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!

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.

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

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 Stuff that doesn't get sold and is out of date goes in the Bags2School collection.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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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