Car Boots and Paranoia...

09/06/13

Saturdays car boot sale went well. I raised a total of £27. It may not seem like much but that almost covers the cost of my Yellow Fever injection, which is £31!  It was a beautiful day and I have sun burn to prove it. On tuesday I have my Yellow Fever and my medical examination.

I had my Chest X-ray - a visa requirement - on Friday. It was an interesting experience. I had to remove all clothing from the top half of my body and put an open-back gown on. To make me feel even worse, the woman in charge opened the door while I was still getting changed, with no warning. As I entered the x-ray room, the first thing she said was "you paid yet?" in a snappy tone. Way to prove its all about the money.

The actual x-ray was simple enough - stand with your chest against the metal plate, arms back, hold your breath. It was over in seconds and before I knew it I was putting my clothes back on.

I then headed to reception to pay the £55 fee. I hope the nurse noticed me cringe as I handed over the money. After a little wait, I was issued with my report. Easy as that. And thankfully, I don't have TB, a heart condition or any other life threatening disease. The report simply said: No enlarged heart. Unremarkable lungs. No focal lung abnormality to note...

Money and Mourning...

08/05/2013

I'm very sad. The Email regarding our placement details has been postponed once again. At first it was pure excitement and anticipation but after nearly three weeks of thinking "it's definitely coming tomorrow" I feel empty! It won't be here until next week. I am trying not to get my hopes up though. Of course, I do understand completely, it's a difficult process for Project Trust: deciding the fates of so many volunteers! 

I have a car boot sale on Saturday. I know what your thinking. Why on earth would I willingly attend a car boot sale once I have already finished fundraising? Spending money! If you haven't been following my blog - go back to the beginning and start now. Only joking...

If you haven't been reading my blog, I need to raise an extra £1000 on top of the £5400 already raised for Project Trust. The grand however is for me, for spending money. If like me you don't have any savings to dip into, it's quite difficult to make a grand in a limited amount of time! We are not aloud to raise it in the name of the charity. I don't have a job, making the task even more impossible. So you might be surprised to hear I have already saved £500! This has come purely from car boot sales and my student bursary (cheap student here.) I am positive that I will reach the £1000. My family are sponsoring me to climb Goat Fell this month. I think it's a great idea because they know the money is to cover personal costs whilst i'm overseas...and they want to see me attempt a mountain.

Sorry if my blog is a little boring recently... I have pictures to add. Until next time!

11/05/2013
Unfortunately the car boot sale was cancelled but i'm sure there will be many more.

Fundraising Overview

21/04/2013

I have decided to do a little summary of the past ten months. Life has been so hectic since my selection course, fundraising has been my life for almost a year! Here is a breakdown of how I managed to raise £5445 for Project Trust.

June

Return from selection on 15th. I raise £33 at a car boot sale and receive a generous £100 from the local radio station.

July

With help from my friends I raise £480 from a 15 mile sponsored walk. £20 donation. £64 from a car boot sale.

August

£63 from two car boot sales. £30 from spare change tin. £3.50 donation.

September

£90 from three car boot sales. I won a plasma TV and sold it for £90. £300 cheque from charitable trust. £100 cheque from charitable trust. 

October

£37 from car boot sale. £100 cheque from charitable trust. £500 cheque from charitable trust. £250 cheque from charitable trust. £650 donation from Barony St Johns after giving a presentation.

November

£135 from Fashion Show. Raised £20 at car boot sale.

December

Quiet month. £50 from two spare change tins. £30 donation.

January

Quiet month. £70 worth of donations.

February

£55 from college cake sale. £800 cheque from charitable trust.

March

£100 donation. £30 from car boot sale.

April

£483.91 from Sainsburys bag pack. £30 donation. £190 raised from Bingo. 

Fundraising Complete.

Reflecting on that... October, February and April have been the best months for fundraising. I am so thankful to everyone that has helped me, whether through a donation, attending an event or helping to organize one. I've never achieved something as big as this before... it feels good!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!

12/04/12

FUNDRAISING COMPLETE!

Tonight's Bingo has pushed me over my target of £5400. I am so proud to have finished my fundraising and even more so that I have raised a little extra for Project Trust! After 10 months of fundraising, I'm sure I will miss it! 

Events associated with both Project Trust and money don't end there. I will be doing some serious car booting right up until the moment I leave, to help raise money towards my £1000 spending amount! I may also need to raise some money towards the cost of my visa, but I'm unsure on the details of that.

I have my next two injections on Monday 15th. This time it's for Rabies #2 and Revaxis. Let's hope they are painless! In more exciting news - my project details will be here within 3 weeks!

TOTAL : 5445.72

Here are some photo's from my Bingo Night!

Bingo!

Raffle

packing up at the end

buy buy buy

my leaflet

cup of tea to keep everyone happy

Just a little post...

02/03/13

Just a little post to say that I made £30 at today's car boot sale! This is the most I have made at a Salvation Amry sale, it usually ranges between £2-£15. Everyone was lovely and a few people have even taken my leaflet! I am glad that it's getting it's use. One lady is going to see if I can face paint at a fundraiser she has coming up. I hope this happens, it's on the 30th March so would be a nice little boost at the end of the month. Sorry - I forgot to take pictures today!

The 3rd Project Trust newsletter arrived yesterday and I was very excited to see that my photograph was on it! Here it is...

Not sure why it's flipped, happy face

To read my story from the beginning, click HERE for my very first post.

To donate, Click HERE.

TOTAL £4830

Very happy...

17/02/13

I have officially reached the £4000 mark! My brother has finally given me his promised donation of £100. I am soo happy, I feel like I have crossed a huge milestone. Hopefully my upcoming Bingo, Bag Pack, Sponsored Climb, Car Boots and Cake Sales will cover the remaining £1400 I have to raise! So, so, so very happy. :) To donate or check out my new total, click HERE.

In more news, I have a doctors appointment on the 26th February. Hopefully I'll be able to book the six (so far ) injections (not fun) that I am required to get (why, oh why). There is also a parent's meeting on the 17th March. Unfortunately this is the same day as my little sisters 5th birthday party. I am hoping I will make it home in time to see her there! Especially since I won't be here for her next birthday. Me and my mum will be attending, I look forward to her meeting the amazing people that are Project Trust!

TOTAL £4025

Goodbye January...

30/01/13

Now that January is coming to an end, I think it's time to sum it up! So here goes...

Lonely, I'm Mr Lonely, I have nobody.

That empty, dark and cold room above is an accurate summary of January 2013. Really, nothing has happened! I should have arranged a bake sale at college, heard back from a Charitable Trust and attended a car boot sale, but I didn't! After numerous phone calls, I couldn't get a hold of the people in charge of the car boot sale. I also should have heard back from a certain charitable trust, but have not yet. They promised - so I hope to hear back soon! I'm afraid I don't have an excuse for the bake sale...I'll sort that tomorrow! (promise) January wasn't such a waste of time however and I shouldn't be mean...I have earned £30 through doing nothing! My Uncle John donated £20 and my friend Ruth donated £10! I'm also due a £100 donation from my Brother... any day now he says...

Ruth and me, thanks Ruthyness.

Fundraising flew by between July and December, leaving me out of breath with £3800 to prove it. Perhaps a lazy January was necessary to relax and get things in order...but now it's time to get the ball rolling again! I'll give myself a personal target of raising at least £150 before March 1st. Hopefully, with a Sponsored Climb on the 23rd and a bake sale at college, I'll make more than that! 

And here is me during the fundraising uprising...

February is the new January. It's definitely a fresh start, I'm on track with college and have paid off the unwanted Avon bill that working with them resulted in. I also have my passport application ready to send off, horray! Oh and I have a date for my Africa themed photo shoot at college, Wednesday 6th! Hopefully it goes well...if it doesn't I'll pretend I never mentioned it :D Project Trust just had "Africa Week" and there were loads of stories/poems/photo's going up on their Project Trust Facebook page, it was great!

Hope you all had a wonderful January and are enjoying my new Photos-to-lighten-the-blog-Idea...if there is in fact anyone who reads my blog! WOO, just went to check my Virgin Money Giving and I have a £50 donation from my Uncle Ian, amazing! People are so generous! Click HERE to donate! February come at me...

TOTAL £3865

31/01/13

As you can see, I kept up to my promise! I officially have an upcoming Cake Sale at college! Wednesday 13th, Reid Kerr College, 10am-2pm and outside the main canteen! I will be selling all sorts of cakes and biscuits, valentines goodies, handmade cards and I will even hold a raffle to win a massive box of chocolates...Last year my class had to hold a cake sale and my table alone raised £80! I'm looking forward to it (: P.s, I had a feeling most people would look up Project Trust, realize they are too old and not buy a cake (sad world) ...hence "and other companies."

What Lies Ahead...

10/01/13

Just a little post to let you all know what's lined up...

Right Now: Sponsored Diet. I spread the word to all of my contacts on Facebook that anyone looking to start a New Years Diet should get motivated by raising money for Project Trust at the same time. My friend Amy is the first to agree and will start on Monday! I am currently creating a sponsorship form for her and hope that more people will take to the idea.

23rd February: Sponsored Hike - Goat Fell, Arran. If you would like to join this event please get in contact with me. The more the merrier! I so far have six friends helping out and I am still hoping for more. My Brother - who has become suspiciously fond of my leaving for a year - is also joining in! There will be a £50 cash prize for the person who can raise most money!

6th April: Bag Packing at Sainsburys Superstore, Irvine. I am looking forward to this as it is a hugeeee store. Hopefully it will raise plenty of pennies! I will need lot's of volunteers so again, contact me if you would like to help!

12th April: Bingo Night, Ardrossan. I am so pleased that this has been arranged! A family member who organizes Bingo Games now and then has arranged this for me which I am very grateful for. All money from the night will go towards my fundraising and I think it could be anything between £100-£400, amazing!

I am also going to arrange a Cake and Card stall at College and I am super sure there are plenty of Car Boot sales to come! (If you haven't been following my Blog - In the past 7 months I have attended almost 20!)

TOTAL £3805

12/01/13

I have been given a Ipod Touch - 4th Generation to sell! It comes with everything in the box, earphones are unopened, all instructions are there, charge cable... even the apple sticker! There is also a screen protector and leather case for it. Ipod is in perfect condition, it has been reset to factory settings. The only problem is the scratches on the back... but who can stop them from happening? it's impossible! they aren't too bad anyway. So if anyone fances a new Ipod, contact me! I'm open to offers. The money for this is going to cover the cost of my new Passport :)

16/01/13
Good News! For those of you that have been following my Blog, I heard back from the Poetry Competition! Unfortunately I didn't come first and win the £1000... However, they have been so taken with my poem that they have asked my permission to publish it in an upcoming book! I'm very excited :) In more news, I have received a £20 donation from an uncle that has worked many a times in Africa! 

Snow is falling...

12/12/12

NOT REALLY :P There hasn't yet been a drop of snow in Ardrossan, hopefully there will be soon though! I don't really have much to say, but I couldn't miss posting a blog on the 12-12-12! My aunt who works in a salon has given me lots of fantastic things to sell at my next car boot sale... curlers, hairdryers, products, grooming kits...loads and all in fantastic condition! So If you happen to be looking for anything, let me know. I have managed to find and apply to a few more trusts in the past days, so I hope that brings in some more pennies :) I can't believe I have had £1250 from Charitable Trusts, the generosity! In non-fundraising related news, I have a Geek Chic Photo shoot at college tomorrow...can't wait!
20/12/12

Today I got a very generous donation of £20 from Roy, a classmate! I appreciate it so much, for someone I have only just met to donate!

TOTAL £3725

21/12/12

Today I opened fundraising tin #2. It has been in my dads house for several months. There was £30 in it, same as last time! amazing how you can raise money from something you don't even notice, just chuck pennies in now and then. Definitely getting another one!

TOTAL £3755

25/12/12

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you have all had a fantastic day, I have! Can't help but wonder what this time next year will be like. Very excited that it will soon be 2013 and the year of my departure! Have a good one! xx

28/12/12

Live blog! I am currently on route to Glasgow for a Project Trust coffee morning... afternoon? Unfortunately my parents are both working today so neither could come along. However in place of my parents I have...my Brother! And with the Brother comes the Brother's friend and vehicle. Oh goodness. I'm not too sure what to expect because I have no parents with me, but I think it will just be informal conversations about our year overseas. I will report back later but for now I leave you with exactly how I feel in this car! (above)
Several Hours Later
The coffee (hot chocolate) morning (afternoon) was great! It was a bit tricky finding the coffee shop and once I got there I awkwardly hovered about for 20 minutes before plucking up the courage to say HI I'M JASMINE. After I had settled in, my brother bought me a huge hot chocolate (with my money) and shortly left. Best hot chocolate ever, i'm not a coffee person. I met some lovely girls, one is a 8 month volunteer leaving for Namibia in January and the other leaves when I do but for Chile! A member of staff was there as well as 2 returned Guyana volunteers and other volunteers departing when I do. It was very informal, a nice way to swap fundraising ideas, excitement and stories. P.s I got a train home, no need to worry about making it home alive in THAT car in the dark.

29/12/12
 I have a couple of updates where charitable trusts are concerned. I had an email reply from a trust today informing me that they are arranging an interview! This is fantastic however they require all Project Details before the interview (May) unfortunately May is when I receive my Project Details! So I only hope that I receive them before the interview takes place.
 I have also today sent a letter out to another Trust, this one was recommended by Project Trust. After difficulty in finding a mentor (it is the Christmas holidays - no college lecturers) I have finally decided to use my older brother. No where does it say that family members cannot be a monitor. It is not like a reference, just someone to vouch that you will raise the funds and are embarking on a safe project.
 So wish me luck with both of these Trusts!

Will I make £4000 before Christmas?...

16/11/12

 The fashion show finally pulled together and in the end, raised £115! There wasn't much of a turn out but it was still a great night and everyone enjoyed it. It was nice to see old friends turning up to help too! I definitely raised more than £20 from the raffle, that was my target so i'm very pleased! I have also to go back to The Dressing Room in two weeks to collect 10% of everything they have earned through the people I invited to the fashion show! Lot's of people were buying things and they have the chance to buy from the shop over the next two weeks too. Big Thanks to Megan Taggart, Sarah Morman, Emma McDermot, Jasmine Park and Shelley Lindsay for being my beautiful models! and of course to The Dressing Room for making the evening possible.

 I'm still hoping to have £4000 by Christmas, it feels like a long shot but i'll try!

TOTAL £3555

20/11/12

 I can't believe I am STILL waiting for The Directory of Grant Making Trusts to be available in my local library, argh. I'm finding my Fundraising - College balance to be a little off scale, I've had a difficult block at college and keep forgetting little things I need to do, my mind is in so many places at once! I'm loving fundraising though and I love college so I guess I just need to try harder.

 Gran gave me another bag of 20p's adding up to £10!
24/11/12
Car boot sale today only raised £10! It was very quiet because something bigger was going on elsewhere in the town. It's still £10 though and every little counts! I'm not very sure about what my fundraising event for Christmas will be, I need to pay for the venue but don't really want to so i'm on the hunt for a freebie. I am hoping to hold it in the same pub where I had my fashion show. I might personalize a shirt or something to wear at my car boot sales, no matter how many posters/leaflets I put all around my table people still come along and leave without saying a word about Project Trust and what I'm doing!
 Now to another topic, I love Christmas! I'm not religious but I enjoy the high spirits and the decorations and the sharing of gifts but my mum on the other hand... every year she says "nope, Christmas is cancelled this year!" while she walks around in her black "BAH HUMBUG" Santa hat. In the end she caves in and we have the Christmas tree twinkling away in the corner and the advent calendar waiting to be eaten in the middle of the night. So anyway, I've decided she is going full out this Christmas, chocolates on the tree, extra sweets in the calendar, Holly Wreath on the door, Santa and co. ornaments on the fireplace, stockings pinned below them and don't forget the big Christmas dinner! I bought her a little sparkly owl tree decoration at the car boot sale today, so she can't turn down the tree! I have no idea what my South African Christmas will be like next year, can't even imagine! So that's why I want a big happy Christmas with typical Christmassy things this year!
 Later on this evening. I just wanted to mention that my local school, Ardrossan Academy, the one which I only left last summer, has been completely ignoring me! I have E-mailed the Head Mistress twice and have also sent a printed letter in the post to the school! Now i'm not sure if it's just me, but i'm pretty sure they are required to get back to you. PS: I send the letters months ago, as in, July. Argh. It is quite upsetting really, because when I return from my Gap Year, I might be asked to go along and talk to the school about Project Trust... I would love to... but all I'll be able to think of is "don't count on them for any support!". Maybe they are yet to get back to me... It's just a surprise, I thought they would be of the first to help me out.
 I've been complaining a lot recently... I think it's just college stress... I promise things will get happier!

TOTAL £3575

26/11/12

If you have been following my blog from the beginning, you will know that I won a television in a raffle at one of my car boot sales a while ago. So I was going to hold a competition, with the TV being the raffle prize but unfortunately, not enough people are interested in entering! So instead I am just going to sell the TV, with the money going towards my fundraising.
28/11/12
I SOLD THE TV! I was surprised that it was actually a friend, Haley who bought it! It sold for £80... considering I won the TV in a raffle, I am so happy with that! I'm booking a stall at a Christmas fair for 6th December. I don't think my Christmas fundraising party will happen.

TOTAL £3655

Fashion Show booked, things are going well...

18-10-12

Today everything was finally confirmed with my fashion show, so pleased! The venue can hold over 50 people, so hopefully i'll be able to sell more than 50 tickets which will alone raise £225. I will also be having a raffle as I have some goodies to give away! I'm hoping to raise around £300 from the night, that would be perfect. So here is the completed poster which will hopefully soon be all over the place! Local ladies will be modelling the clothes (from The Dressing Room). I've been surprised at how many people would like to model! I've also managed to raise a further £30 from ebay.. I'm awaiting payments and then I will put it onto my Virgin Money Giving... THIS IS GOING TO BOOST ME TO £2000!! yaaaaaaay. I won't write my new total until it's confirmed. I have a car boot sale this Saturday, a car boot sale next  Saturday and then then Sunday I recieve my cheque from Barony St. Johns! (note from later on this night - Ebay money is now on Virgin Money Giving )

TOTAL - £2000!

20-10-12

I've had my first failure. I hope this doesn't bring on a parade of failures. I've been really excited about this giant and spectacular indoor car boot sale that all of the car booter's rave about... and then the van broke down. So unfortunately I won't be able to make it. I also had to pay for my table via cheque a week ago! So I'm hoping I will get to use this payment for the next car boot sale. I'm so sad. This one was going to be on from 9am until 3pm today! 6 HOURS LONG I COULD HAVE MADE SO MUCH. Oh well.  Everything has been going so well so i'll just see this as a little bump in the road and wait for my next car boot sale (next week). To leave you on a happy note, I made another £15 on Ebay last night! I'm also hoping to hold a fundraising Christmas party in December.

TOTAL £2015

24 -10 -12

 My posts are getting really close together again but there is just so much news!! I JUST GOT ANOTHER CHEQUE! £500! From charitable trust's I have now had 6 negative responses and 4 positives, not a bad balance! £1000 in total from charitable trusts, it is DEFINITELY worth it! I am still waiting for the Directory of Grant Making Trusts to become available in my local library, all trusts I have written to so far have been found online. I have made around £60 on ebay which is great, I'm now picking out the good stuff from my car boot sales to put on Ebay instead, they sell for so much more! I'm really positive about reaching my target now that things are speeding up. I'm hoping to reach it early so I can raise a bit of money for spending money! I was hoping to raise £3000 by the end of November, but now I know i'll raise more than that! I really can't believe how well things are going... it's a shock!

TOTAL £2515

25 - 10 - 12

GUESS WHAT? I got another cheque today! This is the second time that I have recieved a cheque two days in a row. Where is all of this luck coming from?! It was for a big juicy £250. Today is one of those days that I wish time would go faster! I still can't believe this is happening and that this time next year, I'll be in South Africa! wooooooo hooooooo.

TOTAL £2765

28 - 10 - 12

Today I went to Barony St Johns to collect my cheque of... £650!!  I can't thank them enough. They are a local church that I have had no previous connections with and yet they have been so generous! My total is now looking great and i'm hoping to have £4000 by Christmas!!

TOTAL £3415

10 -11 -12

 For those of you that have been reading this from the beginning... I quit Avon!! They were over charging me and under paying me and forever sending me the wrong things. Don't even get me started on the delivery guy who launches the delivery boxes into the house like there's no tomorrow. I'm proud for standing up for myself and quitting. I had ended up loosing money rather than earning it so it's definitely for the best. I handed my customers over to my friend Jasmine (yes Jasmine) so I'm hoping they treat her well and she gets a lot out of it!! I'm now fully focusing on my fundraising. 

 Things have been a little slow since I received my £650 cheque and I don't like the feeling of not getting anywhere! However I did just receive a £15 donation on my VMG so things are still happening slowly but surely. My fashion show is this Thursday, the only thing I'm worried about is not many people turning up! we will see. I received a raffle prize of 2 family day swim passes from the Sea mill Hydro for the Fashion Show (thank you). My fundraising has gone far beyond my expectations, to have reached my March target in November feels so amazing! I am still reading blogs, it's great now that the 2012 volunteers have just settled in at their projects, so I can follow how their year goes and when it's over, mine will begin! 

 I have booked a venue for my Christmas fundraising party! Unfortunately I need to pay for the venue so I'm keeping my eyes open for other options while it's still early.
 Don't think I've mentioned it yet but I have a personnal target of reaching £4000 by Christmas. With my fashion show this week and a fundraising Christmas party It looks possible. I'm sure it's possible if I really try! And even more possible with the help of others so please, pretty please donate straight to Project Trust here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=JasminesYearToAfrica&faId=227525&isTeam=false :D

 It's crazy when I realize it has been nearly 5 months since my selection course and being selected... In fact 5 months ago today I was settling into backpackers in Oban, ready to leave for Coll the next day...WHERE HAS TIME GONE?! Time has completely flown by! It's a nice feeling. I want time to fly by until I leave... but I want my time in Africa to last forever! (Hopefully I'll still be saying that when I get there.)

 I'll try not to post until after my fashion show. Hopefully next time you hear from me i'll be over the moon with how much money it raised. Fingers crossed :) 

TOTAL £3430

14/11/12

 My four year old sister just decided to inform us that "all African people drink from puddles". When asking "where on earth did you get that from?!" she replied, "My nursery teachers told me". I can't stop thinking about it now... of all the things nursery children could be learning about the world they live in, they get taught nonsense like that! Even worse, Emily is now convinced this is the truth and will be repeating it and repeating it and repeating it.
 Anyway, I think this blog should be about the up's and downs of my fundraising, something I can remember a year from now. So i'm having doubts about my Fashion Show, worrying that not many people are going to turn up! I've estimated about 30 people, which will bring in £135, that's still really good because it hasn't cost me anything to hold.. but I had originally estimated I would raise about £300! I know it's tomorrow so I should just wait and see... but I want to know how it goes... now! It's quite upsetting that the only friends I have coming are models, so they don't pay to get in. I did think more friends would come but oh well :( I will be having a raffle too and have been trying really hard to get some good prizes, so I hope that raises more than £20... but the less people there the less raffle tickets I will sell! Rant over...
 On a more positive note, those that ARE coming have been wonderful. Girls I have never even met have been volunteering to model and help out and that's just amazing and so kind! And my friend Jasmine and her mum have managed to sell around 6 tickets for me which is great, thank you!
15/11/12
I'm so frustrated all I can do is laugh, hahahahaha! The Dressing Room decided to inform me - on the day of my fashion show - that my model's have to be at their shop before 5 to get outfits chosen. I feel so terrible, all of my models have been wonderful and have all planned to be at the venue for 7 and now I've had to change the plans! I just hope they can all still make it :/ I have a really good pile of raffle prizes so there better be a good turn out :( emotions right now: panick, upset, frustrated, feel guilty for my models.

First cheque and hit target early....

26 - 09 - 12

Today I was very lazy, I slept in until around 1ish...which I know is really bad...and I swear usually i'm skipping about waiting for the post!

Anyhoo, I wake up to a letter sitting on top of me and Instantly I felt really nervous... to be honest I expected it to be another negative response from a trust... but then a £300 cheque fell out!! I have my first cheque and i'm so happy!! For some reason I thought i'd be the only person to never recieve a check...ever!! Note to self: stop doubting. This means I have officially beat my November target of £1500, and I'm still waiting on the cheque from Barony St Johns! 

TOTAL - £1618

27 - 09 - 12 

NO WAY! I GOT ANOTHER CHEQUE TODAY! It's crazy, yesterday I was over the moon about getting my first charitable trust cheque, and then I get one the next day! It's for a brilliant £100. Thats £400 easy money in 2 days, crrraaaaazzzzzzyyyyyyy.

TOTAL - £1718

29 - 08 - 12

Car Boot sale raised £31, not bad! I met a lady from South Africa today, thats the second since I started fundraising... small world!  I thought I should brighten up my blog a little with some photos. Heres me making cakes for my car boot, at the car boot and no, I don't always look like that when I smile!

Thought this was quite funny

Loads to sell, my leaflet, yummy cakes and South Africa fruit stickers on my money tin!

30 - 09 - 12

I seem to have news everyday, sorry if it's boring! Well I got paid £50 today for photographing a friends granddaughter, it's going towards my fundraising. And she has very kindly spread the word about my photography so hopefully I'll have a few more shoots to do! I also got £200 from photographing  a wedding 3 weeks ago, so thats £250 raised from my photography! Barony St Johns contacted me, they have already raised £650!!!!! I can''t believe it, at first they hoped to raise around £200!!!! So I will recieve that cheque on the 28th October, when I go by to recieve it and update the congregation on my fundraising. Not bad for a 20 minute presentation! I am officialy 1/3 of the way there :D

TOTAL £1800 

06-10-12

Car boot sale at Episcopal Church, Largs raised £37. I now have my two charitable trust cheques and a fundraising cheque of £456 to send of to PT! Granny Bennett donated a bag of 20ps, adding up to £10... thank you! James from my college class donated £10 to my virgin money giving... please do the same via this link! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JasminesYearToAfrica

TOTAL £1857

08-10-12

NO WAY. I got another cheque today for £100, amazing!  I am still waiting on The Directory of Grant Making Trusts to become available in my local library, which will hopefully bring in some more cheques! eeeep, £43 away from £2000, I really can't believe ittttttttttttttttt. I will be having a fashion show now, all clothes from The Dressing Room - Saltcoats! I also have local woman modelling :) ! I recently confirmed the venue which is great, It will be at Potters Bar in Stevenston. And it will be on the 15th November! So I am glad I have that to look forward to. I have made a poster, it will change a little when I find out exactly what to put on it but here it is anyway!!(above)

TOTAL £1957

13-10-12

I've been getting lots of donations of items to sell at my car boot sales and on Ebay. The spare room is so full of stuff, you can't walk 2 feet into the room! So last night I sold a vintage 1970's Mah Jong set for £16, not bad! I'm listing a lot more stuff tonight. 

TOTAL £1972

Officially in the Four Digits as I reach £1000....

20-08-12

ONE THOUSAND POUNDS.

Well, One Thousand and Ten Pounds now...I feel like I will make my november target now...I hope so. I really can't believe how fast the money has been coming in. Before I started fundraising I always worried that I would really struggle with it, I've proved myself wrong! Any way...up next! I have a craft fair on Sunday. With family help I have been making cards, felt brooches and also have knitted scarfs and knitted dolls dresses to sell. Hopefully I'll atleast make more than £15, the cost of the table! I think I'll make some cakes/fudge/tablet to go along with my craft items.

TOTAL £1010

26-08-12

Paid £15 for my table at the craft fair today and raised -£10.50 YES THAT WAS A MINUS. Oh well, I guess I'll be sticking to car boot sales! Also had to donate something to the craft fair raffle, so I was giving away a valuable item for free, they certainly should have made that clear BEFORE I went!

31-08-12

The Paisley Daily Express wrote an article, I am very pleased with it! Have a read :) - http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/local-news-in-renfrewshire/paisley-news/2012/08/17/photography-student-preparing-for-adventure-of-a-lifetime-in-south-africa-87085-31637971/

02-09-12

Today I had a car boot sale in Ardrossan. It raised me £35 but unfortunately £10 had to fill up what I lost from the craft fair and £5 went to the table cost...so I made £20, still happy with that! AND EVEN HAPPIER THAT I WON THE RAFFLE! The prize was a very snazzy LED HD plasma TV. I'm going to sell it on for my fundraising. I am now at a total of £1040, very pleased, £460 away from my November target.

Anna (the reason I found out about Project Trust - couldn't thank her enough) left for Malawi recently, I can't believe when she is finally back I will be leaving, it makes you realize just how long she is away for! As her year ends, mine will only be beginning! I hope she has an amazing time away, it's made me so excited about leaving. (and I've only been fundraising for 2-3 months )

TOTAL £1040

14-09-12

 Hello! I have lot's of news for you! So first of all, I was the photographer for a wedding on Monday 10th, an old friend of my mums was the bride. Instead of a payment, I decided I would like a donation to my Virgin Money Giving instead...and I received one of £200!! Thank you so much Catherine and Stuart, I am so happy you asked me to photograph your wedding. That brings my total up to £1250 with 2 months and 16 days left until my November target of £1500 :D I THINK I'LL MAKE IT, WOOO!

 Next up, I have a car boot sale tomorrow at St.Andrews church AND I'm giving my presentation at St.Baronys church on Sunday! I'm really nervous about it, I've never done anything like this...other than on selection! hehe. Sooo... I'm sure i've mentioned before but again i'll say quickly: every year the church have a harvest project, where they help raise money for a local charity. Well this year Project Trust is that charity and I'm the local connection! Here is an article I wrote for the church newsletter, please have a look! :

http://www.baronystjohns.co.uk/harvest2012 

TOTAL £1250

15-09-12

 Car Boot sale raised £58.50, thats the most yet! Nervous about presentation tomorrow... going to go over my power point!

TOTAL £1308.50

21 - 09 - 12

 GUESS WHOS ON 3TFM RADIO TODAY ? has anyone ever heard of 3TFM radio? answers - me and no.

 3TFM is a radio station local to me, Three Towns Fm (Ardrossan Saltcoats and Stevenston) I will be on around 12, just being quizzed about what I'm doing with fundraising, how its going, all things Project Trust etc.

 It is strange that I hate talking in front of people (any people) and in the past week I've given a presentation to over 30 people and i'll be on live radio.....eeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 Here is the link to 3TFMS website, where you can listen online. I'm counting on no one seeing this until it's over :P http://www.3tfm.org/

 Just wanted to mention how i'm getting on with charitable trusts. Well, i've been searching on Guide Star online, from there I found around 20 suitable trusts and posted off a letter with my leaflet to each. I found a .further 20 through general searching on the web and through other people, so also sent off to those. I am now currently waiting on the "Directory of Grant Making Trusts" to arrive at my local library for me, hopefully I will find a lot more in there! I have so far recieved five responses, all negative! On selection we were warned that the first replies would most likely be negative so I'm just holding on for a positive. I got a very nice mail yesterday from a trust, congratulating me and letting me know that they will be in touch after the new year! So hopefully that will be positive :) I've sent off nearly 15 letters to local companies, asking for raffle prizes, donations etc.

 I have a few car boot sales in the next month and my cheque from Barony St Johns Church (don't know how much for!) has still to arrive.
 P.S. I forgot to say... I HAVE MY FIRST BAG PACKING SPACE :D:D:D:D!!! It's at a HUGE and I mean HUGE Sainsburys Superstore in Irvine and it is booked for 6th July 2013. I know thats a longgggg way away but i'm actually really pleased with the date. It will be my final stretch of fundraising so that will be a great boost to start it!

TOTAL IS AT £1318.80

Fundraising is a long process....

22-07-12
I decided I would start a new post for fundraising, so it doesn't seem like your reading on forever and ever and ever!

To update you on the past few days, I sold mums guitar for £40 and raised another £10 for the sponsored walk I did! (mum knows I sold the guitar btw)  So that brings my total to £680.. but I'm not going to add it onto my virgin money giving until after my car boot sale this Saturday, since the guitar was supposed to end up there!
I also finished my article for St. Andrews church magazine, I'll upload it here for you to see soooooon. I had to send a picture with it (below) :) The bucket only cost me £1.12, bargain! I'm so excited about everything, I can't wait until January when I can finaly say "I'm going to Africa this year" It feels so far away saying next year.

TOTAL £680

28 - 07 - 12

Today was the car boot sale at the Salvation Army. I really thought it would be busier as it was indoors and in the main town, but sadly that wasn't the case! I made £24 from the car boot sale, it's dissapointing compared to the others but every penny counts and I'm still pleased at what I got! I really should start taking baked goods to my car boot sales, the cakes on the stall next to mine were dissapearing like theres no tomorrow!

I received £20 from my Aunt and a further £10 for the sponsored walk, altogether boosting my total to £724, almost half way to my £1500 November target!! Between now and then, I so far have another 2 car boots, a craft fair and a presentation at a Local Church. Every year this church raises money and then during September, they decide on a local charity to donate the money to. I am giving a presentation to let the congregation know about Project Trust and what I will be doing, to see if they will concider me to be their charity, which would be amazing!(BTW, I don't do presentations. I've always been rubbish and nervous talking infront of people but after not having much choice at selection and receiving good feedback, I don't feel to scared. Besides, after it I always feel fine, it's just the thought of doing it! Aslong as I'm still on two feet at the end of it, I will have succeded. Good preparation for my year away!)
I haven't stopped reading the blogs of previous volunteers and those away just now since I first heard about Project Trust. They are so inspiring and insightful! I hope my blog becomes one that inspires people to take this Gap Year... perhaps it will get more interesting when I'm actually ON mine...

I'm worried that when I start college again it will be harder to fundraise, so i'm trying to squeeze in as much as possible before then! Never in my life have I had £5000, it seems like an imposible target but I think i'll make it. I got a letter from Tesco Saltcoats today, there store is too small to bag pack :( That's two Tesco no no's and i'm still awaiting a reply from 2 Asda's, 2 Morrisons and 2 Sainsburys. (let's hope)

TOTAL £724

08-08-12
My total is now at £814 ahhhh, less than £200 now and I'll have £1000! I would like to mention that I got two recent donations on Virgin Money Giving. My dog (yes dog, mum has a sense of humour) donated £20 for chewing my new shoes :D! That's not all, Hamish (a spider, yes a spider) donated £2! very happy.

TOTAL £814

12-08-12
I raised £22.50 from my car boot sale today :) total is now at £866.50, I will hopefully reach £900 by the end of the month, let's see! :insert from later on this night:- Since I started fundraising, i've kept a spare change tin in the house, one of those ones that you can't get into without a tin opener (necessary in this house) Anyway, I opened it because it was full and there was £30 in it!! mainly in 1p and 2ps!! I thought that was brilliant, I have one at my dad's house and my grans too, can't wait to open them when there full. So my total is now at £896.50...£3.50 and I've made it to £900 in less than 2 months! If you would like to donate, please do it here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JasminesYearToAfrica (I bought a new tin today, twice as big :P )

TOTAL £866.50

17-08-12
£900! Dorothy who works with my mum donated £3.50!

TOTAL £900!