Favourite fundraising ideas

There are a huge number of tried and tested means of raising money in the community. Here are some of Scope's favourite ideas.

Come Dine with Me
Put your culinary expertise to the test and get some friends to host a dinner party just like the TV show. You can judge each other's cooking ability at the end and each participant makes a donation to take part. Make sure there’s a prize for the Host with the Most!

Hold a coffee and cakes morning
Appeal to people’s sweet tooth with a coffee and cake morning!

Hold a summer barbecue
Tempt your mates with some sizzling sausage summer fun. Get a tasty donation for your gorgeous grub by firing up the barbecue and getting some drinks on ice!

Themed party
Fancy dress or a Black and White Ball? Get creative designing your own themed party! Tickets and raffles will soon get your party started.

Cheese and wine evening
Ask your friends round to sample some culinary delights with a touch of sophistication. Try tasting some foods of another country!

Darts competition
Have some fun down at your local pub or recreation centre with a darts competition.

Dress down day
Charge a £1 to come in to school or the office in your own choice of clothes… anyone for fancy dress!?

Swear box
We all do it, we know we shouldn't, but sometimes there's no other word that quite fits as well. Well now you can profit from your profanities!

Caption competition
Guess the famous caption or fill in the blanks for some easy money amongst your friends.

Ask the boss for a day’s holiday
Everyone loves a holiday! Ask your boss to donate a day’s paid leave as a brilliant raffle or auction prize.

Shoe shine
Buff those shoes to a shine and fill up your money pot, all for a bit of spit and polish!

Bad taste day
Get your colleagues to dig out those outfits that shouldn’t see the light of day! Garish ties or bad hair dos… Those that don’t take part will pay the price!

Sweepstake
From Wimbledon to your local football league, get your friends to place their bets on who will win in a little sweepstake!

Who lives in a house like this?
Ask a few people to take some snaps of their homes and then get everyone guessing who lives in which house! A great one to do at work!

‘Read All About It!’ – appear in the media
Whether it’s in your local newspaper or on Ready Steady Cook! Get people to pay to see your 15 minutes of fame!

Car wash
Encourage your neighbours and locals to donate by washing their cars in exchange for some cash!

Approach your local theatre or music groups
Bring Live Aid to your local community theatre by asking them to put on a production in Scope's honour with tickets proceeds adding to your fundraising total.

Quiz night or bingo
General knowledge or pick a theme… everyone loves a quiz night with their friends!

Organise a ball or barn dance
Whether it's line dancing, a waltz or hip hop, get your body moving for a night of toe-tapping fun!

Money instead of presents
A great cause and a great way to put some money to good use!

Plant or book sale
A local car boot sale is an ideal spot to offload your unwanted books or to sell some spring seedlings for money towards your own fundraising pot!

Cards evening
Rummy, blackjack, snap or Top Trumps. Put your poker face on and get the money on the table… remember the banker always wins!

Top tip!
At all the events you can hold a raffle or auction to generate some more income. Ask for people to donate prizes!