Face to face fundraising
Young Lives vs Cancer uses three face to face fundraising methods: Street, Private Site and Door to Door fundraising. These are very effective fundraising methods that enable us to plan our services based on a reliable source of income. This is really important in making sure we can be there for children and young people with cancer, and their families.
Following latest guidance from the Government, Institute of Fundraising and Fundraising Regulator, Young Lives vs Cancer’s Street and Private Site Fundraising campaigns restarted in April 2021, and Door to Door fundraising restarted on Monday 7th June 2021.
- We work with two professional fundraising agencies for these campaigns: Appco UK (Private Site and Door to Door) and One Sixty Fundraising (Street) who fundraise on our behalf.
- For ‘Private Site’, our agency fundraisers will be based in static indoor & outdoor public spaces such as shopping centres and train stations (where they’re safely able to follow social distancing guidelines) alongside branded banner stands/ gazebos.
- For ‘Door to Door’, our agency fundraisers (wearing branded tabards) are based in pre-approved postcode areas across the country, adhering to strict covid regulations to ensure they are following social distancing guidelines,
- Our ‘Street’ agency fundraisers are based outdoors in city centre high streets (without branded stands), where they will be careful to avoid obstruction by remaining static where possible and avoiding overcrowding timings such as rush hour.
We work closely with both our agencies to ensure we’re returning to our fundraising campaigns as responsibly and safely as possible; in-line with the Code of Fundraising Practice and current Government advice on coronavirus (including working safely during coronavirus).
We have ensured sufficient measures have been put in place to protect the safety of both the public and fundraisers; making sure our agencies are taking appropriate measures and enforcing social distancing:
- Conditions for return
We have worked with our agencies to conduct thorough risk assessments to ensure we’re returning at the safest possible time. That includes aligning with the UK Government and Institute of Fundraising’s approval of starting face to face fundraising again, as well as the UK lockdown easing to a degree in which other industries involving face to face communication have resumed. We’re continuing to monitor the conditions within our risk assessments to make sure we act quickly to stop any fundraising activity should this guidance change. - Fundraiser and public safety
All fundraisers will be required to undertake updated health and safety training and will be trained to identify symptoms of Covid-19. They will be required to pass a health questionnaire at the start of each shift. Any fundraiser who fails the health check will be asked to return home and contact a healthcare professional and NHS track and trace. All fundraisers will adhere to the appropriate social distancing guidelines at all times when interacting with other staff members and members of the public. Currently this is: 1m+ in England; 2m in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All fundraisers are required to wear face masks or visors (unless medically exempt), and will be provided with hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes, face coverings and gloves while fundraising to protect themselves and the public from spreading infection. Both agencies have updated their ‘sign-up technology’ to enable the option for donors to set up regular gifts via contactless methods. They can either use QR code or SMS technology on their mobile phone. This will take the donors to a website where they can enter direct debit details or credit card details and confirm the signup. This eliminates the need for any physical contact and ensures social distancing can be maintained. - Potential vulnerability
We have worked closely with our agencies to ensure they have updated their Vulnerable People Policies with information regarding the safeguarding of people who may have been impacted by Covid-19. To ensure all fundraisers are aware of the increased risk for particular groups, and also the heightened anxiety of the public around face to face interactions, all fundraisers will be briefed and trained on this policy before they resume fundraising.
- We carry out face to face fundraising as we’ve found it to be a successful and cost-effective way to generate income. It allows us to generate additional money so that we can plan ahead and distribute the funds where the need is greatest, to support young cancer patients and their families.
- During this time we’re seeing a 60% drop in income and we face losing £9 million this year – devastating for a charity of our size. And it comes at a time when young cancer patients and their families are more anxious than ever and need our vital support. This is income that pays for social workers to support cancer patients, homes near hospitals where families can stay for free and grants to help pay for essentials such as food or travelling for treatment.
- We don’t receive any Government funding and rely fully on donations from our amazing supporters.
- Face to face fundraising allows us to speak directly with potential supporters who may choose to then go on to become regular donors.
- Appco UK and One Sixty are our chosen partners for face to face fundraising because we know they comply with all relevant laws and codes of practice. Through thorough risk assessments, we are confident they are taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the public and the fundraisers.
- We work closely with all our agencies to train the fundraisers to ensure they’re representing us correctly and to monitor the fundraiser behaviour; ensuring compliance with regulations.
All our agency fundraisers will be wearing either a white Young Lives vs Cancer t-shirt and a black branded jacket, or a grey branded tabard.
All fundraisers will be carrying an identification badge, including the fundraiser’s name, photo and ID number.
If you are unsure about whether a fundraiser is legitimate, please contact our Supporter Engagement team on 0300 330 0803, Monday-Friday, 8am – 6pm or email supporter.services@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.
We pay the agencies we work with based on the number of donors recruited. The agencies pay the fundraisers themselves.
Appco UK and One Sixty are our chosen partners for face to face fundraising because we know that they comply with all relevant laws and codes of practice. Fundraisers are coached by Young Lives vs Cancer and by the agencies to ensure they are informed about our campaigns and provide an excellent quality of service.
We carefully monitor the cost of our fundraising to ensure that our return enables us to plan support for the children, young people and their families that need us.
Appco UK, One Sixty and Young Lives vs Cancer all adhere to the regulations and Codes of Practice set out by The Fundraising Regulator. For more information please visit the Fundraising Regulator website.
To share your experience of a Young Lives vs Cancer fundraiser or for more information on how to opt out of this type of fundraising, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Supporter Engagement team in the following ways:
- Call on 0300 330 0803, Monday–Friday, 8am-6pm.
- Email supporter.services@younglivesvscancer.org.uk
- Write to Supporter Engagement Team, Young Lives vs Cancer, 4th floor, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT
