A Scarborough-based fashion boutique will be giving promotional bags to all those attending its upcoming fashion showcase.

The event, to be held at Scarborough Rugby Club on Thursday March 1st, is in aid of a local hospice, Saint Catherine's, reports the Scarborough Evening News.

The boutique, called Moments, said everyone couldn't wait for the show.

The evening will be opened by dancing from a local dance school, there will be a raffle and everyone attending will receive promotional merchandise, a glass of Pimms and canapés.

Jane Stockdale from Saint Catherine’s Hospice's fundraising department, told the newspaper: "We are really looking forward to the fashion show.

"It looks set to be a really entertaining evening and I hope people will come along, enjoy the spring fashions and Support Saint Catherine's Hospice."

This is a great example of how promotional items can help to make an event like a charity fashion show a great success.

By printing the name of your business onto promotional bags, you'll be thanking people willing to lend their support – while getting your name out a little too.

"Boutique set for fundraiser". Scarborough Evening News. 

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

A charity might want to use promotional items to reward a group of savvy older web users.

Age UK this week announced the four people who will be heading to London to see if they will be crowned the charity's Internet Champion for 2012.

The charity initiative seeks savvy web users to help Age UK advocate the use of the internet to their peers.

The champions are to act as inspiration to the 5.7 million people over 65 who have never used the internet before to get online.

Brenda O'Mulloy, 83, Richard Hannam, 64, Maggie Petch, 69, and Keith Paterson 80, are the four finalists.

This year's theme is 'how the internet changed my life'. Nominees were asked to share the life-changing benefits they have gained from being online, and explain how they would like to work with Age UK to inspire their peers to start using the web.

There are plenty of web-related promotional items that could be given as prizes to the winner – such as promotional USBs.

David Mortimer, head of digital inclusion at Age UK, said: "Age UK is committed to helping people in later life access the advantages of using the internet for themselves.

"Through the Age UK Internet Champion of the Year search we are showcasing real stories to inspire others to make the most of all the internet has to offer."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Charities need to do more to attract donors to their websites, a new report claims.

They are missing out on fundraising opportunities because of outmoded online operations and a user experience that is "too similar to buying travel insurance".

According to Third Sector, the report, Charities Fail to Make Online Impact, by the digital consultancy company Nomensa, found that close to half (47 per cent) of online donors give up on making donations because of an online journey that is unintuitive and not engaging.

Charities need to better understand how donors are using technology, urged Bertie Bosredon, head of digital engagement and social media at the charity Breast Cancer Care, who wrote a foreword to the report.

"Most charities are taking donations through their website, but the journey is neither engaging, nor inspirational; the experience still feels too similar to buying travel insurance," he was quoted as saying.

Think about using promotional items to help generate interest in your online fundraising platforms.

You could send out attractive printed mugs and promotional mousemats to advertise your website, and you could say thank you to donors who give online by posting out promotional pens and printed USBs.

"Charities are failing to capitalise on online fundraising, report claims." Third Sector.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

The economic climate has done to little to dampen Britons' interest in volunteering, according to a new report.

A survey of more than 2,000 adults by Zurich, the insurance firm, found that over half (55 per cent) of Brits did some form of voluntary work last year.

Some 54 per cent of Londoners said they had volunteered and woman and older people were most likely to, the report found.

Volunteering projects included fund-raising, supporting school activities or helping out at a charity shop or hospital.

Promotional products are a great way to reward volunteers for their help and support – printed pens at the end of a fundraising activity or printed USBs after a school tidy-up.

"It is encouraging to see that despite time and money both being tight over the last year, so many people volunteer," said Paul Emery of Zurich.

"It is essential that everyone can see the big range of volunteering activities they can take part in, whether it's watering next door's plants or caring for an elderly neighbour."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

A deaf charity is to work on a project developing promotional mousemats that will help detail the history of deaf culture, it has been reported.

The Deafness Support Network (DSN), which is based in Cheshire, is making the promotional items the centrepiece of the 'bridge-building' campaign, that will see people from across the generations come together.

It recently received a grant of more than £1,500 to support the mousemat campaign.

In partnership with The British Deaf History Society, the DSN will be encouraging deaf people of all ages to work together to design the promotional mousemat, offering opinions and views for its design.

Mr Birchall said: "We want to break down the misconceptions around age in the deaf community and with this project we hope to demonstrate the mutual benefits that intergenerational activities provide."

Deaf Active members are also keen to show the older generation how to use new technology such as iPads, laptops and smartphones, to help create the mouse mat designs.

DSN chief executive Bob Birchall received the cheque from Cheshire West and Chester’s Youth Parliament Member, Rose Proudfoot, who secured the funding from the authority.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional products could help you roll-out a rather woolly new charity initiative at work next month.

Age UK's Bobble Day takes place on February 10th – and it's a perfect opportunity to use some promotional mugs and pens to help make it a roaring success.

So what is it?

A charity initiative, Bobble Day is all about asking people to resurrect their winter woollies, wearing them with pride and donating £2 to their school or workplace in the process.

The money all goes to helping vulnerable older people over winter – going to Age UK's Spread the Warmth campaign.

It's a fun day with a serious message behind it.

According research revealed by Age UK, almost half of people in the UK (47 per cent) have received a woolly present for Christmas that they have never worn or only worn once or twice.

So why not encourage staff to wrap up in their most colourful and crazy knits on February 10th?

How could promotional products work? Fundraising ideas

There's lots of possibilities.

How about saying thanks to people who donate their woollies to your firm and donate £2 – with promotional mugs and printed pens with your logo imprinted on. A great way to get involved with this important charity initiative.

If you're thinking of doing something in-house, how about organising a woolly swap with your colleagues: choose a colour or theme for your team, or wear your knitwear in new unconventional ways.

Give promotional products as prizes for the best – and worst – dressed!

What they say

"Bobble Day is definitely a chance to have fun, but there is a serious issue at its heart: 200 older people die needlessly every day in winter due to the cold," said Paul Farthing, fundraising director at Age UK.

"While Christmas is over and thoughts turn to the spring ahead, February is often one of the coldest months of the year and many older people will be suffering. By getting involved in Bobble Day you can help us change this."

"'Get your woollies out,' says Age UK!". Age UK.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Your spring charity run may seem a way off, but it's a good idea to start putting some planning in place now, we say.

After all – there's a lot to think about. From the type of promotional products you're going to use to reward those brave joggers, to the very logistics of getting to the park or route, a little prep goes a long way.

That's certainly the case for the organisers of a charity run in Scunthorpe, who have already started putting the feelers out for its 2012 ladies run.

They've been in touch with the local paper which has produced an article advertising the site, in which all the key details – venue, time, booking – are included.

And they're planning to use some promotional bags to reward those willing participants of the race, which takes place on the Normanby Hall estate in May.

Women of all abilities are encouraged to enter and can take part by themselves, with friends, in a jogging group or with colleagues.

All finishers will be presented with a goodie bag and a special event T-shirt.

North Lincolnshire Council is staging the event alongside running retailer Metres to Miles.

Julian Moorhouse, of Metres to Miles, told This is Scunthorpe: "We had 200 ladies take part in the event last year but it looks like we could have many more in 2012 as entries are coming in greater volume already and there have been a lot of inquiries.

"I suppose with 2012 being such a big year for sport, many people are encouraged to take part."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Charities, now is a great time to use promotional items to generate fundraising opportunities – because new research shows Britons are climbing the charitable giving table.

The UK has been rated the world's fifth most charitable country in a new survey by the Charities Aid Foundation.

We've moved up from eighth place last year in its study of 153 nations. The US came top, followed by Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Some 79 per cent of Britons give money to charity each month, up from 73 per cent in 2010, according to the research. 28 per cent of the UK population volunteers time each month and 63 per cent help a stranger.

John Low, chief executive of the CAF, said: "It is amazing that even during these tough economic times an overwhelming majority of the UK population gives to charity each month."

If you're prepping your new year fundraising campaigns, have a think about how promotional items could help.

If you're to hold an open day, think. You could also send some promotional mugs to thank your donors and volunteers for their hard work this year.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Charities looking to trim their budgets in 2012 may want to consider promotional items to help drive their campaigns.

According to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ latest Charity Forecast survey, close to two-thirds of charity bosses expect their organisations' financial situation to worsen next year, Third Sector reports.

Some 65 per cent predict a worsening financial outlook for the next 12 months, 52 per cent anticipate their charity's expenditure will fall, and 55 per cent say the general situation of their organisation will worsen.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, was quoted as saying charity leaders felt "frustrated and concerned about their ability to carry on supporting those most in need".

Now, we're not saying promotional products are the answer to this problem. But one way to cut marketing costs is to use branded merchandise – it's cost-effective and can be bought in bulk.

So while that expensive new digital campaign might be proving tempting, don't rule out traditional promotional products entirely.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield