Putting the fun back into funding
With the centre facing ongoing financial pressure for its core overheads, our volunteers responded and the end of 2005 saw a flurry of fundraising events for BPEC.
We kicked off with a live music night at the Grand Central on the 8th. The music on offer consisted of an eclectic blend of soul folk and blues provided by a wealth of artistic talent, including Moses and the Doghouse Band, Sam Carter and Songs from the Bleeding Jukebox to whom BPEC would like to convey their warmest thanks and appreciation. The night was topped off by a raffle, with prizes provided by Lush, Neal's Yard, Sanctuary Café and Linda Austin. Once again, BPEC would like to say a big thank you to those and the others who kindly donated prizes - their support and generosity were invaluable to the success of the night. It was a great event and well supported by our members. Through a combination of ticket sales and donations, we raised a grand total of £310 for BPEC.
Next on the calendar came a good old fashioned pub quiz held at the Robin Hood pub on the 12th. With ticket prices at only a £1 a head, the night was well attended and raised nearly £60. The quiz-masters posed rounds of challenging questions on music, film and general knowledge - leaving some of us scratching our heads and making some wild guesses - especially as the alcohol content went up....! Not only did the pub provide a warm and cosy venue, they also donated a wealth of booze-based prizes that were predictably well received - So a big thanks to all the merry men (and maids) at the Robin Hood - the night would have never materialised without you!
Alongside the events, our regular effort to raise some pre-Christmas cash was a stall, set up on Gardiner Street every Saturday throughout November and December. We used it to raise the public’s awareness of BPEC and distribute the Green Pages. The weekly presence in shopping-land was a great way to raise BPEC's profile and as a result an extra £300 was raised for the centre.
The new year began with a delicious Sunday roast on January 8th, lovingly cooked by our volunteers at the Cowley Club on London Road. The vegan, organic roast (tasty lentil strudel or nut roast with pudding!) cost a mere £5. Everyone ate heartily and the afternoon raised in excess of £60.
Not only were these events entertaining but they act as a vital contribution to the continued success of BPEC. Those that attended, donated, volunteered and supported have made a real difference, enabling BPEC to continue to raise awareness and promote understanding for a fairer, greener world. There are plans for a more regular schedule of entertaining and rewarding fundraising events. Please contact the centre if you can volunteer to make these happen, or just want to know what is coming up.