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

The highlight of my fundraising...

22/02/13

I have just received the most generous grant. I am ever so grateful and beyond excitement. Charitable Trust No.6 has awarded me a grant of £800! I really can't believe it. Today was just a normal day... until I came online to check my mail. My previous grants have arrived in the form of a cheque dropping through the door. This one is more like a promise - I will receive a letter of award shortly, I will add the £800 on to my total and then once I have reached that total, they will send the cheque. 

It is perhaps a good way to work, meaning they will not loose money if the fundraiser can't reach their total.

I think this is the highlight of my fundraising...so far! After all, I still have 6 months and £600 to raise! 

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Due to snowy weather, my sponsored walk has been postponed until 23rd March. Scott, who is attending, has now reached £190. Amazing! He is definitely in the lead to win the £50 cash prize. (I set a prize for the person who can raise most money, in hope that people would become more dedicated...I was right!)

Arran covered in snow, the highest point is Goat Fell.

We are climbing Goat Fell, the highest Peak on Arran. Arran is an island with a population of around 5000. It is the largest island on the Firth of Clyde. Ardrossan (my home) is host to the Arran ferry. Arran was made from Volcanoes! Visit the site HERE. If you ever visit Arran, do not miss out the Cheese Shop or Chocolate Factory.

A stunning picture of Arran from Ardrossan Beach

TOTAL £4800

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."

Bargains, Boulders and Bridges...

08/01/13

Bargains

Project Trust have reminded us that we do not need to splash out on a wardrobe... well rucksack full of brand new clothes. They reckon that most of the clothes we already own should be fine. Well, I'm a student, therefor I am skint. I haven't had new clothes in a long time so new clothes for Africa is necessary. 

Fashion is bizarre, Christmas is just over and already our shelves are filled with summer hats and skimpy bikinis. The positive side of this? Shops need to get rid of last years summer stock. I have taken advantage of this and bought some lovely clothes today, they are now being put away for South Africa!

It might seem early to some but I have saved so, so much money! I now have two dresses and two new skirts. These garments should have come to a total of £120 (yes that's crazy for four things, I would never have paid that!) But instead they cost me £32! My skirts were only £1 each, amazing. I now have less money to worry about when it comes to Africa shopping. Get down to M&Co ;) 

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Boulders

My next fundraising event is on! I will be climbing Goat Fell - Arran - with several of my friends. Although we will be walking up a rather steep mountain, It can't possibly be any worse than my sponsored walk! For those of you who have not yet read about my sponsored walk, here is an insight:

The hottest day of the year. We have run out of food. Where is the water? Someone has finished the water. Look at my blisters, do you see my Blisters? She's broken her toe, what will we do? Just keep going, think of the ice cream. Three broken toes, but that's okay. Let's take the long route, good idea. Are we there yet? Are we hell. 4 more miles, make that 9. 12 all together? I meant 15. I have a sore head, get in line. Do we have paracetamol? No, we don't. Let's sit by the road, people stare. Take my bucket, are we nearly there? No, we are not. Let's keep going. Take off our shoes, the pavements too warm. Crawl? No, people will laugh. Run, no, that's not fun. Finally there, skin burnt raw. Free ride home, can't complain. So tired, can barely talk. £400? Worth the walk.

Goat  Fell is a challenge, but it can't possibly be as challenging as the walk from Ardrossan - Largs. Rivers, boulders, rain and midges can't stop us! I have created sponsor sheets for each of my friends and the event will be February 23rd. I'm really looking forward to it, it's fun to know you have achieved something whilst raising money at the same time! There will be a £50 cash prize for the person who can raise most money, this is to encourage people to help out, not to mention an award for the good effort!

Click Here for a link to the event's Facebook page, Or, click Here to donate online!

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Bridges

I am officially half way through my waiting time! It has been 7 months since my Selection Course and it is now 7 months until I leave. I have realized that my use of "!" has dangerously increased over time. I can't hold in the excitement!

TOTAL : £3805

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!

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!

"You have been selected to serve abroad......"

21.06.12

It's been less than a week since I got back from selection. Since the day I was back I have been watching the postman like a Hawk. I have been so nervous and frustrated waiting for this letter! I think everyone has. We have a Facebook group for everyone that was on our selection course, so it's great to hear about everyone being selected and who is going where!

So the first thing I seen when I opened the letter..."We are delighted to be able to tell you that you have been selected to serve abroad as a Project Trust volunteer." 

And the first thought's that went through my head? OMG.

I am so pleased that I have been selected, I'm so excited! I want to get into fundraising right away but my fundraising pack doesn't come for another 2 weeks! I have made my Virgin Money Giving Fundraising page. It's a start, and I already have my first donation! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JasminesYearToAfrica

I also got my first country choice, South Africa here I come! If anything goes wrong with South Africa, I will go to Namibia. If anything goes wrong with Namibia, I will go to Malawi. Perfect!!

Now I know that I'll get to return to Coll! For Training!