What we're giving back through #LetsPledge

Here's what our Head of Fundraising, Sam Wood, has to say about the #LetsPledge campaign:

Just a few short weeks ago we were looking forward to a summer filled with fantastic events and working with our amazing supporters who had all manner of fundraising activities planned to support local families who need a helping hand. It now seems like a lifetime ago – but these families need our help, care and support more than ever.

Like most other charities, we’ve had to make some really difficult decisions to protect our supporters, volunteers and staff and keep everyone safe. In practice that means the vast majority of our planned fundraising activity for the foreseeable future is either cancelled or very uncertain.

Although we can’t put a figure on how much we will be financially affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, we anticipate that it could cost our charity millions of pounds in lost income. This will impact our services, and the families who need us, in so many ways:

The heartbroken families going through the utter devastation of losing a child. The terrified families who would otherwise be rushed to an overcrowded hospital for emergency care for their vulnerable child, putting unnecessary strain on them and on our NHS. The anxious families forced into 12-week isolation to keep their children safe, waiting for a light at the end of the tunnel.

We can be the light at the end of the tunnel for so many local families.

As Bluebell Wood’s Head of Fundraising, I PLEDGE that my team and I will do all that we can to keep funding our lifeline services through hard work and dedication - but we’ll need your help too…

#LETSPLEDGE! We need people in our community to PLEDGE their support – whatever this might be and whenever they’re in a position to do so - to make sure we can continue to there for the most vulnerable in our society. As we all face such uncertainty, it is understandable that we focus on the here and now, but when we come through the other side we’re going to need all the help we can get.

This PLEDGE could be something you do now, such as getting the kids to run a mini marathon, committing to exercising every day and putting a pound in the jar at the end of the week for your efforts. Or it could be challenging yourself in the future to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, to leap out of a plane in a sponsored skydive or to take on one of the many walks, runs or marathons that raise so much for charities like Bluebell Wood.  These PLEDGES will help Bluebell Wood to plan a way through these tough times.

Perhaps you have always wanted to volunteer, maybe you would like to host a Friday Quiz with your colleagues or friends and family, or donate all those pre-loved clothes that you’ve now found the time to sort through. It could even be something as simple as calling your neighbour for a chat to see how they are – we all need to support each another.

We recognise that times are tough, so we’re not asking for a financial gift or a contract of commitment. We simply ask for ‘pinkie promise’ between you and Bluebell Wood that we’ll be there to support one another, however we can.

LetsPledge now to give us all something to focus on though these unprecedented times, something to look forward to. Throughout this crisis, as communities have pulled together, we’ve seen the very best of our society. We’re so proud to be a part of this.

Thank you for all you do for Bluebell Wood, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Click here to go back to our #LetsPledge campaign.