Top tips for supporting a charity as part of your business from Rockinghorse Children's Charity

Thinking of supporting a charity as a business? Rockinghorse Children's Charity - who work with Sussex hospitals, respite centres and specialist services, funding projects which focus on improving children's physical and emotional well-being, while providing additional support services to parents and carers - give their top tips!

Why support charity?

With so many wonderful charities and causes to support, both locally and nationally across the country, it’s important to choose a charity that’s not only close to your heart, but one that fits well with your business.

Corporate Social Responsibility, better known as CSR, can prove to be a great attribute for your business – no matter how big or small it may be.

Many charities rely solely on the support and generosity of local businesses, community groups, and individuals; people just like you.

By working with a charity, you will not only be providing vital support to its cause, but it will also provide a great PR opportunity for you, so that you can share the good news with clients and shoppers.

I mean, who doesn’t love a business that has a charitable ethos!

Why choose Rockinghorse?

Rockinghorse is a charity that has been supporting sick and disadvantaged babies, children and young people in Sussex for over 50 years.

Founded in 1967, Rockinghorse is best known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (the Alex) in Brighton. The charity raises money for life-saving and cutting-edge medical equipment, while ensuring that children are treated in an environment better suited to their needs.

Rockinghorse also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit (TMBU) in Brighton and its sister site, the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in Haywards Heath. Its support stretches right across Sussex, funding projects at respite centres, paediatric services and neonatal units across the county.

Working in partnership with children’s services in Sussex, Rockinghorse strives to make them stimulating and accessible for the many babies, children and young people who need them. The charity does not receive any government funding and relies on the generosity of the general public.

How can you support Rockinghorse?

There are all sorts of ways that your business can work with a charity like Rockinghorse.  

Many companies choose to nominate a dedicated ‘Charity of the Year’, whereby they choose to focus their support across a 12-month period. By doing so, staff can individually engage with the charity and focus their fundraising to a particular project or cause.

Nominating Rockinghorse as Charity of the Year will allow you to set a target for your business, so that you can raise a certain amount of money. This can be done through a number of fundraising initiatives with involvement from your staff.

If pledging your support for an entire year isn’t your cup of tea, then there are many other ways to support a small charity such as Rockinghorse…

You can get involved in a Rockinghorse event – there are plenty to choose from! Throughout the year the charity hosts a variety of fundraising events. They include sporting lunches, an annual gala Ball, and many challenge-led events, such as the Brighton Half Marathon. There really is something for everyone.

Organising your own event is also a great way to raise money – and it can be as simple or as crazy as you like! Ideas could include a pub quiz, football tournament, cocktail evening or second-hand clothing sale.

But it’s not just about the money! Small charities like Rockinghorse also rely on the generosity of businesses who can provide what’s known as ‘gifts in kind’. These are products, goods and other services that are of huge benefit to the charity and how it operates.

Volunteering is another great way to pledge your support. Rockinghorse relies on the generosity of volunteers to help execute fundraising events across the county.

How can Rockinghorse support you?

Choosing to support a charity really is a two-way thing. To get the best out of the partnership, it’s important to develop a working relationship so that both parties are maximising the opportunities it can provide.

At Rockinghorse, every relationship is a collaborative experience. You’ll work with the charity’s dedicated Corporate Fundraising Manager who’ll be able to support and advise you every step of the way along your fundraising journey.

The charity will provide you with branded marketing materials, such as a fundraising pack, to help get you started. Their PR and Communications Manager will also help to support you with social messaging and an online presence.

What’s the next step?

Get in touch! If you’re thinking of supporting a charity, then Rockinghorse would love to hear from you. They have an office based in central Brighton and are more than happy to arrange a face-to-face meeting or a chat over the phone.

Call them on 01273 330044 or email . To find out more about the charity, visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk.

Why not check out their social pages and give them a follow, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too.

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