The first step is to let as many people as possible know about your appeal.
- Using the press release and letter to parents is a great way to get the word out about your Scouts Appeal; Brian Finney of Hinckley District Scouts says
"We have used local radio and press who put out requests on a regular basis. I work on the fact that everybody has something we can recycle so ask everybody you meet."
- We also provide you with posters to promote your appeal, take a tip from Jacquie Browne of 5th Farnham Scout Group on how best to use them:
"We asked all the parents, friends and relatives to put posters up at work and we had boxes full from some offices. We also had a large number of new Beaver Scouts starting in September and they were all sent off with a poster and they brought a load in too."
- If you have a website use our web banner to let all your visitors know that they can donate their old phones and cartridges to raise funds for your Group.
The more people who are collecting for you, the more money your Group will make.
- Sign up as many local businesses as you can. This is the best way to boost your collections as businesses go through much larger volumes of product than individuals. Use the letter to businesses to let them know how they can help your appeal, sending it to parents' and families' workplaces is a good starting point.
- Kevin Welborn from 13th Doncaster (Tickhill) Scout Group found a unique way to get his community involved:
At our recent Village Gala, we had a stall - using your large posters as the backdrop - and showing different cartridges and the prices we get for them. This attracted quite a lot of interest and we gave anyone who stopped one of your A5 leaflets. This has resulted in a few more cartridges appearing at the Scout Hut, and we are now saving up for a digital camera!"
Try doing something a little bit different to get people's attention – and their old phones and printer cartridges!
- See if your community can pass the doorstep challenge – visit local households to tell people about your Scouts Appeal and ask them to donate their phones, PDAs and cartridges on behalf of your Group. You could ask them to drop off their items at your collection point or arrange to pick them up at a later date.
- Janet Hide from 15th Chandlers Ford Allbrook & Otterborne Scout Group has this 'handy' advice:
"The Scout Group got really stuck in by hand delivering 5000 flyers to their local area. They also arranged to have 1000 flyers sent out by the church walkers who helpfully delivered them along with their Christmas activities list.
Also, each Scout was given 50 flyers for their parent's workplace. Twelve collection points were also set up in the local Post Office, Pubs, Garage, Nursery, Golf Club, Village Hall and Sports Hall. Parents were also asked to email at least 30 addresses with information on the appeal."
All quotes included in the ‘Top Tips' are from Scout Groups who were either first or second in the Scouts Appeal monthly poll - good people to listen to!
If you would like to add some of your own top tips to this section you can email us at info@scoutsappeal.com or phone 08451 30 20 10. We are always interested to hear how Groups are doing and find out about interesting new ways to collect products.