How to fundraise for a school trip by yourself 

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or student, fundraising for yourself can be intimidating, but it’s not as hard as you think. Use these individual fundraising ideas for school trips to raise money and reach your goal. Once you’ve decided on which idea you want to try, check out our blog for easy steps on how to raise money online.

1. Try crowdfunding 

Crowdfunding combines the power of social networks and the internet to help people raise funds. Consider using GoFundMe to crowdfund for your school trip. To ensure your fundraiser is a success, it’s important to create a captivating fundraiser story and to share your fundraiser on social media. Below are some ways teachers, parents, and students can raise money for a school trip via crowdfunding:

• Give instructions on how to crowdfund, such as directions for setting up a crowdfunding page, steps on how to share it on social media, etc.
• Ask for small donations—these can add up. 
• Reach out to teachers, peers, and your community to get the most support possible.

2. Apply for grants from charitable trusts and community funds 

Charitable trusts and community funds are a great asset to lean on when you want to raise money for a school trip. 

This is easier to access than you may think. Lots of charitable trusts are looking to fund educational visits. 

Whether this is visiting national parks or getting funding from well-known brands, there’s lots of choice. 

Examples of such are outlined here. Asda are one brand which have done this – the Asda Foundation has The Under 18 Better Starts Grant. This provides funding up to £2,000 to enable local community groups to support a broad range of activities that benefit the lives of young people.

3. Go dog walking

Dog walking is an effective way to combine some light exercise and fundraising, especially for those who are dog-lovers. 

• Use your network by asking your peers and parents of peers who own dogs.
• This can be a fun experience while simultaneously making some extra cash.

How to fundraise for a school trip with your peers

For students, gather small groups of your friends and classmates and get them involved in fundraising for a school trip. For teachers, reach out to other educators and collaborate with students. Assembling a fundraising team to raise money together is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Do you plan on fundraising for a high school group trip? Or maybe you plan on doing some school group trip abroad fundraising? If you fall into one of these categories or are looking for senior trip fundraiser ideas, the following are superb ways to raise money.

4. Clean up your neighbourhood and recycle

Suggest fundraising by collecting recyclable items and taking them to local depots in exchange for money. 

• This simultaneously has good ecological benefits. 
• A cleanup is something that can be done as much or as little as one wants.

This is a great way of fundraising because it can be an opportunity to get the local community involved. 

As well as meeting neighbours, you could even flyer or appeal to your local community centre to get the word out. 

It can also be a sponsored clean that involves local schools or groups. 

5. Be a reading buddy to a younger student

Set up a reading buddy plan or do this one-on-one and ask for small donations for your time. 

• This can either be set up within your school or within the community. 
• If you have younger siblings, ask their friends’ parents. 
• Do this with a group so you can all chip in some of your time.

You can set up a fundraiser page while doing this. This is a good way of updating people with your progress and saying how the reading is going. 

In doing so you can also get the word about what you’re doing, in case more people want to get involved. 

6. Host a book sale 

Get together with friends and see if you want to buy books from each other. 

• It’s a cheaper option than buying new books, and you can raise money while doing it. 
• Reach out to those beyond your peer group to see if your unwanted books are of interest.

It’s a good way to regenerate old books and keep them in circulation – rather than just buying new ones. You could do a book swap, where students get together to trade books they’ve enjoyed and make a small donation to your fundraiser at the same time. 

Funds raised could even go towards investing in a space for a book club. 

How to fundraise for a school trip with your parents

Tap into your support system for help with fundraising. Your parents will be able to offer fundraising tips and encouragement as you raise money for a school trip. The following works as both primary school trip fundraising ideas or fundraising ideas for secondary school  trips.

Tap into your support system for help with fundraising. Your parents will be able to offer fundraising tips and encouragement as you raise money for a school trip. The following works as both primary school trip fundraising ideas or fundraising ideas for secondary school trips.

7. Face-to-face fundraising

Go back to basics and go door-to-door knocking in your local community.

• Go with a parent for safety and company. 
• This can also act as some parent-child bonding time. 
• Use your and your parents’ network to go to local businesses and friends that may be willing to donate. 

8. Backyard sale

Help your parents clear out the house and sell any unwanted goods. 

• This is an excellent way to help your family tidy up and raise some money from it. 
• Find a community sale, see if your school is hosting a fair, or host the sale in your own backyard.

Start raising money today for a school trip

Now that you know how to raise money for a school trip, choose one of these ideas and start fundraising for students and teachers. With GoFundMe’s advanced tools, you’ll be able to easily spread awareness of your fundraiser to increase donations. Whether you crowdfund for teachers, fundraise for yourself, with peers, or with parents, start a GoFundMe today and reach your fundraising goals for your next school trip.

That is especially true if you’re opting for braces or if you’ve been advised to get them as an adult. 

You can go private to do this, but the costs can be high. Here we break down exactly how much this could cost you and if there’s any support available. 

How much do braces cost?

The pricing of braces all totally depends on what kind you opt for and how you want to pay for it. 

Dental treatment in the UK – even without paying for braces – can be pricey. 

There are some treatments available on the NHS, however there is certain eligibility for this. 

You can also go private. This can be in the form of paying for metal braces or invisible aligners. 

On the NHS

If you get braces as a child or as a teenager, this is generally free. People under 18 in the UK don’t pay for their braces. 

But if you’re an adult and you’d like to get braces, you’ll likely have to pay. You can get braces on the NHS if they are needed for health reasons. Your dentist can give you more information on this. 

Private treatment

Private costs for braces can vary depending on a number of factors. The type of brace you opt for and where you might get treated can influence how much the cost will be. 

A set of fixed metal braces for your child will set you back as much as £4,285 in the South East of England, making it the most expensive region for orthodontic treatment, research by Intuit Credit Karma reveals. 

The South West proves the second most expensive region for braces, at £3,757, while Scotland is only marginally cheaper at £3,726.

Meanwhile, in the East of England and Wales, braces will cost around £3,415 and £3,246 on average.

Those in some parts of London can expect to pay just £2,368 for a course of braces, which Intuit said reflects the number of options available in the city.

However, according to Emma Laing, an Orthodontic specialist, the cost of braces in Central London is more likely to be around £5,500.

According to the NHS, the bill for braces with a private dentist can range between £2,000 and £6,000.  

How to pay for braces

If you missed the chance of getting braces when you were a teenager and are considering getting them as an adult now, there is still support available if you can’t afford this. 

Payment plans

Private dentists often offer some sort of flexible payment plan so that you don’t have to pay one large cost that can be difficult to afford. 

There are credit plans available to spread the cost of dental work. This can mean you pay a certain amount every month. 

The amount you will have to repay and the deadline for when you must have paid will vary from dentist to dentist.

Dental insurance

Dental insurance policies usually don’t cover cosmetic procedures but some providers may cover the cost of orthodontic treatment if it’s medically necessary. 

Self insure

If you’re seriously interested about self-funding braces, you could put away a small amount a month. 

Self insurance can cover the cost of dental treatment if you put in a proper savings plan. It can even be a small amount you save each month. 

It may take some time to build up a big enough pot to cover more expensive procedures like braces, but if you’re paying for it in one go then you don’t have to worry about future costs as much. 

Pay on credit

If you have a credit card, there is also the option to pay for it using that. Personal loans can also help cover the cost.

Crowdfunding

Another great way to pay for braces is through crowdfunding. Many people choose to do this and it can be a great and quick way to pay for orthodontics like braces. 

It couldn’t be easier to get set up. GoFundMe is a custom-build platform for crowdfunding and it’s free to start your fundraiser. All you need to do is think of a snappy title, upload your fundraiser story and set the page live to see the donations rolling in.

Work benefits

Some employers in the UK also offer support for medical and dental costs. Some employers enrol their employees in private health insurance plans, which may help cover the cost.

It could be well worth checking to see if your work is able to offer this. 

See how others are using crowdfunding to help fund orthodontic treatment

More and more people are crowdfunding to pay for dental care these days. 

If you’re stuck where to get started, or don’t know how to go about describing why you want to pay for dental care, you can take a look at these fundraisers for inspiration. 

Jen Markey’s Braces and Help With Surgery Recovery

Jennifer Markey said as she approached her 50s, she was getting to the point where she needed braces for medical reasons. 

The costs she was quoted for getting treatment for this in the US were high. 

Jennifer described exactly what care she needed and why this was now becoming difficult to live with. She managed to smash her target goal and was able to pay for her brace. 

Krystal needs braces

Tammy fundraised on behalf of her 15-year-old daughter, Krystal, who needed braces in America. 

Like Jennifer, she was quoted high treatment prices. 

Krystal was at risk of losing her two front teeth, but mum Tammy was able to raise funds to put towards emergency care. 

Braces for Felix

Elizabeth Smith was also fundraising to pay for braces for her child, Felix. She said she already had high medical bills to pay for already, so the costs of braces would be something else for the family to afford. 

Thanks to crowdfunding, she was able to raise an additional $6,000. 

Raise money to cover the cost of braces

It can be intimidating when looking to get private medical care. If you’re not sure where to start, the costs can be confusing at first. 

Paying for braces and dental health care is something more and more Brits are doing nowadays. 

It can be expensive to self-fund braces, but there are lots of options out there to support you. 

Get started on your crowdfunding campaign today. 

Who are YoungMinds?

YoungMinds is a mental health charity specifically for children and young people. They offer mental health support and advice, training and also push for changes for young people – focussing on, for example, the long waiting times to get treatment.

Mental health support for young people

YoungMinds offers an array of support for young people and children struggling with their mental health. There’s advice on how to cope with feelings, big life events or even things like medication for depression or anxiety. There are real stories and also guidance on how to support a friend who might be struggling.

Parents helpline

A brilliant feature from YoungMinds is a parents helpline, where adults can ring for advice for a child they are concerned is struggling. There’s a phone line but also an online chat system to help guide and offer support.

How you can support YoungMinds

There are various easy, quick ways you can support YoungMinds – including donating to existing pages or fundraising in support of the charity. You can get inspiration here.

Fundraise in support of the charity

If you’ve decided that you’d like to fundraise to support YoungMinds, it couldn’t be easier to set up a GoFundMe and get going. Because YoungMinds is a registered charity, you can set up your page so donations automatically go to YoungMinds, making it an easy and smooth experience. Take a look at our fundraising ideas blog here to get some inspiration on how you can fundraise.

Make a donation

Alternatively, making a donation to a YoungMinds fundraiser is also a quick and easy process. You can donate to the YoungMinds page here or take a look at the fundraisers for YoungMinds below for some inspiration.

YoungMinds fundraisers on GoFundMe

There’s an array of people doing brilliant and inspiring things to raise money for YoungMinds on GoFundMe. If these inspire you, take a look at our page on charity fundraising to get going.

 Mt Everest x Young Minds

Jack took on the monumental task of trekking to the Everest base camp – and decided to raise money for Young Minds whilst he did – inspirational. He raised more than £2,200 for the charity.

Climb for Young Minds: Three Peaks Challenge

Jack, James, Tom and Sean teamed up to embark on the Three Peaks Challenge. In May, they will climb the country’s three highest peaks in quick succession to raise money for Young Minds.

Start fundraising for YoungMinds

If you’ve been inspired to start fundraising for YoungMinds – or any charity – it couldn’t be easier to start your fundraiser today. Pick a challenge, start your page and watch the donations roll in.

5 ways to get team sponsorships

Sports sponsorship is something that can greatly affect both parties involved. 

As well as funding your sports organisation or team and receiving financial support, it’s also a chance to broaden awareness. 

The sponsor choosing to sponsor your team can increase its brand awareness and receive positive publicity from aligning with a supported team. 

Your team can also receive more recognition once sponsored too, so it’s a win win. 

1. Create packs to send sponsors

One effective way to get a sports sponsorship is by creating a one-pager/packet of detailed information to send to potential sponsors. Make sure to be specific in your explanation of what you’re looking for to get the attention of sponsors. Whether you’re seeking financial help to cover sport equipment costs or funds to pay for tournament fees, companies might be able to help in several different ways. Below are some examples of things to include in your packet:

• Explain what’s in it for them
• Highlight the importance of the cause
• Add real-life examples to form a connection

It’s not uncommon for sports teams to start fundraisers either. 

There are many created on GoFundMe, from creating fundraisers for events to coaches raising money for kit. 

2. Write an outreach letter 

Consider writing a fundraising letter to individuals and companies asking for financial support for your team. Just like the previous tip on creating a pack, you’ll want to be specific with your ask and needs in your letter. Explain to them the benefits of supporting your team. It may also be helpful to add a deadline for when you need to have raised the money to create a sense of urgency. An ideal deadline would be the start of the upcoming sports season. To help you get started, here’s a basic template that you can customise:

Dear [Name],

As the new season approaches on [date], [team name] is writing to ask for your consideration in giving either a sponsorship or a monetary donation. Our team heavily relies on the generous support of local sponsors like [you or company name]. The money we raise will go directly towards overall team costs such as travel fees, uniforms, and other equipment.

We believe a sponsorship could benefit [you or company name] by:

[Make a bullet-point list of ways to collaborate together]

We are also open to any ideas you may have for achieving a sponsorship that will work for both of us. 

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Sincerely,

[Team name]

3. Reach out to existing contacts

If you’re not sure who to reach out to for a potential sponsorship, start with who you know first. Approach parents of teammates or your team members themselves who may be business owners. Even if they aren’t business owners, they could work for a local company that might be open to being a sponsor. The benefit of tapping into these existing connections is that they are already emotionally invested in your team which will make them more likely to support.

4. Ask for sponsorship from your local community 

Beyond contacting your team members, connect with your community for local team sponsorships. Try to communicate your needs through local newspaper ads, online forums, and community groups. Get in touch with businesses that you already have a relationship with, for example a local restaurant where players go to eat after home games. This will make it easier to ask them about a sponsorship. Since your team and the local business are part of the same community, a sponsorship with them could be mutually beneficial.

5. Research corporations that offer sponsorship

Besides your local community, try expanding your reach to national corporations that offer sponsorship opportunities. There are many corporate sponsors throughout the UK that may be able to offer financial help. 

Make a list of supermarkets, banks, hotels, etc. that are in your area so you know who to contact. Going to their websites and attending networking events are great ways to connect with corporate sponsors. Be sure to share your sponsorship pack with them so they have all of the information they need. By associating with a national brand, your team has the potential to attract other businesses that might be interested in sponsoring. A big company benefits from a sponsorship because they’re able to promote their business and reach new audiences.

How online fundraising can help your sports team

Even after trying all of these tips, securing a grassroots team sponsorship can still be a challenge. Or, maybe your team still needs additional funding for certain costs. Whatever the case might be, sports fundraising on GoFundMe can help you reach your goals. Crowdfunding on GoFundMe makes it easy to reach people outside of your network. There are also no long wait periods to receive your funds. Build a fundraising team, create a fundraiser, and start raising money today.

Obtaining a sponsorship can take time, so don’t be discouraged if your team isn’t sponsored right away. If you’re looking for immediate help, consider starting a GoFundMe. Whether you’re interested in football fundraising or any other sports team fundraising, crowdfunding is a simple and quick solution. Take a look at other sports fundraisers on GoFundMe for inspiration, then sign up to start fundraising for your own team.

One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is raising money for business ideas or growth. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re going to need a helping hand. But where to start? If you’re wondering how to raise money for a business, we’ve compiled a list of some business fundraising channels you can take advantage of.

How to raise money to start a business

Although it can sound daunting at first, there’s a lot of ways you can raise money to start a business, from crowdfunding to investments. 

1. Crowdfunding

If you have strong convictions about an idea, use the power of the internet to raise the funds you need. Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe have become increasingly popular with inventors, entrepreneurs, and the general public in recent years. They’re easy to set up, and if you can communicate your passion in your fundraiser description, you may be able to generate support from people all over the world.

Moreover, you can ask friends and family to contribute to your crowdfunding efforts or borrow from them directly. People you know are often the best and safest way to raise money. Not only will they be more open to your proposal, but they have also likely seen your effort and dedication.

There are different types of crowdfunding available for businesses though. There is equity crowdfunding, which is a type of equity financing that involves raising capital online from investors in order to fund a private business.

And there is crowdfunding on GoFundMe, which is donation-based. 

2. Angel investors

Angel investors provide capital for a business start-up in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Many of the biggest tech companies today, like Google and Yahoo, were funded by “angels.” Looking for a way to raise money for a business that already shows signs of growth? Angel investors are a favourable option.

3. Bootstrapping

If you don’t want to give up any form of ownership or independence, bootstrapping is likely the best option to raise money for a business. It involves using your own resources. This may mean pulling from your savings or taking out a mortgage on your assets.

There is some risk to this method though. Compared to other methods, like crowdfunding, this is a riskier route to go down. 

4. Venture capitalists

Like angel investors, venture capitalists provide capital to start-ups, early-stage, and emerging companies that show high growth potential. The difference is that they generally provide financing that often has higher rates of return instead of taking a share of the company. However, some may take an ownership share of the company.

5. Microfinance

There are numerous microfinance loans for those looking for ways to raise money for business growth or expansion. Loans remain a core option for businesses because they usually come with fewer strings attached, shorter payment periods, and in some cases, medium to low-interest rates.

6. Government Start Up Loan

Government programs are a channel worth investigating if you’re asking yourself how to raise funds for business growth. You can apply for a government-backed Start Up Loan of £500 to £25,000 to start or grow your business.

Unlike a business loan, this is an unsecured personal loan. You’ll need to pass a credit check.

You’ll get free support and guidance to help write your business plan, and successful applicants get up to 12 months of free mentoring.

How to raise funds for a business that is growing

If you’re looking for how to raise money for business growth, explore the following options:

7. Purchase order financing

Purchase order financing is perfect for businesses that have large product orders coming in regularly but not enough cash to cover production until the payment from the customer comes through. 

How it works is that a purchase order financing company will pay your supplier the cost to produce the product. When the product is made and shipped to your customer, your business then invoices the customer and receives payment. That payment is then used to pay back the purchase order financing company. While it’s not the most affordable way for a business to borrow money, it is a viable option for those who aren’t able to qualify for cheaper financing to fulfil an order.

8. Contests and awards

Business contests are a great way to get funding because the prize money comes with very few conditions, if any at all. Contests usually encourage creative businesses or social enterprises to take part.

An example of this is Tata Varsity Pitch. Tata Varsity Pitch Competition 2023 is dedicated to both current students and recent graduates (since 2018) celebrating high potential, early-stage ventures coming directly out of colleges and universities across the UK.

9. Product pre-sales

Borrow a page from big names in tech and offer customers the option to pre-order products before they launch or hit the shelves. Not only does this raise the money needed to fulfil these orders, but it also offers companies a way to gauge the demand for their product.

10. Strategic partners

Strategic partners come in many forms, from suppliers to distributors, and even customers. While it may not be direct funding, getting credit from your supply chain can help supplement your budget until your business is in a good place financially.

11. Incubator programs

Business incubators are programs created to provide new businesses access to the resources they require to grow. Incubators benefit businesses more than just financially. They also offer mentorship, network establishment, and relevant entrepreneurship training.

A good example of this is the UK Research and Innovation program. It offers business incubation programmes in Oxfordshire, the Liverpool City region and Edinburgh. These provide an attractive and all-encompassing package of support to ambitious early-stage technology businesses.

Best practices for raising money for a business

With many options available, it’s important you put your best foot forward. 

Here are some of our tips about how to go about securing funding. 

Always practise due diligence

No matter what form of fundraising you do, always make sure you practise due diligence to make sure you are not getting the raw end of the deal. This is especially so with financing, venture capitalists, or angel investors.

Ensure that bookkeeping is organised

Always make sure to do proper bookkeeping, whether you’re a small business or bootstrapping. The first thing financial lenders or investors look at is whether a company’s books are in order.

Fine-tune your business pitch

Refine your value proposition in your business pitch. Donors and investors want to know your impact, and how their money will help you achieve it. Make sure to showcase the things that make your business unique.

Use creativity for fundraising

Get creative with your fundraising efforts. Like in a business deal negotiation, it’s about much more than simply asking for a check. Likewise, think outside of the box when exploring fundraising options.

Share your enthusiasm

Express your passion and get your audience excited, especially when crowdfunding.

Raise more money with GoFundMe

Grants and loans can take weeks or months to be approved. But with crowdfunding, you can get the financial assistance you need for your small business within just a few days. Are you ready to raise funds for your business? Sign up and start a fundraiser today.