Running your PTA

If you struggle to get enough volunteers to help out at pre-loved stalls , how about selling online instead ? You could share items on social media for your school community or post listings on Facebook Marketplace for everyone in your local area . This is useful for second-hand school uniform too .

Sometimes auctions can raise a bit more money , especially if the item is a gadget or a collectable . eBay is the best-known platform for this , and has a section specifically for fundraising . Second-hand apps such as Vinted are also hugely popular for clothes and toys .

Have you got an easyfundraising account yet ? With easyfundrasing , you can raise money effortlessly while parents do their online shopping . All you need to do is register your PTA ( it ’ s free and only takes a couple of minutes ) and you ’ re all set ! easyfundraising also provide lots of ready-to-use promotional material that you can share with your school community .

Head to easyfundraising . org / parentkind to register your PTA today

While it ' s not feasible for every event and fundraiser , using local businesses and external suppliers can lift a huge weight off your shoulders . And working with businesses can go beyond events at the school – how about setting up a restaurant fundraiser ? This is how it works :

• Your PTA encourages parents to visit a partner restaurant on a particular night

• Parents mention your PTA when they get the bill

• Your PTA receives a percentage of their bill as commission

That ’ s free press for the restaurant , easy money for your PTA and a night off from cooking for the parents !

Why do you volunteer for your PTA ?

If you struggle to get enough volunteers to supervise the children at events , invite the whole family along ! Whether it ’ s a concert , crafternoon or colour run , making it a family event takes a bit of pressure off your PTA .

Sometimes busy parents would rather donate online than attend an event . Platforms like JustGiving , GoFundMe , Crowdfunder and Donorbox are perfect for this and simple to set up . Not only could you set a target for a project you ’ re looking to fund , but you could also offer a reward when it ’ s reached , like a movie night or a disco .

Don ’ t feel guilty if you have to scale back on your events and fundraising plans . Remind yourself why you do this , and remember that whatever you can do for your school will have a positive impact on children ’ s education .

“ I enjoy the challenges and the skillset it requires . It gives me purpose as I like to be contributing somehow , somewhere .”

“ A desire to give something back to the school , and leave a small legacy for future children in our community .”

“ I ’ m a single parent , work full time and got talked into being the Chair . As hard as it is sometimes managing it all , I get great pleasure from seeing the smiles on the kids ’ faces during a disco or the families at our bigger events and the pride on my daughter ’ s face because her mum made it all happen .”

Photography / illustrations : Lakuku Vector , Simple Line / shutterstock . com ; istock . com / Rawpixel

PARENTKIND . ORG AUTUMN / WINTER 2024 25