Fundraising guide

It's game over for disability inequality 

We’re thrilled you’re on the team for Power Up and Play! That means, like us, you care about accessibility and inclusion, and you want to make a difference. You’ve joined the right team. 

The money you raise for Scope will help the fight against disability inequality. 

Scope exists to create a fairer society for disabled people. But two thirds of disabled gamers told us they face barriers to gaming. By taking part and fundraising, you’re helping us break down barriers and champion the need for better accessibility and inclusion. 

We know fundraising can feel a bit daunting, especially if it’s your first time. But once you get started, you’ll be surprised how many people want to support you. And you’ll get that feel-good factor from knowing you’re making a difference. 

We’ve developed this guide to help you power up your fundraising and get those donations rolling in.

Getting started

Power up your profile

Your fundraising page is where most of the action takes place, so set yourself up for greatness and follow these top tips. 

1. Add a photo or avatar and personalise your page. This is proven to increase donations by 14%. 
2. Set your target and aim high. Whether you shoot for £100 or £1,000, keep an eye on your page and increase your target once you get close. 
3. Share your story. There’s more info below about what to include, but this is the single most important thing you can do to boost your fundraising.

All donations received on your fundraising page will come directly to Scope, so you can sit back and relax and watch the donations roll in. 

What's your why?

Telling people why you’re taking part in Power Up and Play is so important. 

You could talk about:

• Your love of gaming
• What it bring to your life
• Why you think the benefits of gaming are important
• Why disability equality is important to you.

You could share this is on your GivePenny page, on social media or direct with friends and family.

Your friends, family and followers will want to support you and a cause you care about. If you’re disabled and you’ve faced barriers to gaming, be sure to share that. If you’re an ally taking part in solidarity, share that too!

Make the ask

Asking people to sponsor you might feel scary, but remember you’re doing this for good reasons, and people love to support a good cause. 

• Reach out to your nearest and dearest first so you get donations on your page right away. Seeing other donations is a great motivator to encourage more people to sponsor you.
• Let people know that however much they can spare – whether a few pounds or the big bucks – it all makes a difference. 
• Reach out to all your networks – friends, family, work, college, social clubs, Discord servers, basically everyone you know.
• Repeat! People might need reminding a few times. It’s often not that they don’t want to donate, it’s just that they’re busy and they forget. So be confident in reminding them! 

Spread the word

You’ll need to share your page regularly in the run up to your fundraiser. So, taking a mixed approach is a good idea. 

Be direct: Often a more individual approach works well. Reaching out to smaller groups and individuals through channels like WhatsApp, Slack and Messenger services, lets them know their support matters. 

Go big: Cast your net wide and make use of social media. You’ll be surprised how many old pals (and their mums, and their mum’s sisters) might want to support you. Share photos, videos and messages telling people why you’re taking part in Power Up and Play. And don’t forget to use hashtags. Lots of hashtags!

#PowerUpAndPlay
#GameOverForDisabilityInequality 
#Scope 
#EqualityForDisabledPeople 

YouTube and Twitch: If you’re a regular streamer, remember to add your Power Up and Play stream to your calendar and shout about it in the lead up to your charity stream. 

Donation options

To maximise your chances of smashing your target, offer your friends and followers any or all of these ways to donate. 

One-off donations – The tried and tested way to collect sponsorship – someone simply makes a one-off donation to your page. Why not kick-start your fundraising by self-donating?  

Pledge donations – People can pledge to donate per milestone achieved. Whether that’s hours played, levels reached, or collectables gained, the options are endless. Play your best and your supporters will cough up at the end of your challenge.   

Playlist fundraising – Connect your fundraising to Spotify! So, whether it's tunes to keep you focused or tunes to throw you off your game, your supporters can add tracks to your Power Up and Play-list in exchange for a donation. 

Your donors will be given all these donation options when they donate to your page.

The difference you'll make

£100 could help us run our online community for one week, providing a supportive forum for over 100,000 disabled people, parents, and carers to connect with others and receive information, advice, and support.

£317.50 could support one young disabled person through our Careers Pathways service, accessing three sessions with a specialist careers adviser.

£500 could cover the cost of over 50 phone calls to the Scope helpline, providing free, independent and impartial advice and support on issues that matter to disabled people and their families.

Talk to the team

If you have any questions or want to find out more, get in touch with us at gaming@scope.org.uk or call us on 0207 619 7270.