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Original poster

Ideas for DS14 to do for a sponsored something...

84 replies

washingandcleaningtoday · 05/12/2025 16:35

...to raise money for a charity. If anyone has any inspiration or ideas please could you tell me?

Sponsored swim maybe? How many lengths?

I am all out of energy and inspiration!
Thank you!

OP posts:
SE13Mummy · 09/12/2025 09:12

A couple of teenagers locally set up a service where they collect people's Christmas trees and take them to the council collection points. They did it on foot and charged £10 a tree I think but had lots of takers. Done in aid of a charity, I imagine your DS could raise quite a bit.

Silverbirchleaf · 09/12/2025 09:05

Is he raising money for a specific charity close to his heart? I think people are more likely to sponsor him if so, then a random ‘look at me I’m doing a sponsored run/swim/litter-pick so you must sponsor me!’ event.

My son did a half marathon to raise money for a charity relating to a serious illness he had. So many people promised that they would sponsor him, but then the money wasn’t forthcoming. It’s not easy.

Could he do something more practical? Do a dinner party at home and charge everyone forty pounds? Make afternoon tea boxes for local elderly folk? Or volunteer his time at a charity

Twittwoooodoyou · 09/12/2025 08:57

How are his gift wrapping skills? He could offer to wrap christmas gifts. When I was young a local charity would have a spot in the city centre for gift wrapping and it was always busy.

Needmorelego · 09/12/2025 08:55

@washingandcleaningtoday was this for a specific charity as an organised event or just because you want to experience doing something to raise money?
To be honest what a lot of things need now isn't money but actual people volunteering their time.
My local primary hasn't had a proper Christmas fair for the first time ever this year because apparently the PTA has fallen apart and no one wanted to volunteer to organise it.
Very sad for the children who are the ones missing out.
Obviously he can't really join a primary school PTA but what so many events and services need is people.
Maybe find an event or organisation that needs actual people on the ground rather than money and he can volunteer for that.

Lotsofthings · 09/12/2025 08:47

They had a boy in Covid times who slept in a tent in the garden for a while. People might sponsor that for homelessness.

heartofsunshine · 09/12/2025 08:46

Something he doesn’t want to do- litter picking, helping someone NOT an exciting activity loads of kids want to try - skydiving etc

Original poster
washingandcleaningtoday · 09/12/2025 08:43

MissMoneyFairy · 09/12/2025 08:40

Is there a New Year's Dip in the sea event near you

I don't think so, but nice idea...
More likely to be sponsored sailing events if anything

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 09/12/2025 08:40

Is there a New Year's Dip in the sea event near you

Original poster
washingandcleaningtoday · 09/12/2025 08:31

Actually I think we'll do the litter pick as a family just because it is a good thing to do, over xmas, rather than do it sponsored. Means we can combine it with a walk/bike ride on the beach.

I'd like to think of something for dc to do to be sponsored for, which they will feel is something they had to make an effort to do so that they will feel a sense of achievement, they will raise a bit of money for something and they will feel as though they have done something worthwhile. Something like swimming a distance or a run. But if anyone has any other ideas, along these lines, please can you share? Thank you!

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 09/12/2025 08:31

I wouldn't sponsor a swim or hike unless it was friends, family or organised through the charity. Has he chosen which charity, they may have ideas or know of local events.

Original poster
washingandcleaningtoday · 09/12/2025 08:25

Pumpkinspicelater · 08/12/2025 19:53

I agree with the ideas which involve doing something helpful or meaningful for other people/the community. I probably wouldn't sponsor someone else's child to swim or to not use the internet, to be honest.

Do you have a lot go friends and family who are likely to sponsor him?

I think teens should be encouraged to do things for the community such as litter pick without being sponsored for it, but it is also really good for them to make an effort at something and be sponsored for it, it is something they will remember - getting a few quid raised for a charity and lots of people saying well done to them. It is a good positive thing.

I think it is nice spirited to support these things to encourage children to do things which are sponsored and do things just for the sake of doing the right thing, both things.

I have done a lot of sponsored runs as an adult organised by work and the people who donate do so for the benefit of the charity, highlighted by a bunch of people making an effort to run, not the benefit of the person running.

OP posts:
Genevieva · 09/12/2025 07:28

washingandcleaningtoday · 08/12/2025 19:28

Litter pick is possible, the nearest beach is always covered in litter. How much should he ask for per bag?

Abseiling sounds really good fun but costly?

Any other ideas anyone?

I love this idea.

whenever you see some pair of posh idiots defacing art for climate change I think ‘go and do a litter puck instead’ If they want press attention they should turn their littler into a sculpture.

EmpressaurusKitty · 09/12/2025 07:20

washingandcleaningtoday · 08/12/2025 19:28

Litter pick is possible, the nearest beach is always covered in litter. How much should he ask for per bag?

Abseiling sounds really good fun but costly?

Any other ideas anyone?

That sounds perfect then, but I don’t think he can set an amount. He should just ask people to sponsor him & let them give a figure, either per bag or for a lump sum.

Pumpkinspicelater · 08/12/2025 19:53

I agree with the ideas which involve doing something helpful or meaningful for other people/the community. I probably wouldn't sponsor someone else's child to swim or to not use the internet, to be honest.

Do you have a lot go friends and family who are likely to sponsor him?

Original poster
washingandcleaningtoday · 08/12/2025 19:28

Litter pick is possible, the nearest beach is always covered in litter. How much should he ask for per bag?

Abseiling sounds really good fun but costly?

Any other ideas anyone?

OP posts:
Original poster
washingandcleaningtoday · 08/12/2025 19:24

Thank you everyone. I was thinking of a sponsored swim because I did one for the British Heart Foundation when I was about his age. He isn't a great swimmer so it would be an effort for him. I think i did 25 lengths of an olympic sized pool but it might have been 50, I can't remember.

@Octavia64 Silence would be lovely for me!

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 06/12/2025 08:18

A cake sale would mean an initial outlay though, & also that he’d have to bake cakes people wanted to buy.

pilates · 05/12/2025 22:00

Cake sale

Bushmillsbabe · 05/12/2025 21:58

Something which costs nothing or very little, and which is challenging to him and/or helpful for others. I like the litter pick idea. Or giving up his phone completely for a week. I remember doing a sponsored silence - I made it to 28 hours and then stubbed my toe 😂

DrCoconut · 05/12/2025 21:52

Car washing is a potential minefield if any damage is caused. DS's scout group won't do it as the cost of insuring the event would be prohibitively high. DS raised almost £500 for charity by giving up the internet for a week.

EmpressaurusKitty · 05/12/2025 21:16

It’s got to be preferably something useful & if not, something he finds difficult, so people feel he’s really making an effort.

A sponsored litter pick really sounds like the best suggestion so far.

justpassmethemouse · 05/12/2025 20:55

Stompythedinosaur · 05/12/2025 16:58

I always think that being sponsored to do something you want to do anyway is a bit of a cheat.

Something like a charity car wash is far more reasonable to ask for donations and he's actually putting in some work.

Totally agree. I’ll never sponsor anyone for their hike or whatever, and will never ask to be sponsored either.

Car washing is a good idea, or mowing lawns as it’s cold out. Bake sales sound nice but you’d be probably spending more on the baking than you’d make.

Octavia64 · 05/12/2025 20:52

Silence.

BoarBrush · 05/12/2025 20:52

I often see great posts about fairly young kids washing cars for pocket money or charity, word spreads fast online on fb groups etc and they always seem to do well.

A swim, I probably wouldn't sponsor. Nor a hike, unless you were hiking from here to siberia.

Endofyear · 05/12/2025 19:10

A tough mudder? An army assault course? A hike or a bike ride?