Fundraising for ABA treatment for our ds, has anyone done it?

[Ronifromwales]

Hi all, we need to start fund raising for our son's aba treatment and I realised this am that just giving will only accept registered charities. Has anyone done fund raising before and how does that affect any benefits such as dla, carers allowance, etc? any advice would be appreciated...

Do you mean raising funds yourself? or actual fund raising as in coffee mornings etc.......

I have never fund raised for myself but have done for various charities or a particular need of someone else ie. motorbility scooter for a disabled gentlemen.

As far as I can remember tax wise or benefit wise it should not affect you if someone else was doing it as it would be a "gift" for your child to purchase something for that child. Which in that case it is not an income that you have earned or are earning. An amount could be set up in a trust account in his name to pay for ABA for the time being perhaps???

Hi, I've set up a savings account for my ds and have created a secret page on facebook. I've put on the description what the group is for and have asked family and friends to email me for more details of how they can help practically. I have needed to be discreet as I don't want to be seen fundraising on facebook and all the people who I've invited to join this secret group are people who have expressed a desire to participate.

If you don't do facebook, you can always set up a blog online.

I hope this helps... it's too complicated any other way.

Any savings account on your name can be fine for this. Banks offer community accounts but it's too complicated.

I hope this helps.

Hi coff33pot, I've forgotten to mention that my page is not just for friends to be able to contribute financially but also for me to update the people who are interested (family and friends) on the progress of his treatment, for their good wishes, prayers, etc. I've been overwhelmed by the response and quite a few of my friends have done fundraising already, e.g. where I used to work. As you've mentioned below, I don't think it's illegal to receive monetary gifts from friends and I am sure it won't affect any benefits I am receiving.

I posted this a couple of days ago and forgot all about it. When I replied I thought I was writing to someone else. Duh! but I hope it helps other people... slowly we're getting there... :) no shame really, there's so much I'm having to do at the moment for the setting up of the therapy, it's overwhelming.

If anyone wishes to chat about it, please contact me privately. It takes a lot of admin to put the treatment together. :c)

coff33pot, thanks for your help!!!

Hello - I did fundraising for my son to go to Options (Sonrise) and then ABA - Really expensive - when I ran out of money I took a cheapish loan from our local credit union.
My fundraising included car boot sales every Sunday - Neighbours use to give me their old tat ! Though you would be surprised how much you make at least £150 a sale.
I got the local newspaper to make him their chosen 'charity' or good cause over the xmas period.
There are charitable trusts that will help and for the life of me I cant think of one now - This is a few years back.
I wish you all the best luck in the world - you son is lucky to have you x

Roni

I have had a bit of an idea which might help you with funding - can I private message you?