What Do You Believe In?

Campaign Materials for Voluntary Groups

This campaign is to help organisations like yours but we need your help to spread the message about the importance of giving to charity to the widest possible audience.

You can help by:

• Registering with websites such as www.thebiggive.org.uk or www.cafonline.org so donors can find you online and make donations direct to your organisation.
• Using the ‘What Do You Believe In?’ question and logo in your own work to drive the campaign in your local community. Feel free to use it in your own materials/campaigns to challenge people to think about what they care about and act on it. You can also add the ‘What Do You Believe In?’ logo to your own materials. Download the logo
• Using our template press release and briefing note to tell local press contacts
• Contacting your MP, local councillors or celebrity patrons for support or endorsements. Support from prominent personalities can help raise awareness of your campaign both through the media and directly with the public. Try contacting your MP, local councillors or celebrity patrons of your organisation to see if they will back your role in the ‘What Do You Believe In?’ campaign. You could ask them for an endorsing quote setting out what they believe in and what they are doing about it. It could be general. Eg. “I believe in the great work done by charities, which is why I’m backing this campaign and am calling on the public to take part.”
• Joining the debate by stating what you believe in and what you are doing about it via social media such as blogs, Twitter and the campaigning website Louder to raise awareness of the importance of giving to charity.

Involving volunteers:

Volunteers are an essential resource for charities and can make an invaluable contribution to your organisation.  New Year’s resolutions often cause a spike in enquiries for volunteering roles and you may be surprised to hear there are often more volunteers than placements available, so don’t miss out on the enthusiasm for volunteering at this time of year.

To find volunteers for your organisation:

- Contact your local volunteer centre who will post opportunities on your behalf  
- Register with websites such as http://www.do-it.org.uk/partners and www.charityshops.org.uk which post openings.
- Volunteering England provides advice and information on recruiting and managing volunteers.

For further information please contact Nzinga Cotton