Fundraising
Local Authority Income
Although Cosgrove was initially established as a provision for the Jewish community, it now supports around 40% of people from other faiths and cultures. This move into the wider community has helped cement good relations with the Local Authorities and partner organisations and has allowed Cosgrove to increase its expertise within the disability sector. Funding from local authorities covers around 79% of our income, the rest comes from a mix of donations from legacies and bequests, Cosgrove shop sales, Trust applications and voluntary funding.
Voluntary Funding
Cosgrove relies on generating 21% of its income from voluntary fundraising activities in order to provide more than just a basic service. This income funds services such as play schemes, adult and children’s summer schemes, group activities such as outings, participation in projects such as the Music Group, Garden Project and Writing Group. Holidays and family support are vital lifelines for the service users and their families and without this income these services would be under threat. There is no doubt that sych services are hugely significant to the improvement in the quality of life of service users and their carers.
Voluntary funding also supports our Supported Employment services, which aims to offer people with learning difficulties a chance to gain work experience. Our programme allows service users of all ages and ability to experience the satisfaction of not only achieving a recognised formal certificate, but clients who participate in our Supported Employment programme achieve valuable skills such as increased confidence, motivational and social skills. This process ensures that service users receive the experience and skills that employers are looking for in potential employees. Service users are also offered the chance to gain further employment within their chosen sectors through the contacts and links that Cosgrove Care has arranged.
As part of our voluntary funding campaign, we have an annual appeal in the autumn, a telephone appeal day in December and from time to time ventures such as bike rides and golf days which rely on sponsorship from participants. Recently a new young fundraising committee was formed, the aims of which are to promote Cosgrove in the local and wider communities and fundraise to finance respite projects.
Personal Donations
There are many ways in which people can donate money to Cosgrove. By far the biggest response for funding comes from the Annual Appeal. The most effective way of giving on an annual basis is by means of a bankers order. This takes a few minutes to complete and can be arranged through a quick phone call to the bank.
Members of the public can make bequests in their wills, support fundraising events, advertise in the annual report, respond to the telephone appeal day or raise funds through sponsorship on walks etc. Cosgrove often receives donations when supporters have special birthdays or anniversaries where they would prefer to suggest donations to their favourite charity rather than receive gifts. Cosgrove will supply personal receipts for all donations on behalf of the celebrant. In effect, anyone can donate to Cosgrove by simply picking up the phone and give their details.
We endeavour to ensure that every single donor where possible subscribes to gift aid.
Business can set up employee donations through their payrolls or arrange an annual fundraiser within their company to support some of the services currently provided by Cosgrove where local authority funding is not available.
Future Fundraising Events
The telephone appeal day will take place in December, where volunteers will come into the headquarters at May Terrance to raise money for a specific respite project.
In 2008 the new fundraising committee will have its inaugural event – details to follow.
In Spring 2008 it is hoped to run a Fun Day for service users, their families and anyone in the local and wider community who require support services for anyone living with a learning disability. This will take the form of an information day where visitors can visit stalls and information stands and speak with representatives from a wide range of local and national support charities. There will be fun events, entertainment and refreshments for all. Date and venue to follow.
It is hoped that in Spring 2008 an Art Sale will be hosted jointly by Cosgrove Care and its neighbour Jewish Care in order to raise awareness about both organisations and raise funds at the same time. Date and venue to follow.
About Cosgrove
