Spring Eternal fundraising gala*
Event: Spring Eternal fundraising gala
Location: Arnos Vale Cemetery, chapel
Role: event organiser, event branding, gained sponsorship, project management.
Overview: Gala fundraising event greatly aided by Trustee, Lindsay Telling. Strongly branded, simply dressed event with thrift (flowers in jam jars, volunteer-made desserts) made a feature and reason to suuport.
Budget: Reduced projected event costs from £21k to just £1,600 by re-shaping planned formal event to an informal evening of entertainment – local and national business sponsorship and pro-bono performances.
Attendance: over 70 guests; Bristol philanthropists and AVCT supporters including Bristol's Mayor, Lord Mayor and High Sheriff.
Raised: £7,500 after costs, doubled to £15k by HLF match-funding.
Stewardship: invited non-attendees and interested parties to ‘Breakfast bacon butty tours” elicting further £2,250 donations and interest in future ambassadorship
Video and event photography: Harrison Dowling:
AVCT comedy weekend*
Event: Comedy weekend.
Location: Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol – 100-seat chapel
Role: event co-ordinator, publicity designer, community fundraiser.
Overview: As Development Manager connected with comedian and charity-supporter, Mark Olver to put on two fundraising gigs. Mark invited Dr Phil Hammond and Stuart Goldsmith to perform free-of charge.
Raised: £2,500 (£5,000 HLF-matchfunded) from ticket sales, a bucket collection and bar run by the ever-supportive Friends of Arnos Vale Cemetery.
Engaged: new audience: postcode analysis showed a large number were drawn from outside the Cemetery’s usual local area of support. Show of hands at Dr Phil's gig showed that around 5% of the audience had come primarily to support Arnos Vale's fundraising efforts, and that 25–30% had never before visited the site.
