Fundraise for us and help change lives in your community.
Looking for charity fundraising ideas? Whether you want to take on a personal challenge, organise an event with friends or raise money at work, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Every fundraiser helps Changing Lives support people facing homelessness, addiction, domestic abuse and other challenging circumstances.
You don’t need previous fundraising experience or an ambitious target to make a difference. Start with an idea that works for you, and we’ll help you take the next steps.
There isn’t one right way to raise money for charity. You might enjoy a physical challenge, prefer organising something locally or want to bring colleagues together for a good cause.
Take part in an organised fundraising event and turn a personal challenge into something that makes a difference. From running events such as the Great North Run to walking challenges including the Yorkshire Three Peaks, there are opportunities to push yourself while raising money for Changing Lives.
Have an idea of your own? You could organise a charity quiz night, host a golf day, arrange a community fundraiser or collect donations to celebrate a special occasion. Choose an activity that works for you and we’ll help you understand how to get started.
Bring your colleagues together and make fundraising part of your working day. From office bake sales and sponsored team challenges to larger fundraising events, there are different ways for workplaces to support Changing Lives. Businesses interested in building a longer-term relationship can also explore our corporate partnerships.
Fundraising doesn’t always mean organising an event or asking people for sponsorship. You can support Changing Lives through everyday activities, including online shopping, recycling eligible items and other giving opportunities.
How to get your donations to Changing Lives
Here you’ll find the answers to some of your questions about supporting Changing Lives.
Not sure how you’d like to raise money for charity?
The best fundraising idea is often one that fits naturally into your life. It doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated.
Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Ask friends, family or colleagues to contribute homemade cakes and treats, then sell them in exchange for donations. A bake sale can be a simple way to bring people together, especially in a workplace or community setting.
Invite people to enjoy a drink and a conversation while supporting Changing Lives. Ask for a donation to attend, or combine your coffee morning with a cake sale or small fundraising activity.
Celebrating a birthday or special occasion? Ask friends and family to make a donation instead of buying a gift. It’s a personal way to support a cause that matters to you.
Bring people together for some friendly competition. Charge a small entry fee for each team, arrange prizes and consider adding a raffle or other fundraising activity.
A golf day can be a way to bring colleagues, clients or friends together. Raise money through entry fees, sponsorship or additional activities during the day.
A sleep out is not the same as experiencing homelessness. But it creates a moment to stop and think differently.
Choose a distance that challenges you and invite people to sponsor your efforts. This could be a local 5K, a longer-distance event or a walking challenge with friends.
If you enjoy gaming or streaming, why not use your hobby to support a good cause? Organise a sponsored gaming session, challenge or online tournament and invite your community to take part.
Challenge yourself to an adrenaline-filled skydive. Ask friends, family and colleagues to sponsor your jump and make every second of freefall count.
Get your team involved
A dress-down day, office quiz, bake sale or team challenge can all give colleagues an opportunity to fundraise together.
For larger organisations, fundraising can also become part of an ongoing charity partnership, with opportunities to involve employees throughout the year.
Want more inspiration?
If you’ve never raised money for charity before, getting started can feel like the hardest part. The good news is that you don’t need to have everything worked out before you begin.
Here are five simple steps.
Think about what you’d enjoy doing, how much time you have and who might want to get involved.
Whether it’s a sponsored challenge, a community event or a small activity at work, choose something that feels achievable.
Get in touch with our fundraising team and let us know what you’re planning.
We can help you find useful information and resources, and answer questions about fundraising for Changing Lives.
Email fundraising@changing-lives.org.uk to get started.
An online fundraising page gives people a convenient way to sponsor you and helps you keep track of what you’ve raised.
You can fundraise for Changing Lives through JustGiving. We also have guidance to help you create your page.
Tell friends, family and colleagues what you’re doing and why you’ve chosen to support Changing Lives.
Share your fundraising page, explain your challenge and keep people updated on your progress.
A personal message can help people understand why their support matters.
Once your activity is complete, make sure any money collected offline reaches Changing Lives.
We have guidance on paying in donations and sending money raised through fundraising activities.
You don’t have to organise your fundraiser alone.
Our fundraising team can provide advice and help you access useful materials to plan and promote your activity.
Our fundraising resources include:
You can ask about our free fundraising pack, which is available digitally or by post.
Request your free fundraising pack
Email fundraising@changing-lives.org.uk to ask for a pack and tell us about your plans.
You can also download a sponsorship form and find answers to practical questions in our Fundraising FAQs.
Make a difference this Christmas
Christmas is a time when many people come together, making it a good opportunity to raise money for charity.
From Christmas jumper days and festive bake sales to quizzes, raffles and gift-wrapping activities, there are plenty of ways to involve friends, colleagues and local communities.
We've created a dedicated guide with Christmas fundraising ideas and downloadable materials to help you get started.
At Changing Lives, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a safe and fulfilling life.
We support around 14,000 people each year across more than 120 projects in England.
Our work includes support for people facing homelessness, addiction, domestic abuse, exploitation and the challenges that can make rebuilding a life difficult.
Fundraising helps us continue providing practical support, safe accommodation and opportunities for people to make lasting changes in their lives.
Whether you raise £50 or £500, you're helping support work that matters.
Looking for help with a particular part of your fundraiser?
We’ve brought together useful resources to help you plan your activity, get sponsorship and make sure your donations reach us.
Find answers to common questions about planning an event, fundraising safely, creating a fundraising page and supporting Changing Lives.
Explore different types of fundraising events and find inspiration for planning your own activity.
Finished your activity? Find out how to pay in the money you’ve raised.
Our supporters raise money in all sorts of ways.
Some take on demanding physical challenges. Others bring people together through community events, celebrations and activities they enjoy.
Each fundraiser has their own reason for getting involved, and each one contributes to the work Changing Lives does.
Read their stories and discover what inspired them to support us.
We value the trust and generosity of everyone who supports Changing Lives.
Our Ethical Fundraising Promise explains how we treat supporters and respect their communication preferences.
When you choose to help us change lives, we will not exploit your kindness by passing on your details to third parties, cold-calling you, or asking for donations on the high street (known as ‘chugging’). If you give us your details, we’ll ask you whether you want to opt-in to further communications from us, like our regular supporter newsletter. If you don’t, we’ll leave you alone, apart from saying thank you. This is our promise to you.
Bake sales, coffee mornings, sponsored walks, birthday fundraisers and quiz nights can all be relatively straightforward ways to raise money. Choose something that suits your time, interests and budget.
Yes. You can organise your own activity, from a small gathering with friends to a larger fundraising event. Our fundraising team can help you find information and resources to get started.
Yes. Workplaces can get involved through team fundraising activities, sponsored challenges and corporate partnerships. There are opportunities for both small teams and larger organisations.
For more practical questions, visit our Fundraising FAQs.
You don't need a perfect plan or a huge fundraising target to get involved.
Whether you've already chosen an event or are still looking for ideas, we'd love to hear what you're thinking.
Together, we can help change lives.
