Please help us to spread the word
#CMThreePointFourChallenge
#SaveCM
Thank You
We are so grateful you have decided or are thinking about fundraising for Communication Matters.
We support people of all ages and conditions who find it hard to communicate because they have little or no clear speech. Our vision is to live in a world where all individuals have a right to a voice through the provision of communication solutions and ongoing support services.
As a charity Communication Matters relies on membership income and donations to raise funds for its vital work. In particular, to support Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users and those that work with them. Fundraising also generates awareness – of the needs of AAC users, AAC in general, Communication Matters and the work we do.
This guide should give you some ideas on what you could do to help fundraise for Communication Matters (CM) and have fun doing it!
We can help you with your fundraising too, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch at any time by emailing admin@communicationmatters.org.uk.
Good luck with your fundraising!
Our day to day work has at its heart, the sharing of information with those who have communication disabilities, their families and those who work with them in any capacity.
We estimate that 0.5% of the UK population require some type of AAC and approximately 0.05% of the UK population require powered communication aids (reference: Shining A Light Report).
Your money would help us continue to:
You may have heard of The 2.6 Challenge which took place on 26th April 2020. This was a national virtual fundraising effort for various UK Charities after the cancellation of the London Marathon. Supporters were encouraged to take up the 2.6 Challenge and do any activity relating to a 2 and a 6 or 26. For example, running 2.6 miles or flipping 26 pancakes in a row!
We would like to take our own twist on this online event and host the Communication Matters 3.4 Challenge!
Our 34th AAC Conference was due to be held on 13-15th September 2020, but sadly had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. The conference is a brilliant opportunity for the AAC community to come together and learn and share knowledge about AAC, network and dance! Many AAC users have said how much they will miss the conference as it is like meeting up with family and they will especially miss the social aspects of the conference.
We have had a huge loss of income this year and the charity may not be able to continue without significant funding come Summer 2021. That’s why we are calling on you and the rest of the fantastic AAC community to come together at this difficult time and raise these much-needed funds for CM.
The 2020 Conference was our 34th anniversary year and so we would like you to try your own 3.4 Challenge at some point between 21st March 2021 (one year since lockdown) and 3rd April 2021 (3/4).
The challenge is open to anyone. All you need to do is think of an activity based around the numbers 3, 4, 34, or 3.4 that suits your skills and complete it between 21st March and 3rd April. You can do it at home and raise funds from your very own living room, bedroom, balcony, or garden!
You could pledge to run 3.4 miles, do 34 minutes of yoga, or juggle for 3.4 minutes non-stop!
We rely on voluntary donations, so every penny you raise really will help us make a difference.
Our initial target is £3,400, but we’d love to raise even more! Along with fitting the 3.4 theme, it will enable us to continue sharing vital resources with those who have communication disabilities and the wider AAC community, and it would help to see the charity through this difficult period.
If you manage to raise £100 please let us know and we will send you a free CM goody bag!
If 34 people can raise £100 each, or if 68 people can raise £50 each, this would mean we reach our target, but of course … we need you!
Your local paper will be interested in your fundraising and why you’re doing it (your personal story), especially if you’re doing something unusual. Your story has a greater chance of success if it’s sent with a picture, so ask friends and family to take high quality pictures on the day – pre, post and during your event.
In law you must ensure that all donations and sponsorship money from your event is paid to Communication Matters. You must inform potential donors if any of the funds you raise will not be paid to the charity.
Please understand that if you do something that threatens or damages the name or reputation of CM we will ask you to stop fundraising.
Make sure you conduct a risk assessment to identify any risks or hazards for your challenge.
If you are under 18, your parent/guardian is responsible for you – please show them this pack and make sure they are happy with what you’ve chosen to do.
#CMThreePointFourChallenge
#SaveCM