How to raise money in school in an inclusive way

[PickAPark]

DCs (and friends) want to improve a neglected area of their primary school site - probably make it a flower and veg garden or similar. School says yes but they need to raise the money themselves.

All their ideas (making and selling things, sponsored events etc) just don't hit the mark. Lots of families at the school will be struggling and won't want the pressure of giving extra ££ to their children.

Has anyone found ways for kids to raise money which doesn't exclude some kids / families?!

They would be thrilled if they could make a few hundred £.

Chocolate tombola.
Have an own clothes day where everyone brings in a chocolate etc instead of cash (struggling families might be able to split a multipack for example, while better off families can bring something bigger).

Then 50p for 3 tickets or a £1 for 5. 0&5s win a prize, so its a 1in5 chance of winning.

Try to get included in one of the supermarket coin systems.

Dunelm is another shop that sometimes gives free stuff.

Approach the local allotment to ask if any of the plot holders would like to help.

I would ask on local Facebook groups for donations of gardening equipment.

Also if you have a Co-op/Sainsbury’s near the school they'll often get involved for a bit of publicity. They have community funds.

How much do they need?

Our local football club packs shopping at the supermarket, that brings in a lot.

Line of pennies a good idea for a little cash from school community. Have some spare pennies to give to anyone who can't contribute.

Sponsorship from business.

Grants from charities.

Request donated items for the project from parents.

Our primary school set up an eco garden a couple of years ago. It was led by a parent, with a group of the kids. The school already had some garden equipment like trowels and rakes, but they (via official school email/newsletter) asked for donations of plants/seeds/equipment/anything else. One parent works at a garden centre and was able to donate loads of seeds, someone gave a compost bin they didn’t need anymore, someone else donated a watering can or a bag of compost.
I (& others) were able to give surplus seedlings when more germinated than I expected. Next year I’ll be planting with the intention of having some to give to school.

Most big companies have a community fund - check Morrisons, Waitrose/John Lewis, wickes etc local to you to see if they could support either with money or donations. Parents may be able to offer time to come and assist with it too.

I was going to suggest this too. Very easy way to make money and no-one has to pay any money.

Write to local businesses for sponsorship, they should write to the local paper (they are online for free so get a decent readership) and say they are looking for sponsorship/donations... someone who is keen on this may well come forward

Book swap

Everyone brings their old books in. School take a few

Then after school everyone comes in and takes what they want for a donation.

Arrange a charity to pick up the rest.

Can do uniform as an add on.

They're at primary school ? I wouldn't entrust my children or dog to them tbh
Book swap/seed/plant donations seem great though

You can apply for lottery funding for improving community spaces. Also look around for other grants available. Environmentally friendly, improving spaces and mental health and well-being all attract quite a bit of different funding. Then ask if any parents are/know of anybody with experience of writing these sort of bids. There's a bit of a formula to them so this is important.
If you want to be inclusive then steer clear of sponsored/selling tat/car washes etc as they always involve the same pool of people putting their hands in their pockets which can be stressful if money is a struggle.

If there are any housing developments being built within the school catchment area, an approach to the developer is often successful in my experience. We’ve found that they are happy to be seen to be financially contributing to specific projects for good local PR and to curry favour with the local authority.

Slightly off at a tangent, but are the fundraisers also going to organise for any maintenance of the area.

In my experience as a parent, PTA member, teacher and deputy head, these projects can turn out to be a big burden for the school.

Schools are so ridiculously overstretched simply doing the day job, that unless there is a member of staff specifically tasked with maintaining, organising the maintenance or a group of parents/supporters clearly identified, for the maintenance of a fruit and veg garden, the area just won't last long.