Dear supporter
Thank you for taking part in Thrive’s Plant a Difference Campaign. We hope you will feel proud that you will be making a real difference to the life of a disabled gardener by running a plant swap.
One in five people in the UK are living with a disability that they were born with, gained as they age or as a result of an illness or accident. Interest in gardening amongst disabled people is high at almost 30% and one in three believes that it has ongoing health benefits.
Gardening can bring profound change, from improvements in physical or psychological health and wellbeing to adjustments in beliefs, attitudes or behaviours to the transformation of skills, knowledge and abilities.
Every swap counts
Money you raise through your event will be used to help disabled people by sending boxes (that cost £35 each) brimming with baby vegetables, herbs or perennial plants directly to their door to help them discover the benefits of gardening.They can be planted in a window box, in patio containers or in a garden to help them discover the benefits of gardening for themselves.
Gardening can change lives
We know that gardening can bring profound change and improve the quality of life for disabled people. Here are some comments from some Thrive gardeners we have already helped on how gardening has made a real differe nce to their lives:
“Thrive opened up a whole new world for me; it is so exciting and full of joy. I hadn’t realised the fun and thrill of gardening. I have discovered the deep joy of planting and seeing things grow, something I hadn’t experienced before.” Sue who is blind
“I never would have rebuilt my life this quickly without Thrive. Gardening is a powerful tool – it helped me come to terms with my stroke, it helped me learn how to live again.”
Ian who had a stroke
Thank you for your support and thank you on behalf of our disabled gardeners. Enjoy your plant swap.
Nicola Carruthers
Chief Executive
Swap a plant for Thrive
Planning your event
Setting the date, venue and time
You can either add a plant swap to an existing event you are planning or create a new one, whichever suits you best. Why not invite friends and family for a plant swap coffee morning, run a plant swap at work during a lunch hour or at a group you are a member of, or include it in an open gardens event in your town or village? You can ask people to swap a plant or even swap produce – from jams and cakes to vegetables.
You can make your event as big or as small as you want. You can simply invite a few friends or invite your whole community, work colleagues or group members. The more people who join in, the more help you will be giving to disabled gardeners.
The plant swap events are due to take place between April and September 2010 inclusive but if your event falls outside these timescales, don’t worry, we will still ensure the money you raise is used to send a box to a disabled gardener.
If you also raise any money running raffles or auction, charging an entrance fee or bring and buy sales, this money can also be used to buy a plant box for a disabled gardener.
You may want to contact local nurseries and growers to see if they will donate plants to sell to raise money or contact local businesses and ask them to donate raffle prizes.
Promoting your event
Free event listings
There are lots of local website including local papers, radio stations and local council websites where you can register details of your event for free.
Invitations
To keep costs down, you can download invitations from our website www.thrive.org.uk, that you can fill-in and give to your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. You can photocopy these or print out more as you need them. If you are not able to do this, call us on 0118 988 5688 and we can send you printed copies.
Posters
You can download posters from our website at www.thrive.org.uk, that you can fill in and display on local noticeboards, in shops, libraries, offices schools, churches or your local shopping centre. You can photocopy these or print out more as you need them. If you are not able to do this, call us on 0118 988 5688 and we can send you printed copies.
Publicity
If you are planning an event, it is a good idea to send details to your local newspapers, radio and TV stations. You can also include this information in any newsletters you produce or put them on your website if you have one. Your plant swap is a great opportunity to get publicity to attract more people to come to your event, for your organisation and Thrive.
Publicity opportunities
There will be several opportunities for getting publicity which could include:
· before your plant swap event send a press release with your event details and invite the local media to attend the event.
There is a press release template on the next page which you can use to send out to local media.
· after your event, send a photo of your event along with how much money you have raised for Thrive. Colourful pictures of people actually swapping plants, looking at the camera and smiling would be great. Don’t forget to get permission from those people in the photograph and to take down their full names and where they live – the local papers will need this.
Photographs
If you would like photographs of some of the people Thrive helps, please let us know and we can send you some. These can be used on your internet site, blogs, in your newsletter or be sent out with your press release to local media.
For more information on publicity, please contact please call us on 0118 988 5688 or email us at .
Press release template For immediate release
Swap a plant for Thrive
(Name of village/organisation) is holding a Thrive Plant Swap at their (name of event) on (insert date) at (insert location) between (insert opening and closing times). This event will include (insert details of event and instructions for the plant swap)
This event is part of Thrive’s Plant a Difference campaign asking gardeners around the country to hold plant swaps between April and September 2010, to make a real difference to the life of a disabled gardener.
The money raised will be used to help disabled people by sending boxes brimming full of baby vegetables, herbs or perennial plants, directly to their door. They can be planted in a window box, in patio containers or in the garden to help people discover the benefits of gardening for themselves.
Thrive is a small national (local if close to Reading or Battersea) charity that helps people with a disability use gardening to improve their physical and psychological health. Gardening can bring profound change to many from those recovering from a stroke or accident, those coping with the early stages of dementia to young people with autism or learning disabilities.
(Insert name/organisation/organiser who can give a quote) says “insert quote
...... ”
Pippa Greenwood, gardening writer and broadcaster, says “This is another brilliant idea from Thrive. Not only does it encourages people to swap plants, and probably swap anecdotes, advice and smiles in the process, but also raises money to give plants to disabled people. Using small garden-ready plants is a great way to help people get started in gardening and once they’ve experienced this, I’m sure that many will be hooked for years to come.”
To find out more, contact (insert name of organiser, website, phone number etc).
- Ends -
(Insert date)
On the day
How much to charge for a swap?
It is advisable to ask for a minimum donation per swap and you may
want to vary this according to the type or size and plants or produce
being swapped.
Make donations worth even more
Using Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, Thrive gets an extra 28p from the Inland Revenue, helping your donations go further, and it doesn’t cost you a penny.
Use the Gift Aid form on the next page and photocopy extra copies if necessary. It is a good idea to nominate a Gift Aid Collector to encourage people to fill in their details at your event. You could produce a badge for them so people know what their role is.
Remember we need each person’s home address details as well as yours, as the organiser, to be able to claim that extra 28p from the Government and only UK tax payers can increase their donations by Gift Aid.
Contribute even more with Gift Aid
Organisers name ......
Organiser’s address ......
Postcode ...... +
If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can use Gift Aid to increase the value of every £1 you donate by 28p. Please read the declaration below, then fill out your name, home address and postcode, along with the total you have donated. Finally simply tick the Gift Aid box. We will only use your details to claim Gift Aid. *Thrive fully complies with the Data Protection Act (1998) and respects your privacy and will not pass you details onto any third party.
Full name (title, first name, last name) PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS / Full address with postcode and email address /Tick here / Individual’s Plant Swap donation / Please tick here if you DO NOT want Thrive to contact you*
Things to give out at your plant swap
If you would like something to give out at your event on the day, Thrive has some great free items including balloons and leaflets about Thrive. To order these call us on 0118 988 5688.
People who cannot attend
If people can’t make it to your plant swap, you could ask them to make a donation to Thrive instead. They can use the reverse of their invitation or donate online at www.thrive.org.uk.
After the event
Sending in donations
Please send us the money you have raised as soon as possible after your event.
· By cheque or postal order
Please make these out to Thrive and send to Thrive, Plant Swap, The Geoffrey Udall Centre, Thrive, Beech Hill, Reading RG7 2AT.
Or
· By credit card or debit card – we take Visa, Mastercard, Switch and Maestro.
Please call Thrive on 0118 988 5688 to pay by credit or debit card.
Sending in Gift Aid Forms
Please send your Gift Aid forms to: Thrive, Plant Swap, The Geoffrey Udall Centre,Beech Hill,Reading RG7 2AT.
Keep it safe
We want your event to be fun and enjoyable for all your guests but please make sure everyone who attends is safe and acting within the law.
Thrive cannot accept responsibility for any loss,damage or injury that occurs at your event. Thrive’s insurance does not cover property or personal liability for any injury suffered by yourself or anyone else as a result of taking part in a plant swap event.
Here is a summary of the items available for your Plant Swap:
· Balloons and Thrive leaflets – call 0118 988 5688 to order
· Poster and invitations – download from www.thrive.org.uk or call 0118 988 5688 for printed copies if required
· Gift Aid forms, publicity guidelines, press release template – within this pack
To save money,please download as many of these as you can from our website www.thrive.org.uk.
And finally have a great Plant Swap.
Good luck!!