrigued? Here are three inspirational record-breaking charity campaigns to get your creative juices flowing.

Who is Hussain: Most blood donations in a day

In 2022, social justice charity, Who is Hussain launched an ambitious campaign to drive new blood donations across the globe .

As charity director Muntazir Rai explained, “the pandemic hit blood reserves across the world hard," said Muntazir Rai, the charity’s director. “With hospitals struggling to meet demands, Who Is Hussain volunteers rallied together and launched our #GlobalBloodHeroes campaign.”

The campaign, which was supported by the NHS Blood and Transplant and the Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign, aimed to break the world record for the most blood donations in a single day.

To achieve its goal, the charity partnered with world-leading health and blood donor organisations including the Red Cross (global), Naryana Health (India), the NHS (UK), Vitalant (U.S.A), and l’Établissement français du sang (EFS) in France, to set up donation centres across the globe.

And their efforts paid off. On August 27, 350 blood donation centres across 27 countries, including Argentina, Iraq, and Thailand, collected blood from more than 37,000 people.

The blood drive kicked off in New Zealand as the day began, and the final donations came in from the West Coast of USA.

The result? The charity smashed it.

The total number of blood donations was 37,018, beating the previous record of 34,723 set in 2020.

In response, Muntazir Rai said: "Who is Hussain was founded just over a decade ago, inspired by the compassionate legacy of Hussain ibn Ali. It's incredible to think that the selfless altruism of this man, who lived over a thousand years ago, has inspired over 37,000 people to participate in the biggest blood drive in history.”

Challenging MND: The quickest journey down the Thames in a pedalo

In 2020, a four-man team led by Challenging MND founder Alex Gibson smashed a Guinness world record by navigating the 128 miles of the Thames on a pedalo in the fastest time.

The team, which also included Challenging MND patron, Andy Long, travelled through the night in torrential rain, to complete the gruelling journey in two days, 15 hours, and two minutes - breaking the previous record by nearly two days.

They were also the first team to complete the journey non-stop. 

Founder Alex, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2018 said of the record, "Along with making a superb new Guinness world record, we hope this feat raise awareness for motor neurone disease and puts Challenging MND on the map to help establish us as the go-to charity for creating memories for people affected by MND.”

The impressive feat made headlines across the UK, and saw the team raise £23,437 for the charity.

British Heart Foundation: The world’s longest chain of paper hearts

On Valentine’s Day 2018, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) attempted to break a Guinness World Record by creating the longest chain of paper hearts.

Through their network of 720 charity shops and thousands of supporters, the charity asked people to write messages of love and support for people battling heart disease, or in memory of those they’d lost.

The campaign was also supported by stars from the world of sport and entertainment, including Ulrika Jonsson, Esther Rantzen and the England Women’s Hockey Team, who all wrote personal messages to be included in the chain.

With the help of volunteers, the charity created a chain of 17,939 hearts, which surpassed the previous record of 11,288, made by wine and spirits brand, Moët Hennessy UK.

The chain measured almost 1.5 miles long - equivalent to 25 football pitches.

The record was broken as a mark of solidarity for the 7 million people fighting heart and circulatory disease in the UK, and to raise funds for the BHF’s life saving research.

Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said of the record-breaking effort, “the British Heart Foundation is committed to funding over half a billion pounds of new research before 2020 to help bring an end to this heartbreak.

Bringing together so many tender yet powerful messages of love, support and hope through this Guinness World Records title attempt shows that we’re standing united against heart and circulatory disease.”

Final Word

Inspired to launch your own record-breaking attempt? The Guiness Book of World Records can help.

On its website it says, ‘whatever your objective, our team will work with you to find a record-breaking solution to raise awareness of your campaign or cause marketing initiative. Fill out this form to get started.’

Need an extra pair of fundraiser hands to manage your record attempt? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out more.

Three knockout football-related campaigns to inspire your 2024 fundraising strategy

Football is a cultural phenomenon that transcends borders and cultures. Boasting a fan following of 3.5 billion people, stretching from the favelas of Brazil to the bustling streets of Mumbai, it unites people in a way that no other sport does.

For this reason, the beautiful game provides charities with unique opportunities to raise awareness and boost those all-important funds.

Planning your fundraising activity for 2024? Why not capitalise on EURO2024 fever by slipping a football fundraiser into the schedule?

To inspire you, we’ve pulled together three footie-related charity campaigns that demonstrate how charities are harnessing the power of football to change lives.

1.     Homeless World Cup

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, week-long street football tournament.

Organised by the Homeless World Cup Foundation, it brings together more than 500 players from 80+ countries, all of whom have faced homelessness and social marginalisation.

Each year, the event takes place in a purpose-built stadium in an elected host city (think Amsterdam, Mexico City and Milan). The charity covers the players travel costs, and they get to experience the thrill of representing their country in front of 80,000 spectators.

The goal

The global tournament was launched in 2003 with two goals in mind.

1.     to inspire people who are homeless to change their lives.

2.     to raise awareness of the global issues surrounding homelessness

And it delivers on both counts.

The tournament gives players (who often feel socially isolated) the opportunity to become part of a community. As former player, Michael Omlin explains in this impact study: “football has given me an alternative to my troubled day to day living. I have something I really want to fight for. That improves my mental and physical condition. The best thing is you experience all this in a team. We were fighting together for one aim - that is something I have not been doing for a long time.”

As for raising awareness, by the end of the 2016 Homeless World Cup in Glasgow, 86% of attendees said they were more aware of the issues facing people who are homeless.

If you’re looking for proof that football can change lives, there it is.

2. Soccer Aid for UNICEF

Celebrity ambassadors can be a huge coup for charities.

Take popstar, Robbie Williams. In 2006, he masterminded Soccer Aid for Unicef - an annual charity football match that sees a host of celebrities and football legends battle it out on the pitch to raise money for the humanitarian organisation.

The 90-minute, all-star match, which has attracted the likes of Wayne Rooney, Luís Figo, Woody Harrelson, and Damian Lewis, is enjoyed by 75,000 spectators.

For those who aren’t lucky enough to nab a ticket, the game is also broadcast live on ITV.

Since its inception, the initiative has raised over £75 million to support projects for children around the world. In 2022 alone, it raised a record-breaking £15.6 million.

A prime example of the power of celebrity ambassadorship.

3.     Mental Health World Cup

When the first Mental Health World Cup kicked off at QPR’s Loftus Road ground in 2012, it marked an incredible milestone for founder, Giancarlo Gaglione.

The 42-year-old launched the tournament in memory of his late brother Lanfranco, who died by suicide in 2012, aged 27.

The event started a small-scale, grassroots affair, that took place at Downhills Park in Haringey. Today, it’s the UK’s biggest five-a-side, community-led charity footie tournament.

This year, 40 teams took to the pitch in a bid to be crowned Mental Health World Cup champions. Cheered on by a crowd of 18,000 they raised an impressive £110,000 for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), which supported Giancarlo through his grief.

And the event is set to grow. In 2024, there will be more teams, more sponsorship opportunities, and more money raised to support CALM in its fight against male suicide.

Community fundraising at its finest.

Final Word

Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no denying the power of football. So why not use it to your advantage?

Looking for a footie-mad fundraiser to lead the charge? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 to talk tactics.

Juice Academy launches new fundraising apprenticeship

Looking for a way to kick-start your career in fundraising? The Juice Academy’s new fundraising apprenticeship programme could be just what you need.

The social enterprise apprenticeship provider has launched the apprenticeship to provide additional support to charities as they struggle to cope with the rise in demand for services.

Here’s the lowdown.

About the apprenticeship

The Fundraiser Level 3 Standard apprenticeship will be delivered by Jane Montague. Through her eponymous consultancy, she works with charities across the UK and Channel Islands, helping them formulate policy and deliver training on charity legislation, income generation, and ethics.

The apprenticeship will last 15 months. The practical element is 12 months, followed by a three-month end-point assessment (EPA).

Structure

Apprentices will spend 4 days a week working ‘on the job’ with one of Juice Academy’s charity partners.

Current partners include:

• Forever Manchester

• We are Survivors

• Rossendale Hospice

• Caritas Diocese of Salford

• Advice for Renters

Candidates can state which charity they’d like to work with on the application form.

Every other week, they’ll attend training sessions (some half days and some full days). A mix of face-to-face learning (20%) at The Juice Academy in Manchester, and online delivery (80%), the training will cover:

• How to create a case for support

• Communication and digital marketing

• Storytelling and relationship fundraising

• How to develop resilience

• Pitching and presenting techniques

• Ethical fundraising and branding

• How to align a campaign with the donor journey

• Managing data, budgeting, and analytics

What about the salary?

For the first year, apprentices will be paid a minimum salary* of £13,000. But this will be increased to the National Minimum Wage (based on the age of the apprentice) for the remainder of the programme.

*Salaries are set at the employers’ discretion, so the wage may be higher.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply, the minimum requirements are a Grade A-C / 9-4 at GCSE in Maths, English Language or equivalent, e.g., functional skills in Maths, English at Level 2.

Application process

The first step is to fill out an online application.

Successful candidates will then be invited to a second stage, where they’ll complete several assessments, including Maths & English.

If these are successful, applications will be sent to Juice Academy’s partner charities, who will shortlist for interviews.

There’ll be four intakes of up to 20 apprentices over the course of the year (January- April- July- October).

Candidates that don’t make it through the first time will be invited to apply again.

Final Word

Sound good? Get cracking with your application.

An apprenticeship is a great way to learn valuable skills that’ll help you stand out in the job market and make a real impact in the charity sector. And you’ll get paid to do it.

It’s a win-win.

Got any questions about the fundraising sector? Or want some advice to help with your application? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk for a chat.

World Sight Day: Love your eyes at work

Globally, 1.1 billion people have an untreated or preventable visual impairment. That’s an eighth of the world’s population – almost as many people as there are in Europe and the USA combined. Shocking, right?

World Sight Day is an annual event that aims to focus global attention on the importance of eye care.

This year, it falls on Thursday, 12th October 2023. And the theme is "Love Your Eyes at Work." 

As per the World Sight Day website: ‘our focus is on helping people understand the importance of protecting their vision in the workplace and calling on business leaders to prioritise the eye health of workers, everywhere.’

That’s exactly what we’re going to do in this post.

The Rise of Computer Vision Syndrome

The rapid advance of technology over the past two decades has meant that we spend a considerable portion of the day staring at a screen. In fact, a study by Lenstore found that the average Brit spends a whopping 75% of their waking hours glued to screens.

As a result, there’s been a significant rise in Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

A type of eye strain caused by prolonged screentime, DES encompasses a range of ocular and visual symptoms, including:

• Sore, tired, dry, or itchy eyes

• Blurred or double vision

• Light sensitivity

• Headaches or migraines

• Neck or back pain

• Muscle fatigue

Although DES is temporary, it’s not pleasant. It can also have a negative impact on productivity and focus.

Tips to reduce digital eye strain

As an employer, you have a legal duty to look after your employee's health, safety, and well-being. This includes the health of their eyes.

You can help your people protect their peepers by educating them on the importance of eye care. 

Here are five tips to share with your team.

1.     Remember to blink

Most of us blink 15-20 times a minute. But this drops down to five times a minute when we’re looking at a screen.

Blinking is crucial for eye health as it keeps our eyes lubricated, transfers oxygen to the cornea, and helps prevent infection.

All those missed blinks can quickly add up, leading to dry, irritated, and sore eyes.

Get into the habit of actively blinking whenever you open a new email or are waiting for a page to load. You can also keep your eyes lubricated with artificial tears/eye drops.

2.     Give your eyes space

The closer the computer screen is to your eyes, the harder they have to work to focus.

Studies on computer-related eye strain suggest that a screen should be no closer than 40cm (16in) from your face. 

If you struggle to read the text at that distance, increase the font size, rather than move the screen closer.

3.     Follow the 20-20-20 rule

Maintaining a fixed focus at a close distance for a long period of time puts strain on the ciliary muscles in our eyes, leading to fatigue and discomfort.

To beat the pain of eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: look away from your screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at a time and focus on a fixed point 20 feet away.

Your eyeballs will thank you for it.

4.     Adjust your monitor settings

Computer and laptop screens, flat-screen televisions, smartphones, and tablets all use LED technologies with high amounts of blue light.

Blue light waves are among the shortest, highest-energy wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. The wavelengths flicker more easily than longer, weaker wavelengths.

This flickering creates a glare that can lead to symptoms of CVS.

Long-term damage?

In addition to eye strain, some researchers believe that prolonged exposure to blue light can set off a biochemical chain reaction that permanently destroys cells in the retina.

The death of light sensitive cells in the eye is called macular degeneration. It’s incurable and leads to vision loss in about 2.4% of UK adults.   

To minimise the impact of blue light, shift your screen’s colour levels away from the blue end of the spectrum towards the softer yellow end.

This short video explains how to do it.

5.     Eye Care

If you wear contacts, your eyes have to work harder when staring at a screen. Give them a break by switching to glasses once or twice a week.

If you wear glasses, ask your optician to add an anti-glare coating to your lenses. Many offer this service for free.

Final Word

More than 50% of sight loss is preventable. So, the best way to look after employee’s eyes is to ensure they book their annual eye tests.

Why not put some posters around the office as a handy reminder?

To support the ‘Love Your Eyes at Work’ campaign, IAPB has created a bank of printable resources to educate employers on eye safety in the workplace and reinforce the importance of eye checks. Download them here.  

Need an extra fundraising bod to help you manage your workload? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out how.

Bouncing back from awkward interview moments

You’ve just finished an interview. You walk out of the building feeling humiliated and frustrated. Despite putting in hours of research and preparation, you stumbled over your answers, found yourself rambling to fill awkward silences, and lost your train of thought while answering key questions. You’re convinced you’ve blown it.

The good news? It’s probably not gone as badly as you think.

In the words of Kerry Hanon, author of Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness, “we are all our own worst critics. Chances are the little voice in your head is a lot more critical than what the person observed on the other side of the table.”

The truth is awkward moments happen to everyone. The key is knowing how to acknowledge them and move on gracefully. 

Here’s how to deal with four cringe-worthy scenarios.

1.   Your mind goes blank

You’re mid-answer and your mind goes blank. All that preparation you’ve done goes out the door because your brain has decided to stop cooperating, leaving you scrambling to think of what to say next.

What to do: Interviewers know that job interviews are stressful. They’ve probably experienced a mind blank or two in their time.  

There’s no shame in admitting you’ve lost your train of thought. In fact, it may work to your advantage.

Apologise, explain, and ask the recruiter to repeat the question. Chances are, they’ll add more detail to the original question or rephrase it in a way that’s easier to understand.

If you’re still none the wiser, as them to give you an example to help you draw on your own experience.

2.   You badmouth your last employer

Your last job didn’t end on good terms. Maybe the work environment was toxic, you got fired, or you had a fight with your boss.

Whatever the reason, try and resist the urge to badmouth your previous employer. it’ll reflect badly on you, not them.

That said, in the heat of the moment, things slip out. If it happens, don’t beat yourself up.

What to do: As soon as you realise what you’ve said, acknowledge it and put on a positive spin on it. For example: ‘I just realised that sounded very critical, which is not how I intended it. There were some great things about working for that company. I’ve taken away a lot that will help me in my next role.’

3.   You can’t think of an answer

You can do all the preparation in the world and still get thrown by a question.

When your mind goes blank, it can be easy to go into panic mode.

But consider this. The interviewer is probably throwing in a curveball question to see how you react under pressure.

How you respond is much more important than being able to answer, so try and keep your emotions in check.

What to do: Resist the temptation to bluff your way through it or, worse, lie. That’s a recipe for disaster. Instead, take a deep breath, maintain an assertive posture, and allow yourself a moment to think.

There are several tactics you can use to navigate this situation.

1.    Ask the interviewer to rephrase the question. It’ll buy you some time to formulate an answer.

2.    Try the “reframing” tactic. This is something politicians do when asked a tough question. To reframe, think about the original question, focus on the part of it you can answer, and express your thoughts on that aspect of the question.  

3.    Try thinking out loud. Sometimes interviewers ask tough questions to get an idea of how you work through problems. After you’ve taken some time to reflect on the question, explain your thought process to the interviewer and go from there. For example, if you’re asked about any processes you follow to complete projects, but you don’t have an actual process, think through how you would approach the project and the steps you’d take to complete it.

This will show the interviewer how you think and work through unexpected obstacles without losing your cool.

4.   You fail to give the interviewer what they want

If you’ve answered a question to your full capability but the interviewer is waiting for more, ask for further clarification.

There’s nothing wrong with asking, ‘does that answer your question? Is there anything else I can share?’

Counter questions project confidence and show you can think on your feet. It may also transition the interview into a different topic you may have more insight on.

Final Word

Next time you’re in the waiting room shaking, remember this. Your interviewer is human.

They may have a fancy title, but chances are, they’ll have experienced their fair share of awkward interview moments.

They’re far more likely to show you empathy than the door.

Need some help preparing for an interview? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.