Do Your Bit for Charity

Restaurants, cafes, pubs, bistros - they're all popular destinations for celebrations, a social catch-up or just a quiet cuppa and a bite to eat as a special treat. The continuous footfall is obviously welcome - it shows that your business is thriving and the public enjoy what you have to offer. But have you ever considered using your position in the community for another purpose?

Raise Funds for Charity

There are so many worthy charities out there so why not consider using the influence and popularity of your business to raise awareness of different causes and do your bit to raise funds. Just as communities always show support for businesses that display solidarity towards local farmers and use locally sourced ingredients they will also show the same consideration, if not more so, for well-known charities which highlight issues that seem to touch many people’s lives.

All charities whether on a local or national level rely on funding that allows them to continue valuable research and work towards finding cures or new treatments to relieve symptoms of varying illnesses or even to just offer support to vulnerable people that may have no-where else to turn. Whether you choose to focus on one charity which may be close to your heart or open your business to raise awareness of a variety of charities, you could do your bit to help the cause.

You may want to consider opening your restaurant once a month for a charity auction with a meal included, all for only a nominal fee to cover costs. Another alternative is to run a monthly afternoon tea party with a theme which corresponds with the charity which you are honouring. Brainstorming some possible ideas with staff members, family, friends and colleagues for the charity will help you to achieve the best results possible.

Ideas to consider

• Throw a strawberry tea party in aid of a breast cancer charity. Invite people to join you to celebrate everything pink, from pink lemonade and strawberry ice cream to scones and jam and candy floss.
• Transform your restaurant into an area for a sponsored aerobics session or involve some other sport to support the British Heart Foundation. Heart problems can affect so many of the population and providing a sponsored sports event will encourage people to take much-needed exercise whilst also raising funds. You may also like to offer a free blood pressure checkpoint on the date of the event and also a guide to healthy eating; maybe even an easy to follow, healthy cooking class.
• Have a seaside theme afternoon for the RNLI. The lifeboat association do great work on a daily basis and are always in need of extra funding. This is a great charity to support especially if you live by the seaside. Ask people to dress in old fashioned bathing costumes and join in a range of themed activities.
• Hold a charity auction or a free drop-in advice centre for Macmillan cancer support. Macmillan nurses do an amazing job offering support to people who are coming to terms with cancer whether it is the patient or their families. Ask local advice centres to join in with your fundraising efforts and offer their services for an afternoon or an evening.
• An animal meet and greet may be able to help the RSPCA. Ask your local RSPCA centre to join forces with you to gather people together, raise awareness and give some much-needed donations. They may be able to bring merchandise for attendees to purchase or bring some furry visitors for guests to see and interact with. Actually seeing the animals makes the whole plight that they suffer much more realistic and will offer greater encouragement for donations. Obviously, as a restaurant, you will need to check with local authorities as to any rules and regulations regarding animals on site.
• Raise money through play for the NSPCC. Set up a temporary play site in your restaurant for families to get together. You may want to introduce some face painting or temporary tattoo stands to add a little extra fun and variety to the occasion.
• Enjoy a community dinner. If putting on a big production doesn't appeal to your business, you can opt for something a little more simple but no less worthwhile. Invite the whole community to enjoy a meal together. Get the word out to homeless charities in your area and invite everyone to come in for a warming, hearty dish. Customers pay for their own food and perhaps make a small contribution to the cost of a free meal for someone that may otherwise go without.
• Invite customers to contribute to a food collection. Charity doesn't just involve raising money. With an increase in the percentage of the population that is struggling to get food on the table, food banks have never been more in demand. Why not create an area where customers can leave a few extra tins of food? Pass your collection onto your local food bank and let them distribute to people in need in the local community. 

There are so many worthy charities which rely on the public’s generosity to be able to continue their amazing work. Obviously you will not be able to fundraise for every charity so perhaps narrow down your selection to just a few which you may have a strong link to or those which have helped members of your family and friends through some difficult and important times. Once you have found the charities on which you want to focus your attention you can begin to compile a list of ideas which may prove to be profitable fundraising ventures for the future.

Whatever event your business chooses to run with, be sure that you have the necessary space, set-up and any special permissions if required to guarantee your fundraiser goes without a hitch. Whether you need refrigerated cake displays to hold your fresh cream bakes or ice cream refrigeration to make sure your frozen treats always hit the mark, it's vital that you're prepared in every aspect.

Once you've finely tuned your idea and you're ready to do your bit for charity, it's time to get busy advertising and promoting your fundraiser. Just remember that the more people that come through your door, the more money your business can raise for an amazing cause.

If you own a reputable restaurant and want to use your position and regard in the community to help others then why not open up your doors and get the community involved in some positive action.