Charities and youth organisations like the British Youth Council have been significantly impacted by Covid-19 as many physical fundraising events have come to a standstill. So I came up with a way of fundraising for the ones that matter to me and have shaped me into the person I am today.
I hosted The Big 12 Hour Livestream on Saturday 20th June 2020 with the hopes of being in front of a computer for twelve hours, live streaming on YouTube. The concept involved interviewing a number of guests whilst fundraising for the British Youth Council, Hampshire Youth Parliament, Andover Trees United, Unity and my own youth organisation DMK Worldwide. These beneficiaries mean so much to me. They have given me many opportunities to voice my own opinions and get involved within the community of Youth Voice and I only wish that I had found them sooner.
To say the least, the livestream was a challenge. I have done many livestreams before, but never for twelve hours straight, so I really wanted to make sure everything went smoothly, and for the most part it went very well. I interviewed a huge variety of guests, from the British Youth Council’s very own Chair, Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, to Members of Parliament such as Kit Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire and Minister of State for Crime and Policing. The full livestream with all interviews can be found on Youtube. There were of course a few technical difficulties here and there but it was definitely an awesome learning experience. There could perhaps be another livestream coming in the future, for an even longer time.
It is so important during these challenging times to continue to support small charities like the British Youth Council, through fundraising initiatives and donations, and I would encourage anyone who is passionate about Youth Voice to do the same.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect on the charity sector, with the cancellation of thousands of events and the loss of billions in income through fundraising events.
The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.
The British Youth Council, like so many charities across the UK, has been significantly impacted by the effects of Covid-19 and the subsequent cancellation of fundraising events. The British Youth Council endeavours to empower young people across the whole of the UK to speak up and be heard. We help to lift up their voices and ensure they are able to influence decisions on issues that matter to them. We want to ensure that we can continue to do so during these uncertain times. However, as a small charity facing big challenges, we need your help with this.
The organisers of the biggest mass participation sports events across the country have come together to create a new campaign to raise vital funds to help our fundraising and save the UK’s charities, and we are getting involved!
The campaign, The 2.6 Challenge, will launch on Sunday 26 April 2020 – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one day annual fundraising event, which raised £66.4 million for charities in 2019. The challenge will last for a week. The 2.6 Challenge is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing and remember to stay local.
From Sunday 26 April 2020, we are asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise by donating on our Virgin Money Giving page.
Nick Rusling, Co-Chair of the Mass Participation Sports Organisers group (MSO) and CEO of Human Race said “The 2.6 Challenge can be anything that works for you
“You can run or walk 2.6 miles, 2.6km or for 26 minutes. You could do the same in your home or garden, go up and down the stairs 26 times, juggle for 2.6 minutes, do a 26 minute exercise class or get 26 people on a video call and do a 26 minute workout – anything you like. We want people to get active, have fun and raise money to help Save the UK’s Charities by giving money or raising funds for the charity close to your heart.”
Hugh Brasher, Co-Chair of MSO and Event Director of London Marathon Events said “For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year
“One of the founding pillars of the London Marathon was ‘to show how the family of mankind can be united’. We hope that The 2.6 Challenge, which starts on the day our 40th Race should have taken place, will embody that spirit and inspire people, families and communities to fundraise for their chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities. Right now, our vulnerable members of society need the help of charities more than ever before.”
The mass-participation events organisers behind The 2.6 Challenge are: Human Race, parkrun, The Great Run Company, Run 4 Wales, Grounded Events, London Landmarks, Virgin Sport, Limelight Sports, Threshold Sports, Running High and London Marathon Events. The design and website has been created by Studio Republic and the social media campaign by LiveWire Sport. The campaign is supported by the Charities Aid Foundation, the Institute of Fundraising, the Small Charities Coalition, the Office for Civil Society, Sport England, Let’s Do This, Virgin Money Giving and JustGiving.
For more information on The 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
Once again, this year the British Youth Council are taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Between 12pm Tuesday 3rd December and 12pm Tuesday 10th December, all donations to the British Youth Council will be doubled by match funding!
So, if you give £25, we’ll receive £50, give £50, we’ll receive £100 and so on…
We are looking to raise £2,000 which will then be matched to give a grand total of £4,000!
We want as many supporters as possible to get involved in the campaign to ensure that we empower young leaders to make real change. Whether you support with a donation or simply by sharing our campaign within your networks, everything you do will make a difference. It means that young people can be empowered through our Leadership Development Programme to make their voices heard and create real change.
Read more about how the British Youth Council empowers young leaders on our campaign page and donate to make twice the impact.
On Sunday, 21st July, ten runners including young people from our programmes, staff from our incredible corporate partners Fledglink and the Bank of England and other members of the British Youth Council community, took part in the ASICS London 10K to raise money for the British Youth Council.
Our cheer team made up of staff, trustees and friends were there to offer encouragement at the half-way point to our team of runners.
Collectively raising over £2,200 the challenge event champions smashed their targets and have made a huge contribution to the British Youth Council and young people across the UK. To the runners, donors and volunteers, thank you!
Luke Thornton, Treasurer at the British Youth Council and one of the runners in our challenge event team on Sunday commented “Small charities like the British Youth Council benefit so much from challenge events like this one and I am delighted I can support their work in this way.
“It is so great to see more and more support like this for the British Youth Council and I know that it will make a huge difference to the charity.”
If you would like to take part in a challenge event or would like to organise your own fundraising event, please get in touch with our Head of Fundraising, Victoria Ward on Victoria.ward@byc.org.uk
On Sunday, 2nd December, seven supporters, including staff members, young people and friends of the British Youth Council embraced the festive season, dressed up as Santa, and took part in the London Santa Run. Raising money for the British Youth Council, the runners were cheered on by a team of staff, friends and trustees underneath a flurry of fake snow.
Kira Lewis, who is a member of the UK Youth Parliament Procedures Group, commented; “I was proud to take part in this year’s London Santa Run, alongside some of the fantastic British Youth Council staff. The organisation has given me a platform to campaign for issues that have mattered most to me over the years I’ve been a member. I’ve really seen the difference the British Youth Council has made locally and nationally, so it’s important to me that I help give back to them through fundraising.”
The runners raised over £1,200 towards the work of the British Youth Council, which is an incredible amount. Support from events like this enables young people from across the UK to find their voice and use it for social and political change. From everyone at the British Youth Council, thank you to our runners, supporters and donors.
If you would like to make a donation to the British Youth Council or sign up to your own challenge event, please contact Victoria Ward our Head of Fundraising on Victoria.ward@byc.org.uk.
Don’t forget, to hear more about ways you can be involved in events like the Santa Run, sign up to our Friends of British Youth Council mailing list here.
On Sunday, 15th July, four runners took part in the Virgin Sport British 10K to raise money for the British Youth Council. Braving the 30 ̊C heat and getting into the party spirit, our runners took to the challenge with high energy and enthusiasm and our cheer team made up of staff, trustees and friends were there to offer encouragement at the half-way point.
Collectively raising over £1,000 the challenge event champions smashed their targets and have made a huge contribution to the British Youth Council and young people across the UK. To the runners, donors and volunteers, THANK YOU!
Jo Hobbs, Cheif Executive of the British Youth Council commented “It is fantastic to see so much support for a charity like the British Youth Council. It goes to show that small niche charities can still engage in challenge event fundraising and that people are happy to support our vital work.”
If you would like to take part in a challenge event or would like to organise your own fundraising event, please get in touch with our Head of Fundraising, Victoria Ward on Victoria.ward@byc.org.uk
On Sunday, 3rd December, six supporters donned their Christmas outfits and took part in the Santa Run to raise vital funds for the British Youth Council. Despite the rain and cold, the atmosphere was cheerful and festive with a team of staff, friends and trustees there to cheer on the brave Santas!
Lewis Adlington-Lee, Deputy Chair of the British Youth Council and the first to sign up for the Santa Run commented: “I did the Santa Run because I care about the British Youth Council and want to help support its’ programmes to continue. I also did it because as Deputy Chair and a Trustee, it is so important to lead by example when we are asking for support. I think the British Youth Council is incredibly important as it helps young people have a genuine influence on the communities in which they live and provides the platforms for them to shape their futures.”
Luke Thornton, Treasurer of the British Youth Council who also took part said: ‘ I decided to take part in the Santa Run because I was excited to join a new and exciting way for the British Youth Council to raise funds. Reading the news, every day it becomes clearer why our work is so important, helping engage you people to influence decisions they care about. The British Youth Council is undergoing a huge period of change and a key part of that is making sure we are growing and sustainable. Getting involved in fundraising by volunteering for a challenge event helps us on this journey while having lots of fun!’
Our runners included Trustees and Alumni of the British Youth Council. Joe Stockley, one of our trustees taking part was undeterred by cancelled trains and completed his 5K run at home sending pictures to update all of his generous donors!
Thank you to my donors! We did it, through obstacles and tribulations. £283.75 for @bycLIVE pic.twitter.com/WIMsAYiGNV
— Joe Stockley (@Joey_St0cks) December 3, 2017
The runners raised over £1,300 towards the work of the British Youth Council, which is an incredible amount and really will make a huge difference to our work empowering young people to take action on the issues that affect them. From everyone at the British Youth Council, thank you to our runners, supporters and donors.