This January we launched our initiative to bring people together to help tackle isolation and improve wellbeing in our community whilst raising vital funds for our charity. So far we have held three of our own Get Together events – the launch at Tesoro Lounge, a community event at our home in Thornbury hosted by our Young Volunteers and a special Youth Club get together of friends, family and even the mayor – and have raised a brilliant £226.39.
We are now looking to encourage friends and supporters of JIGSAW to host their own events and we would love to hear all about them! Anyone can host a Jolly JIGSAW Get Together to help their friends and family feel more connected. All you need to do is choose a date, time, and location, get baking (or buying!) and invite your friends and family to come along with a donation.
The inspiration for this campaign comes from the very special wellbeing breakfasts and afternoon teas, which are hosted regularly by JIGSAW Thornbury for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs or disabilities. These events have been described as ‘a hug on a plate’ and ‘a perfect chance to leave the world behind’. JIGSAW wants to share these wellbeing benefits with the whole community by encouraging as many people as possible to host their own get together. The funds raised at these events will help the charity to offer more opportunities for parents and carers to take time for themselves to recharge, and for children and young people to have fun trying new things in a safe space.
The launch event for our Jolly JIGSAW Get Together campaign was kindly hosted by Tesoro Lounge in Thornbury on Monday 15th January , a day generally regarded as the most depressing day of the year – ‘Blue Monday’. Our team brought customers and members of the community together to connect and enjoy a cuppa with sweet treats on offer for a donation to JIGSAW. Tesoro Lounge generously offered a free hot drink for everyone who signed up on the day to take part in our initiative.
Our flagship Get Together event was hosted by our Young Volunteers at JIGSAW’s home in St Mary Centre Thornbury on Saturday 27th January. Home made cakes and hot drinks were served by young people with support from their parents and carers, to member families and visitors from the community. We are grateful for the support of the Co-op in Thornbury for donating sweet treats for the event and for hosting an information stall in their store on the day from which we were able to create awareness of our services and signpost people to the event.
Our Youth Club raised £133 at their Jolly JIGSAW Get Together at one of their regular Tuesday evening session. Friends, family, and even the Mayor of Thornbury came along to enjoy food, drinks, and a quiz. This fundraiser event was planned and run by our Youth Club members who got stuck in making bunting and invitations, writing the shopping list, making sandwiches, serving drinks, sharing their experiences from attending Youth Club, and presenting the quiz.
Resources are available to download and print from the JIGSAW Thornbury website to make it even easier to plan your event. This includes event bunting, cake toppers, recipe ideas, template invitations and posters.
Jolly JIGSAW Get Together fundraising help
You can always email us at fundraising@jigsawthornbury.org.uk to discuss your fundraising ideas, or phone 01454 567508, or pop in at our home in St Mary Centre Thornbury between 9:30am – 2:30pm Monday to Thursday.