A guide to getting press coverage
Sending out your press release couldn’t be easier. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Fill in the blanks on your press release template remembering to include any special reason why you chose to take part for WellChild.
2. Go to the website of your local newspaper.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the front page, find the link marked ‘contact us’ and click on it (often this is right at the bottom).
4. On the contacts page find the email address marked ‘News Desk’, ‘Content Editor’ or similar and click on it.
5. Attach your press release to the email along with a photo if you have one.
6. Write a one line email explaining that you are a local person taking part in your challenge to support WellChild’s work for seriously ill children and that you have attached your story.
7. Send the email – that’s it!
PRESS RELEASE
date here - for immediate release
[Your name] is taking part in the 2016 RideLondon cycle race to raise money for sick children
[Your name] of [your town] will be raising money for sick children in the UK when [he/she] takes part in the 2016 Prudential RideLondon cycle event for WellChild, the official charity, on July 31.
[your first name] who works as a [job and place of work] is hoping to raise £(xxx) for WellChild, the national charity for sick children. [His/her] effort will allow WellChild to carry on its work to support thousands of seriously ill children throughout the UK.
[He/she] will join 27,000 other cyclists tackling a challenge like no other through the closed roads of London and the Surrey Hills,a modified version of the London 2012 Olympic Road Race route. WellChild is the official charity team of the 2016 Prudential RideLondon event.
[Your first name] is looking forward to the 100 mile cycle ride and training hard, and [he/she] is busy getting sponsorship from as many people in the area as possible. You can donate to [his/her Virgin Money Giving] page here [insert address of your Virgin Money Giving page]
“There are hundreds of thousands of children in the UK living with long-standing illness or disability. By taking part in the Prudential RideLondon event this year as part of the WellChild team, I hope to help the charity to improve the lives of as many seriously ill children as possible,” [he/she said].
“[Add here in your own words why you decided to cycle for WellChild].”
WellChild Chief Executive Colin Dyer was delighted that [your name] has decided to support WellChild.
“It’s great that [your name] is prepared to take part in the 2016 Prudential RideLondon to help us. For many of the children, young people and families we support, just getting through the day is a huge challenge. The children have an Everest to climb in trying to live the kind of normal life we all take for granted. On their behalf I thank [your name] for all the hard work [he/she] has put in.”
If you would like to support [your name] contact [him/her] on [your phone number/email address/Virgin Money Giving page].
WellChild provides essential and practical support to ensure that the increasing number of seriously ill children and young people in the UK have the best possible quality of care. The charity provides a team of WellChild Children's Nurses who work with families to ensure that children with complex care needs can leave hospital and return home and, through its Helping Hands scheme, WellChild enlists the support of volunteers to tackle practical projects in the homes of sick children. In addition, the charity has invested more than £20 million in ground-breaking children's health research projects.
. For more information about WellChild go to: www.wellchild.org.uk
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
[Your name, phone number and email]
Chris Hill – WellChild
Tel: 01242 530007
Email:
Notes to Editors:
About WellChild: There are thousands of children and young people in the UK living with a serious or complex health condition. WellChild is the national charity working to ensure the best possible care and support for all these children and their families wherever they are and whenever they need it.
· WellChild’s network of WellChild Children’s Nurses provide practical and emotional support to children with serious or complex care needs and their families, enabling them to leave hospital and be cared for at home wherever possible.
· With the support of teams of volunteers, WellChild makes family homes and gardens a better, safer place for children and young people.
· Through the WellChild Family Tree, families of seriously ill children can chat and support each other online and through face-to-face local groups. The charity also provides dedicated support to children with the rare condition Wolfram Syndrome and their families.
· WellChild has invested more than £20 million in ground breaking projects over the past 30 years leading to many improvements in children’s heath spanning from pain relief to liver and kidney disease.
· WellChild ensures that the needs and views of families with very sick children are heard by decision makers.
For more information, please see www.wellchild.org.uk