Things your PTA does that you like?

[organiccarrotcake]

I'm looking for ideas to take to our PTA meeting. Any suggestions for fundraising that as a parent you've enjoyed (or at least not felt too ripped off by!), and ideas to spend the money on!

[meditrina]

Second hand uniform sales! Set price for each item, 50% to PTA funds, 50% back to vendor, or 100% to PTA if vendor doesn't want their cut (those at do put a tag on with their detail, those that don't, don't). It only works if you have logoed items, though.

[An0therName]

the school I do - has a summer bbq and fireworks - they seem good -
they bought a sun shelter for the KS1 yard which seems nice
there are bag to school schemes which I imagine are easy to organise

[ExitPursuedByaBear]

Bags2School is easy and a good fund raiser.

Second hand uniform - yes, but we can't be arsed anymore with people who want a cut. Stuff that doesn't get sold and is out of date goes in the Bags2School collection.

We did a race night once which raised loads.

Duck Race

We have bought interactive white boards for all the classrooms.

[Fimbo]

They usually have a school disco for yr1/2 at the end of each term. 2.50 a head to include juice and a biscuit. But then we have a local disco man who is quite cheap.

We have a wooden outdoor classroom that was bought with pta funds.

[snice]

favourites with the children are definitely disco or film nights.

We run the disco on one evening with infants early doors then juniors afterwards-makes it easier to do all on one night

have bought lots of interactive whiteboards over the last few years, aso play equipment for the playground and games/toys for wet play

[livinonaprayer]

Eco kids is similar to bags2school but you get more money apparently, we switched last year.
We do a quiz night which is very popular! Also bingo night.
Them we do the 100 club- similar to the bonus ball idea iykwim whereby people buy a number/s and then there is a monthly draw.
Christmas fair. Pamper evening

We do quite well and have funded outdoor trim trails, theatre trips, interactive whiteboards, laptops and other stuff over the years.

[Collision]

Film Night - £3 per child inc popcorn and drink - film on interactive whiteboard in the hall......loadsa dosh!!


Pamper night

Camping on the school field - £10 per tent - fish and chips extra.

[Silverstreet]

film afternoon on afternoon of LA half day closure - sells out really well as helps with childcare.

fireworks night (with outside firm so their insurance) the Sunday nearest 5 November, with fireworks at 6pm so very child friendly (far less stressful than big organised events). Has BBQ, bar/mulled wine, glow sticks stalls, etc. Raises approx £4k.

Xmas fair - not a big fundraiser but kids love it. Most items donated and pocket money prices, kids go shopping for Xmas presents for family, reception kids helped by yr6, etc. NB this is a lot of work.

[loulou4]

Exitpursuedbyabear ....... can you give me more details on your race night .... what did you charge for the horses, entrance fee, etc., did you have a bar, how much did you raise ? love to know more !

christmas shopping nights, chrismtas cards, easter egg tombolas (get all the kids to donate an easter egg in exchange for non uniform day, and have a massive tombola - manic, but a good fundraiser! .... charge £1 and give them a packet of haribo if they loose! , heard fireworks is good but never found a company to do it, also, dinner/dance, quiz night, silent auction, barn dance, summer/christmas fayre, teatowels (but get somebody else to stick the faces onto the template, it's a nightmare!)

[ExitPursuedByaBear]

Hi Loulou. We used an external company who brought the race videos. We had six races iirc with I think 8 or 10 horses in each. I got sponsors for each race, and then sold each horse in each race. The sponsors could name the horses whatever they chose. Some people sponsored a race and bought all the horses in the race - it was a small private prep school with quite a few parents with their own businesses. We used an external venue with a bar and served food during the interval. Guests obviously bet on the outcome of each race, but one mum also ran a separate sweepstake on each race with raffle tickets. We also charged an entry fee. I think we only had about 40 people but we made about £750 and everyone had a really great night.

Another one I have heard about but not been able to find, is where you hire wooden 'horses' and people have to peddle them which then pulls on a rope or some such until one wins. If you google School PTAs you can find loads of newsletters with all sorts of ideas.

HYH