INTRODUCTION

There are many ways in which a Church can raise funds. It is important to realise that this should be done in a manner which involves Church members and that the Church does not appear to be always begging for money. Requests for donations should be mixed with Social Evenings and special fund-raising activities where Church members and guests are happy to give their time and money in return for enjoyment and fun.

It is unwise to keep using the same fund raising method as members may get bored and stop supporting it, variety is essential. A positive way of ensuring support is to totally involve the membership. Ask for names, via the Notice Board, of members willing to help in the various fund raising projects; put Church members instead of overworked Committee members in charge of the organisation of some of these projects; be careful not to overload anyone but certainly encourage a feeling of “My Church needs Me!”

When the money from all of the various fund raising efforts begins to accumulate the Church Committee, or members in General Meeting, must decide how this money is to be dealt with. It may be kept in a separate bank account, it to be earmarked for certain projects such as central heating, or it may be put in Church general funds. Problems can be encountered if the money is designated to one particular project only, eg ‘a new Church roof’. If, for example, the Kitchen then floods the 'roof' money cannot be used to repair the kitchen. It is suggested that whilst money may be kept separate for a 'new roof', it is best for it to also be available in an emergency for other expenses that might come up.

Union Churches must ensure that they stay within the legal statutes relating to the General Public when organising fund-raising events. It is essential to have fire extinguishers, a fire prevention policy, and escape routes properly sign posted

Spiritualism is not just a Religion, a Science and a Philosophy, it can become part of people’s lives and it is important, therefore, to ensure that Spiritualist Churches and Centres are maintained to a very high standard. To do this, to provide safe, comfortable and inspirational buildings, we must find the funds and this is done by forward thinking, ambitious and creative fund raising, then let’s get cracking!

……and don’t forget!
HAVING FUN CAN RAISE FUNDS

SECTION  1  :  AUCTIONS/RAFFLES

Auctions and Raffles can play an important part in SNU Churches.  Without a weekly raffle many Churches would find it difficult to buy some of the little extras which brighten up the Church and, in some cases, even the necessities. It is important to understand the law in relation to raffles and some raffles require from the Local Authority. Sometimes, SNU District Councils can advise on this.

Auctioning a Private Sitting

A Private Sitting can be auctioned at any social event within the Church. If the Church is full the sitting could realise a substantial amount, especially if the medium is known to give good evidence of survival. The rules regarding private sittings within Churches must always be observed, ie. under no circumstances must money change hands from sitter to medium; the medium should not hold any object or ask for an article from the sitter, and it must be stressed that the sitting is in the nature of an experiment.

Draws that need Licences

Draws that are to take place at some future date require a Lottery & Gaming Licence from the Local Authority. For raffles on a grand scale it is necessary to have tickets printed with the bigger prizes listed, but it is in order to print “and other prizes” on the ticket if there are too many to list. An approach to the larger stores within the town will often prove fruitful, especially if the donors are to be named on the tickets.

Tickets, with counterfoils, must be designed and taken to a local printer or, nowadays, a computer whiz-kid could produce what is required. The tickets and counterfoils are numbered and usually stapled in books of 5 or 10. It is important to have on the tickets the name of the Promoter and who has printed and published the tickets as designated on the Licence.

It must be decided for how long the draw will run; a Christmas Draw will start selling tickets in November and a Spring Draw, in March. The draw tickets are often sold outside of the Church and the Church must be prepared to print a list of numbers, prizes and winners for people to take with them for their friend who have supported the Church.

Perhaps only one person is required to organise a Draw. Once the prizes are obtained and the tickets printed it is only remains to record the names of the people who take tickets to sell and the ticket numbers. There must be a cut off date for the sale of the tickets and all those unsold returned. If this is done, the organiser of the Draw will be able to advise members present on the night of the Draw just how much money has been raised.

It should be remembered that no matter what kind of draw or raffle it is, or what the prizes may be, if the draw is not going to take place on the day of the ticket sales, then a licence is required.

Same Day Raffles

Raffles drawn on the day of ticket sales do not need a licence. There are many kinds of raffles and things that can be raffled:

1. Prizes – usually one or two gifts which have been donated by Church members are raffled in aid of Church funds. This is a straightforward raffle; cloakroom type tickets are sold, duplicate numbers put into a bag and winning numbers drawn.

2. Instant Raffle or 'Tombola' - 50 or more prizes are put onto a table, all with raffle numbers attached to them that usually end with a ‘5’ or a ‘0’. Members pay anything from 10p to 50p to draw a raffle ticket from a bag or drum and, if successful, collect the corresponding numbered prize. This 'instant raffle' table can be supplied with further prizes as some of the prizes are won. An eye-catching prize such as a bottle of wine or an expensive item will make an Instant Raffle table attractive.

3. Bottle Stall - similar to an Instant Raffle except that all the prizes are bottled good. For example, sauce bottles, shampoos or perfumes. Church members are usually happy to contribute to a raffle of this nature and will bring the bottles and then pay to try and win one of the others on the table.

Weekly Private Sitting

Church Mediums could agree to take turns to give a private sitting to the winner of a numbers draw. People pay, for example, £1 to select a number and write their name beside the corresponding number on a sheet of paper with 50 spaces on it. On a particular day each week a draw is made and a number selected with the winning person having the sitting. Private Sittings are always popular and will help the Church raise the funds it so desperately needs. Again, within Churches you must ensure that private sitting rules are adhered to.

IF IT DOESN'T MOVE, RAFFLE IT!

SECTION 2  :  COMPETITIONS

People love to enter competitions, especially those where they feel they have an reasonable chance of winning. To ensure a successful competition it is important to make sure people are aware it is taking place and, if possible, put one person in charge. Make sure the competition is advertised on the Church Notice Board, as well as being included in Church announcements, as this should generate a lot of interest. There are many competitions which can be run to raise money from the general public instead of just Spiritualists. Some of these competitions are as follows:

Lottery  - Bonus Ball

This is where paper is marked out in squares numbered 1 to 49. A price is set to enter the competition, £1 is a good amount and will bring in a steady profit of £24 per week, with £25 going to the winner. As each number is sold the person will put their name in one of the 49 boxes. Putting one person in charge, and by making sure each number is sold makes this a very interesting event and those taking part are able to check whether they have won by watching the National Lottery Draw. Make sure when giving cash prizes that a Licence is obtained to ensure the Church stays within the law.

Circulation Quiz

20, 30, 40 or even 50 questions are typed out and sold to members, relatives and friends, usually at £1 per sheet; a deadline for the return is given and prizes awarded, perhaps to the top three winners. The questions can be straightforward general knowledge questions or relate to specific items, with cryptic clues being given. For example, types of fish,  ‘Bassoon’ could be ‘fish, early rather than late’. If place names in the surrounding area then the cryptic clue for ‘Redcar’ could be ‘Scarlet Vehicle’. There are so many choices and a lot of fun will be experienced by those composing the quizzes.

This is a quiz that is easy to organise but time must be allowed for people to have a fair ‘crack of the whip’ – at least one or two months. Lists of the answers must be supplied.

Easter Egg/Bonnet Competition

This type of competition is a favourite one to hold at Easter and can involve both adults and children alike. The event can be turned into a social night with the judging taking place after an Easter Bonnet parade. All that is required is for someone to take the names of those entering, and the entrance fee. Prizes for winners need to be purchased and chocolate eggs make suitable prizes.

Decide in advance the groups to be judged and the competition fee to be charged, eg under 7 yrs, 8-14 yrs and adults. Children should not be requested to pay a fee but a donation from a parent is always acceptable.

To make it more interesting entries could also go into different groups. With the decorated eggs the groups could include: most unusual; most artistic and the funniest. The bonnets could be grouped into: seasonal theme; most outrageous; most classical; funniest etc. If judging in different groups a Notice would have to be posted in Church so everyone is aware of the groups and can decide which they intend to enter.

These kinds of competitions do not necessarily have to be on a special night coupled with a social event. There should be a deadline given for entries and then perhaps the eggs and bonnets could be judged by a few members of the congregation after the next service.

'Fund Raising Idea 'Competition

This can be advertised on the Church Notice Board or in the Church Newsletter. Again £1 per entry and any number of entries per person allowed. The fund raising idea should be detailed with instructions as to its operation. The idea adjudged as the best, ie ‘maximum return for minimum effort’ to receive the first prize.

The winning ‘idea’ and some of those from the runners up could then be put into practice. A variation of this is to try the best three ideas submitted and find out which is the most successful.

Guessing Competitions

These are always useful to have at Open Days, Church Bazaars and Fetes.

Guess the Number of

For this event almost anything which comes in large numbers can be used which can be put into a jar or box. Some ideas are: dried peas, smarties, teabags, dried fruit or pennies.

You will need to provide a small prize for the winner, or in the case of sweets, they could be the prize. For this you will need the items to be guessed and a book, or paper, to write down the names and guesses of those taking part. If possible, advise if anyone makes a guess which has already been made. One person to take care of this, and to have the winning number in an envelope.

Guess the Weight

A cake is usually a good item to guess its weight but it need not be a cake, it can be anything – the more imaginative the better. Draw the line at babies as they can get a little anxious with constant handling.


Guess the Name

You will need a large sheet of paper with 100 names on, this avoids any two people selecting the same name. Decide on the amount to charge for each name. At £1 per name it is possible to raise £100. As each name is sold the buyer puts their name against the name of their choice. You will also need a Teddy Bear or a Doll which can either be purchased, or you may find someone willing to donate one. This can be dressed in baby clothes purchased from Charity Shops. If donated, ask the person who donated it to decide on the name from those on the list and put it into an envelope which is then sealed. Alternatively, when the sheet of names is completed, they can be separated and a draw made to decide the winner.

If it is possible to get hold of pictures of famous people as children, or babies, these can be guessed with the prize going to the one who got the most right.

Lottery Ticket

It is not permissible to purchase lottery tickets out of Church funds. What is permissible, however, is for the Church Committee to form a syndicate, all sign a declaration form, decide how many tickets a week are to be purchased and share the cost - all winnings to be credited to the Church. Many organisations are doing this in the hope of a large win which will remove all monetary worries from Church members.

Numbers Draw

This is very similar to the Bonus Ball but in a Numbers Draw any amount of numbers can be used. A book can be kept for this, with the numbers listed down the left side of the page, allowing those participating to write their name next to a number of their choice. This competition could run until all the numbers have been taken. You will also need a set of numbers, either cut from cardboard or from a game of bingo. Drawing the winning number should be done in public, possibly after a service in the Church so everyone can see the draw was made fairly.

Writing Competitions

There are many people within Spiritualism who enjoy writing, either poetry or prose and competitions can be held within the Church or including Churches within the District Council area. Some of these competitions could be:
                            Poetry        Prose        Puzzles        Children’s     Stories etc

Advertise it well, charge an entry fee for each piece submitted, and the number need not be limited, decide the number of winners and a deadline date for entries. A panel of judges must be appointed and these judges must cover a cross section of the membership, ie old, young, new to Spiritualism, in for years etc in order to avoid any unintentional bias.

…….so remember
LIFE’S A LOTTERY  -  WIN IT!

SECTION 3    :    DONATIONS

'Donations', is a giving cash or goods to a chosen person or organisation. In this instance the organisation will be the Church which is seeking donations of cash or goods to pay for any major repair or replacements. Whilst most Church members are willing to donate, it helps to encourage this by making an event with respect to their donations interesting, and also it will let members see just how their donations are building up.

Buy a Brick

For churches who are raising funds for either a new building, or extension to their present property. All that is required is a large sheet of paper which can then be ruled out into brick shaped oblongs. Write a heading at the top, ie ‘Building Fund - Buy a Brick at £1’. This can then be pinned up in the Church, or Centre. Members and even non-members can be asked if they would like to buy a brick. As donations are received, the person donating, or buying a brick, puts his/her name on one of the bricks. This event can bring in a substantial donation, eg 200 bricks @ £1 = £200. Members are able to see at a glance just how many bricks have been sold, and will possibly donate each week to try and fill the wall.

Covenants

A Church member, or a member of the congregation, can make a covenant with the Church whereby a regular part of their income will be donated to the Church. If the covenant is contracted through the Inland Revenue then the Church will receive tax relief as well as the donation. It is recommended that any person wishing to make this undertaking to the Church should contact the local Area Office of the Inland Revenue and request the appropriate form.

Gift Aid

By the generosity of the Inland Revenue it is possible to sign a 'Gift Aid Declaration form' for money that one donates to the Church. Then the Inland Revenue will add approximately 28p for every £1 gifted. Only taxpayers can take advantage of this scheme and leaflets are available from Inland Revenue offices. Churches should ask for Leaflet IR113 'Gift Aid.'

Monthly Envelopes

Some people are quite happy for others to know how much they donate, whilst others prefer to make it a private and personal affair. This is where monthly envelopes are useful.

What is required is a supply of small envelopes, approximately 3”x 2” available from most stationery shops. These should then be marked up in sets of twelve with the months written on the front of each one. Members can then be asked to donate, via the envelope scheme, by giving details of it in the Church Notices and also putting these details onto the Church Notice Board. Anyone who would like to make monthly donations will then collect a set of twelve envelopes from a Church Committee member and when attending at the Church in each month, put the relevant envelope in the collection box. Each month a thank you to these donating members could be put on the Church Notice Board and in the Newsletter.

Sponsored Events

Sponsored events are many and varied and very popular. They can include groups working together or individuals, either inside or outside the Church. Group sponsored events within the Church could include: a sponsored: silence; spelling; knitting; dance etc. Outside events could include: walk, swimming, bowling, non-smoking, slimming etc.

Types of individual sponsored events are endless, and being sponsored is a useful way to eradicate any unwanted habits, such as giving up smoking etc.

All events will need sponsor forms and, if being held in the Church, a suitable person to witness the event and sign the sponsor forms at the end of the time allowed. In the case of a sponsored slim, a deadline must be set to finish the slim-in.

Thermometer/Ladder

When trying to raise a large amount of money for either a new building, heating or an extension, having a thermometer, or ladder, will help members to watch the total grow as donations come in.

What will you need? A large piece of paper with a drawing of a thermometer or ladder on it. The thermometer is marked out in degrees with each degree representing a set amount of money, for example, 10 degrees could be £100. As each degree is reached the thermometer is coloured in with any colour which will show members how much has been raised and when they are likely to reach the target set. This applies also if a ladder is used, each rung of the ladder representing a set amount.

…….so remember
BUILD THE WALL THEN,  USE THE LADDER TO SCALE IT

SECTION    4    :    EDUCATION

Every Church should be looking to fulfil its aims and objects by running educational programmes for the benefit of the next generation and there is no reason why the Church should not also benefit financially.

Lectures

There are any number of capable people within, and outside, Spiritualism who would be happy to come and lecture at the Church for a very small fee, plus travelling expenses. Lectures could be put on at one or two monthly intervals and eventually there will be regular attenders who will look forward to these lectures. A donation will have to be taken to cover expenses and to raise some money. Other options are to sell tickets or levy a charge at the door which is permissible as the lecture is to be a fund-raising event.

Seminars/Workshops

These are always very popular with the trainee exponents within the Church and can last for half a day, a full day, a weekend, a week or perhaps a 13 week programme one night a week.

An organiser should be appointed to book teaching mediums, advertise the event and arrange for Church personnel to be in attendance to act as stewards, help with any furniture re-arranging and serve refreshments.

Students will pay the fees decided upon, from which the tutors’ fees and expenses must be paid, and then all Church expenditure deducted before the profit can be established. It is a good way to promote Spiritualism and help trainee mediums. The Church benefits from the monies raised and also the trainees are helped along their spiritual pathway.

…………….so remember
EDUCATION IS FUN – TRY IT!

SECTION    5    :    OPEN DAYS

Coffee Mornings

If it is intended to use Coffee Mornings as part of the Church’s fund raising efforts it is best that this be a long term venture and not a one-off. Also, if the Church is situated where there is passing trade, has facilities for serving light refreshments, and there are sufficient volunteers to man the ‘coffee pot’ then a venture of this nature could be considered.

To make the Coffee Morning even more attractive, if Private Sittings, which many Churches provide as a service, were booked to take place at the same time, then friends of the sitters can sit, have a drink and a piece of cake whilst they wait. Many Church members will pop in and have a drink and a chat as it is an ideal way of cementing friendships within the Church.

There should also be Church personnel available who can sit and answer questions for newcomers who may eventually wish to support the Church.

There are legal requirements to be observed if Churches are considering preparing and selling food on the Church premises and the following text taken from the Food Safety Act should be noted.

PREMISES WHICH ARE ONLY USED OCCASIONALLY FOR FOOD PREPARATION
The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 require that premises which are used occasionally for food preparation such as church halls, and movable or temporary premises such as marquees follow the guidance for temporary premises. The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice published by HMSO sets out in details a guide to compliance with the Regulations and gives advice on good practice. The following is a summary of some of the main requirements.

The regulations regarding Private Sittings issued by the Spiritualists’ National Union should also be observed as contravention of them could cause the Church to face legal prosecution. These rules can be found in the Church Manual, Church Guidelines or obtained from the General Secretary at Head Office.

Festival/Celebration of Spiritualism

At a Festival of Spiritualism there could be lectures and demonstrations of mediumship, private sittings, confidential talks, and healing taking place throughout the day; bookstalls with Spiritualist books and educational material and also a general second hand and new book stall. Other stalls could be cakes, raffles and craftwork. An advice service for those who need help, conducted by a Minister if at all possible should be available, together with qualified personnel ready to answer questions. Preferably SNU award holders as speakers and demonstrators, should be invited to serve at church and district council festivals.

Invite local traders who sell ‘New Age’ goods such as candles, crystals, inspirational cards etc and charge the going rate for the hire of a table.

This is a hard working day but if carefully planned, well in advance, it can be very rewarding, both spiritually and financially.

Garden Party

If possible, it is best to use an alternative venue to the Church such as a garden or a field. Ideally there should  be a large barn or some similar building to be used should it rain. The Church itself would normally be the alternative for a rainy day but it is preferable to keep this kind of event away from the Church in order to attract a greater variety of people.

As with an indoor venue there can be various stalls, not just selling goods, containing games of chance etc for children and adults. The bran tub and instant raffle are great favourites. Sittings could be available, if booked in advance. Healing and refreshments can be provided and a room where people can sit and chat would be beneficial.

Competitions which have been previously advertised could take place such as Fancy Dress, Glamorous Granny, Knobbly Knees, most Novel Hat – all the old favourites. Some form of tannoy system or megaphone will be required to announce the various events. Children's games with small prizes for the winners will be appreciated by busy parents. A bouncy castle could be hired and/or a Punch & Judy man. The cost of these activities which will be free to the public, can be clawed back by the entrance ticket.

A famous name, within or outside of Spiritualism, who will open the Garden Party without looking for an enormous fee, can also be an attractive feature of the day.

A Garden Party, well organised and with sufficient personnel to ensure it is well run, can do a lot for Spiritualism within the local community and an invitation to the local Mayor or a member of the Council to be a guest is invaluable publicity.

Church Open Door Day

This special event is held to extend an invitation to the general public to meet with its local Spiritualists in a social environment. This sort of Day will help to remove any mystery, mystique or muddled thinking which some members of the general public may have.

Refreshments can be provided and arrangements made for knowledgeable Spiritualists to be present to chat to enquirers and answer any questions.

A tour of the Church can be given, with special reference being made to the Seven Principles and the fact that whilst Spiritualists do not have a creed, they are required to accept the Seven Principles as a pre-requisite to Church Membership.

Complimentary Spiritualist leaflets and lists of recommended books should be made available. Spiritualist books for sale should also be on hand to further any interest shown in Spiritualism by the Church visitors.

Church Open Day

This is a special day when, again, the Church opens its doors to the general public. This time, it is to show Spiritualists in a more informal atmosphere and promote the truths of Spiritualism.

It is a day that is often combined with a Sale of Work Day/Fayre and there will be various stalls, such as books, cakes, white elephant, bring and buy, sweets, instant raffle, name the doll, count the beans, etc and items of interest with regard to the work of Spiritualists and mediums. There can be private sittings, talks or photo slides, healing etc. It is a day which will raise much needed money for the Church but it is also a day which can give that special help that is urgently required to someone who initially may not wish to attend a Church Service.

Summer Fayre/Fetes

These are generally outdoor activities. Only if you have sufficient space available should you consider holding such a Fayre. A Summer Fayre is pretty much the same as a Garden Party and the same stalls and sideshows can be used but do have plenty of them and keep them cheap; the children will empty their elders’ pockets more easily at 5 pence per time than at 20 pence.

Tombola, refreshments, skittles, wheel of fortune, and anything else that your imagination can think up, but keep away from installing a person as a 'Gipsy Rose Lee' for fortune telling. Think of the image of Spiritualism.

It is amazing what can be devised with a couple of buckets, a few table tennis balls, jam jars, odds and ends from the children's toy cupboard and some water. Make your prizes worthwhile and give the public, especially the children, plenty to entertain them.

A local brass band, or similar, could be engaged who would be prepared to entertain for a while. They may perform free in return for the support of the Church at one of their events. As long as the weather is fine, with proper organisation, everything should go well. Again, do not forget to advertise it well.

……..so remember
MAKE MONEY WHILE THE SUN SHINES!

SECTION  6  :  SALES

'Sales' cover a wide range of activities but Church Committees must be very careful when selling goods that they do not contravene any of the statutes regarding sales. If the Church wishes to check the legal statutes, they are:

The Charities Act
The Consumer Protection Act
Sale of Goods Act
Health & Hygiene Act

When it is established that the Church can legally fund raise by the various types of sales then the world really is its oyster. The Church must then establish the need and find the goods which will satisfy that need. Some of these goods are:

Second-hand Book Sales
There is always a ready market for second-hand books but quite often a second-hand book stall looks like a jumble sale. Every book for sale should be checked for missing pages, classified as to its type and then each type sorted into alphabetical author name order.

If reasonable prices are requested for the books they will readily sell. People will purchase, read the book and return it to the Church for re-sale. As books get dog-eared or dirty, they should be recycled.

New Book Sales
The sale of new books within a Spiritualist Church is usually confined to Spiritualist books, or subjects that are known to be of interest to Spiritualists. These could included: alternative therapies, colour, crystals, metaphysical sciences etc. A close eye should be kept on the sale of all books and only very small stocks should be carried of those which appear to have a limited appeal.

To operate a stall of this nature it is necessary to:

Bric-a-Brac Stall (new or old)

It is better to keep separate stalls for new and old bric-a-brac articles otherwise the potential customer may wonder why some items are so much more expensive than others. It should also be labelled clearly on the ‘old’ stall that the goods have been donated and are second-hand.

It would be more presentable if, as with the book stalls, it does not look tacky. Small items such as ornaments, unwanted Christmas gifts of toiletries etc will sell well if the prices are not excessive. It should be remembered that people like to feel they are ‘getting a bargain’ and if there is a shop next door selling the same article at half the price, they will lose interest. They will not necessarily purchase the item next door because quite often the interest in the object was induced by its price.

Do not allow the Bric-a-Brac stall to turn into a White Elephant Stall with junk on it. Keep the items small, well arranged, suitably priced and even second-hand bric-a-brac will be attractive.

Car Boot Sale

There will be many enthusiasts within the Church happy to run a car boot sale on behalf of the Church. It is also an opportunity to get rid of articles within the Church which are not selling. A request to Church members for goods for the car boot sale will usually procure a healthy response. People are very happy to ‘dig out’ from their houses and donate unwanted items of furniture, china, books etc and they are even more happy when they know they are contributing towards the fund raising efforts of the Church.

Establish where and when Car Boot Sales take place and try and find which of them is the one best attended. A space must be booked, paid for and arrangements made for volunteers to collect the items for sale and get on site as soon as possible to take advantage of the ‘early birds’. As selling progresses more goods can be added as the need arises.

Car boot sales are usually very successful but it requires hardy individuals who are early risers, capable of carrying items to and fro and are prepared to stand and sell from the boot. The sun does not always shine and mad weather can test the hardiest individual so plenty of hot drinks and sandwiches should be taken to sustain these stalwart individuals.

Charity Shop

Many towns have a Charity Shop which has been specifically designated for the exclusive use of the town’s charities on a weekly basis. A charity shop can raise anything from £500 plus per week for a Church and investigations should be made with the Local Authority as to whether or not the Local Authority has one of these shops and, if so, to whom application should be made for the Church to be given use of it for a week. There is usually a fee to pay and guidelines are given listing any restrictions which are in force while the shop is in use.

It is important to have enough goods to keep the shop going for a week, although quite often members of the general public will sometimes pop in with their unwanted clothes etc. A sign should be made with the Church’s name on it so people know who they are supporting; the majority, however, do not care where the money goes, the quality and price of the goods is more important to them.

Organising and running a Charity Shop is not as simple as it may sound and it is important that plenty of pre-planning takes place. A team of volunteers will be required to take shifts and there must never be only one person in the shop at any one time.

A checklist will help in the planning stages.

Christmas Bazaar

Unless a Church knows that a Christmas Bazaar is going to be well attended by both the general public and Church Members, there is little point in organising one. It would be a case of Church Members making gifts for sale and selling the gifts to each other which would be a fruitless exercise.

A thought to be considered is for a hall to be hired and the Bazaar to be well advertised – not every member of Joe Public wants to go inside a Spiritualist Church, even if only to buy some Christmas gifts.

If it is decided that a Bazaar would be viable then notice of it must be given early to Church Members so those who can make gifts for sale are given plenty of time in which to do so.

A Christmas Bazar should concentrate on Christmas gifts, cards, wrapping paper, calendars, tinsel, baubles etc. Many of these can be purchased from a Trade Warehouse at very reasonable prices and there is usually somebody within the Church who will have a card for a warehouse and will organise the purchase of these items.

There should be a cake stall with perhaps a Christmas Cake as first prize in the raffle. There could be a book stall and a bric–a-brac stall and, apart from the books, everything should be new. A stall of guessing games, ie the weight of the cake, the name of the doll, the number of sweets in a jar etc is a good way of helping to raise funds without too much effort.

Refreshments can be on sale throughout the day and a bran tub for the children, together with a visit to Father Christmas for a gift.

For a bazaar of this nature to be effective there will need to be many helpers with one or two organisers taking responsibility for it. It can be a long day and hard work but one of the spin-offs of such a bazaar is that it is often the first introduction to Spiritualism for some members of the general public who may wish to investigate further. Notices of Church services and some explanatory leaflets regarding Spiritualism should be available but under no circumstances should anyone have these leaflets forced upon them.

Church Shop

Many Churches have a church shop, usually at the entrance of the Church. Some shops are in a separate room while others comprise a couple of tables and a few shelves upon which are displayed the various items for sale. These shops usually sell small items that Spiritualists are interested in, ie inspirational cards, candles, oils, books, tapes etc.

Before going to the trouble and/or expense of opening a shop it must be ascertained that the goods can be purchased at warehouse prices in order for the Church to realise a profit substantial enough to make the effort worthwhile. If there is not going to be any expenses involved in setting up a shop then items should be purchased and their sale monitored. If it becomes apparent that there is an interest in a shop then the business can be built up.

Opening times will need to be decided upon as will a rota of volunteers.

Craft Day

A craft day can be an annual Church event and, if at all possible, kept out of the Church in order to encourage more of the general public to attend.

The day should concentrate on home-made goods and should not comprise just knitted, embroidered and crotchet goods – there should be a wide variety of crafts on display.

Initially a notice should go up on the Church Notice Board listing the various crafts that the Church would like to have displayed for sale on its Craft Day and asking who, within the Church, can do what. The list could be: knitting, sewing, crotchet, decoupage, macrame, jewellery making, candle making, candle pictures, rubber stamping silk screen printing, plaster modelling, pottery, raffia work, silk flowers, lace making, origami, beadwork, weaving, patchwork, leatherwork, any other craft.

When Church members have acknowledged their particular skills the Committee can then approach local craftspeople who cover the other skills and invite them to hire a table in the hall to sell their crafts.

Someone should be put in charge of refreshments and keep the stallholders topped up with teas and coffees throughout the day and one or two spare people should be in attendance as messengers and to allow stallholders comfort and lunch breaks.

Craft Fayres have a very high reputation for the quality of the goods produced and sold and will attract a fair number of the general public, especially if it is readily accessible. If the hall is tucked away up a tiny side street then it needs to be advertised well both prior to the event and upon the day itself. Directions to the Fayre should be placed at strategic points, eg on walls and lamp posts etc in the area itself.

Checklists should be drawn up to ensure every little detail is covered and/or catered for; the anticipated expenses must be calculated in advance in order to make sure the event is viable. These will include: newspaper advertising, cost of sending notices to Churches in the area, hire of hall and/or tables, the cost of craft materials for use by Church members who can no longer afford to purchase the same, cost of teas, coffees, cakes and sandwiches if these are to be sold.

It will then be necessary to ascertain the ‘local going rate’ to hire a table in Craft Fayres in order to decide upon a figure the Church will charge local craftspeople. This can easily be done by telephoning a Craft Fayre Organiser and asking the price they charge. The Church may then decide to charge slightly less but it must not go above the normal rate as it could cause a loss of interest.

The Church must next check that the stalls it is operating have enough goods to last the day and that can be quite a quantity – selling out after two hours makes a nonsense of the whole exercise and the local people will be disinclined to support the Church again. Even if it is not feasible to bring all the stock into the hall at the start of the day a van, and driver, could be on hand to transport more goods to the hall as required.

Planned well in advance and advertised, an event of this nature can prove very fruitful and again, introduce members of the general public to their local Spiritualists.

Education Stall

Every Church should have an education stall, or table. It is irrelevant whether or not it makes money; its purpose is to educate everyone who walks into a Spiritualist Church and who is seeking to know, and understand more of this religion which they have so newly discovered.  If run wisely it can generate sufficient funds to keep the stall stocked and still have a little extra to help people who wish to study but cannot afford to purchase the books.

If requested, SNU Education Course Notes can be purchased at a discount from the Education Committee, as can education memorabilia such as pens, pads, rubbers, rulers etc etc. The table should provide for students’ needs. It could also sell Spiritualist books, tapes and videos which will be enjoyed by people who do not wish to study or have completed their studies.

An education stall does not need to be manned continuously, people can make purchases before and after the various activities within the Church.

Gift Catalogues

Gift catalogues are excellent fund raisers, especially at Christmas. People do, however, buy gifts, cards, wrapping paper etc all year round and will purchase from the Church if there is a Gift Table.

A catalogue can be obtained in the name of the Church or a nominated Committee member. Goods are then purchased from the catalogue, a percentage mark-up (decided by the Committee) is then applied to each item before sale. It is important that the mark-up is not too high as members will not purchase goods from the Church if they can get them cheaper elsewhere.

Like the education table, sales can be made before and after services without too much inconvenience to the Committee members present.

Jumble Sales

These can be hard work with a small return. If at all possible it is better that Jumble Sales are held outside the Church to attract members of the general public.

If a Church intends to hold Jumble Sales in order to raise money it is important to realise that such sales are governed by the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the following fundamental points should be borne in mind:

Under no circumstances should gas or oil cookers, lamps, or heaters be offered for sale. The risks involved are too great by comparison with the relatively small return. All electrical apparatus should be sold bearing a notice stating "This cooker/vacuum cleaner/T.V. set etc is sold as seen and inspected by the purchaser and is without warranty. The equipment should be inspected and approved by a qualified electrician before any attempt is made to use it."

The majority of people attending jumble sales expect to pay very little for the goods they purchase and it can be seen, therefore, that a great deal of work can be involved in organising and running a jumble sale with very little return. Unless all members involved in such a venture have an understanding of the Consumer Protection Act it is possible to run a lot of unnecessary risks.

Lyceum Stall

The Lyceum Stall can either be incorporated with the Education Stall or kept separate. It is not necessary for a Church to have a Lyceum for it to sell Lyceum literature which is of an educational nature. Negotiations with the Lyceum Central Committee regarding reductions for the Church will give a small return which will ensure that this stall is a viable proposition.

Memorabilia

Churches can purchase, from the Arthur Findlay College and SNU Publications, SNU memorabilia such as bookmarks, cups, coasters, badges, pens etc which can either be incorporated with the education or gift stalls or kept separate. It is worth asking for price lists to ascertain what is available and then requesting a Church discount, such a request will always be given favourable consideration.

Table Top Sales

These are similar to car boot sales however often a hall will be used and people will pay for a table and sell their goods from it. In all sale ventures, where there is a requirement for someone to be permanently in attendance, at least one extra person should always be available in order to cover for comfort breaks and organising refreshments.

The weather will not affect a table top sale which is being held indoors, except perhaps the attendance, but if it is outside the weather must always be a consideration when deciding who is to man the table.

White Elephant Stall

The archetypal junk stall which many people enjoy donating to and purchasing from. Churches who wish to run one of these stalls should be careful where it is situated. Being greeted by one of these tables at the entrance of a Church is not good for the image of Spiritualism.

If a stall of this nature is set up it is wisest not to allow second-hand clothes otherwise it becomes a jumble stall. Small items such as jewellery, china, ornaments, make-up, playing cards, children's games, jigsaws etc., displayed well can look inviting to the prospective purchasers. If the stall is subscribed to and kept tidy, it can be a ‘nice little earner’. People like to know that there is a home for their unwanted bits and pieces and, at the same time, that these bits and pieces are helping their Church.

Final Comments

Churches cannot, of course, sell or do ALL the various items discussed, usually through lack of space and personnel. What they can do, however, is switch stalls. When it is apparent from the sales figures that there is a lack of interest in the stall, replace it with another one. If this is done whenever there is a loss of interest, or even on a regular basis, the Church should never lose the income these stalls bring in.

…..so remember
ALL WHITE ELEPHANTS SHOULD BE SOLD!!

SECTION  7  :  SERVICES

A Church can put on many kinds of ‘Special’ services to help in its fund raising efforts. Donations can be requested in advance and tickets issued for reserved seats. If the format of the Special is to be the same as a normal public service then, even though tickets may be sold, there must always be a few seats available for members of the public who do not wish reserved seats. Such ‘Specials’ should always be advertised as ‘fund-raising’ events.

The different services are similar in their methods of organisation and a checklist which can be adapted for any service would take the form of:

Publicity Meetings

The checklist above is invaluable for a Publicity Meeting, especially one held in a large venue (seating 1500 – 2000 people) and using high profile mediums. A Publicity Meeting should never take the form of a religious service as many people who could not be induced to enter a Spiritualist Church for any reason at all, will attend a Publicity Meeting. If a contact is made, and that contact may not necessarily be the recipient of a message, it is possible that a reluctant Churchgoer may decide to take his first step into the shallows of Spiritualism and attend a Spiritualist Church service.

A Publicity Meeting is used to generate interest in the philosophy and phenomena of Spiritualism. Any talk given may not cover the philosophy, it may be an explanation of Spiritualism and its early days; the phenomena will be demonstrated and it is hoped between the talk and the demonstration, many will enter Spiritualist Churches and listen to the beauty of Spiritualist philosophy.

A lot of hard work, with many people involved, is required to hold a large Publicity Meeting and the whole affair must be very carefully orchestrated. An organiser should be appointed who will invite people to undertake the various tasks and hold meetings with them at regular intervals to ensure that everything runs smoothly. It is impossible to start too soon in the planning of such a venture and the more time allowed means there will be time available to iron out any problems which may occur along the way.

It is important when arranging such a meeting that Spiritualism is not sold short and made to look cheap. Apart from all the expenditure in the organisation, the mediums will require to be paid fees and expenses and if the Church wishes to clear a profit for its fund raising, then tickets must be realistically priced. Cheap tickets will not guarantee more people; if the meeting and mediums working are sufficiently attractive and the advertising eye-catching, people will find the money. If it is known, however, that there are people within the Church who will not be able to afford the tickets, then they should either be given jobs within the working party or invited as guests.

Mediums Rally

Once it was common practice for all, or most of, the Churches in a District Council area to come together and hold One-Day Rallies.  Unfortunately it seems this no longer happens as often as it used to.  Churches take turns at hosting the rally and then invite Churches within the District to join them;  mediums will be booked for both an afternoon and evening service with a tea being arranged in between.  It is another friendship event, social event, spiritual event and should be actively continued.
This is not normally as large an event as a Publicity Meeting but it can be attended and enjoyed by many people. If a Church is to host a Mediums’ Rally it will be a more attractive event if mediums are invited to take part who the congregation do not see on a regular basis as is possible with some of the home-grown mediums within the Church. This is not to say, of course, that their mediumship is not of the same quality and standard of the visitors. Two or three mediums  working together, can provide a day of upliftment, inspiration and help to many people.

A rally that has two services, with a buffet at tea time, is a time of social and spiritual intercourse. The rally is easy to arrange and is usually well attended as people look forward to an opportunity to meet with friends from other churches and spend some time together, especially on wet Bank Holidays.

Private Sittings

Private Sittings can be a good source of income for the Church but the following guidelines must be applied to ensure the Church does not break the law.

Feed Body and Soul with a Meal and Mediumship

Tickets are usually sold in advance for this kind of evening which includes the price of the meal and the reading which will be given.

It is normal, at a Body & Soul Supper, for mediums to sit at separate tables (one to each table) and give messages to each person sat at the table which usually numbers 5 or 6. The mediums must be kept completely separate from the sitters prior to the readings and under no circumstances are the mediums allowed to sit and eat with the sitters. The Church provides a meal for the mediums on a separate table, or in a separate room, and all food must be consumed before the readings start. All readings are to be spirit communication and not of a psychic nature.

At these events churches can display and sell books, gifts etc and a raffle can also be held.

Churches should ensure that mediums do not receive any money direct from the sitters and any payments made are by the Treasurer. Sometimes, because of a Church’s needs, mediums will work for no re-imbursement but this must never be assumed.

Special Services

Special Services can take many forms but it is important to ensure that Services using psychic tools are not dressed up as Special Services. Working with the aura, flowers and ribbons can take place in a workshop but not from a public rostrum. Using psychic tools will leave the Church open to accusations of aiding and abetting fortune-telling. Further information regarding what is permissible within a Church Service can be found in Rules for Churches, Schedule II.

The type of special service which is becoming very popular is one which retains the philosophy and demonstration within its format, and yet moves away from the normal structure of a Church Service. Hymns are replaced by spiritual songs, prayers are replaced by individuals being requested to send out their own prayers while beautiful music is played. Services can be themed so that the songs, readings healing requests and any prayers relate to the theme, ie Friendship, Remembrance, etc. Members of the congregation can be encouraged to take a more active role in the service in so many different ways; a little imagination can really go a long, long way and touch the hearts of many.

…….so remember
MAKE SURE ITS SERVICE WITH A SMILE!

SECTION  8  :  SOCIAL EVENINGS

Social evenings are very important events in a Church’s calendar; they allow people the opportunity of getting to know each other outside the formal atmosphere of a Church service. The list of Social Evenings is endless and is only restricted by the imagination of the Church Committee. Every event should be checked as to its legality (a word with the General Secretary of the SNU usually does the trick) and if there aren’t any problems in this direction, then a very enjoyable time can be had by all.

There follows some suggestions as to events that Churches can put on, not only to raise money, but also to create a closer-knit community within the body of Church members.

Wine & Cheese Evenings

It is important to have an understanding of the law in relation to the sale and/or consumption of alcohol if it is intended to hold a 'Wine & Cheese Evening'.

The law states that the sale of tickets to any wine and cheese party constitutes a 'sale' unless it is absolutely clear that the alcohol is supplied free of charge. Direct or indirect sales of alcohol at such parties would be illegal unless a Liquor Licence or an Occasional Permission had been granted. The main purpose of such functions is fund raising and moderate social consumption of alcohol might appear to be a harmless way of raising money. It is, nonetheless, illegal without a Licence or an Occasional Permission and organisers risk prosecution.

No ticket for any event at which intoxicating liquor is available may be sold or supplied to any person under 18 years of age. No Licence is required if guests purchase and bring their own wine; the tickets could indicate the particular type and quantity of wine to be brought. A modest charge can be made for uncorking the bottle as is common practice in restaurants. A charge can, of course, be made for food supplied.

Fancy Dress Competition

Whilst the majority of people enjoy dressing up and/or the challenge of finding, or making, a costume, not everyone does. This should be borne in mind when organising such a social evening. Fancy Dress should be optional but it should be made clear that prizes will be given to ‘x’ number of winners. Entrants for the competition should be asked to pay a donation for the privilege and there should be refreshments charge if a supper is to be served which will be paid by all attending. (See Law re Health & Hygiene)

The Fancy Dress competition can be incorporated as part of another Social Evening, such as a Pie & Peas supper or it can be a Social Evening in its own right. There could be a supper served, games and quizzes and a competition which is just begging to be run is ‘Guess the Fancy Dress’. Everyone can take part in this and the person who gets the most right is the winner.

Knowing that this competition is to take place will encourage the Fancy Dress entrants to be subtle in their choice of costume, eg a large lady could wear a corset laced up over her clothes, a tin helmet on her head and carry a gun – this is, of course, the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. Other suggestions are:

There could, of course, be a prize for those people whose costumes are not guessed by those present but which are obvious when it is known what, or who they are.

Members appreciate their Social Evenings and will help swell the Church Funds in their pursuit of enjoyment.

Musical Evening

This is a practical innovation where a church has talented soloists in its membership or is able to engage performers from a local amateur operatic or dramatic society. These performers will generally give their services free, having regard to their amateur status, though the Church should be prepared to reimburse them for travelling expenses. The idea is to provide an evening of light popular music, creating a happy relaxed atmosphere.

The evening can be divided into two sections and a light supper or other refreshments can be served during the interval. This can be followed with a further programme of music and song. Publicise the occasion in the local press and, if possible ask the local radio station to announce it in its slot for advertising local events.

Posters are another excellent form of advertising. The more advertising the better, after all you want the public to come along and join in. Do not charge for admission, otherwise the Church could be liable for entertainment tax, but a Church is allowed to have a freewill collection, this could be taken during the interval.

Pie & Peas Supper

A Social Evening to enjoy a traditional supper of pie and peas need not be difficult to organise. Many Church ladies, and even some men, will happily bake meat and potato pies, corned beef or minced meat pies and donate them to the Church for sale to members who attend the Supper.

The best peas to use with the pies are mushy peas which are dried peas which require to be soaked overnight in boiling water containing baking soda. The peas are then rinsed and boiled to become the delicious mushy peas that are so loved, especially in the North of England.

A charge for the evening should be made and games and/or quizzes can be played before the supper is served. Entertainment can be put on by members present and a raffle should be held.

A pie and peas supper is such an informal event there is always plenty of time for social conversation.

Poetry, Prose & Music Evening

This is an entertainment which will mainly appeal to Church members, at which they can be invited to recite poetry, or poems which have impressed them, read extracts from books or essays which have left a lasting memory, or play some of their favourite music upon whatever instrument they wish. Accompaniment on the Church's organ, or piano, if there is one, should be permitted if it is required, while members sing or play their own instruments, such as guitars or violins, etc.

This is a social activity which will involve the Church members and will be found to appeal especially to the younger generation.


QUIZ NIGHTS

There are many kinds of quizzes that can be held in the Church and these include:

Trivia Quiz

Teams of 4 people are entered and have to answer 10 questions on various subjects. The contestants are advised at the start of the quiz of the various subjects, eg History, Geography, Entertainment, Music, Science, Medical, General Knowledge, Famous People, Spiritualism etc.  A subject is chosen by each team as its Joker and all marks obtained when playing the Joker are doubled. A question master is required and teams are allowed, after each subject, to mark their own paper or they can exchange papers with another team. Teams should choose a name for themselves and competition between the teams should be encouraged.

The questions should be ‘middle of the road’ – too easy and everybody wins; too hard and everybody gets frustrated. At the end of the quiz the winners should be awarded their prize and then refreshments should be served. These could take the form of tea/coffee and biscuits or a small buffet could be put on, the price of such being included in the entry fee.

Call My Bluff

This is like the television quiz show but instead of having two teams there is a panel of four appointed, prior to the quiz, who will read the various definitions of the words and all people present guess which is correct. At the end of the night the person with the most correct is the winner.

A question master needs to organise the quiz and the various definitions for each word must be typed out for the readers. If the readers, or readings, are humorous, then this quiz can be very enjoyable.

Again, refreshments can be offered with the price of such included in the entrance fee.

Blankety Blank

Another television quiz which transfers well to a Social Evening. A panel of celebrities must be appointed and if the people who agree to be on the panel dress up as the celebrities, the stage is set for a fun night. A question master is required and everyone attending should be part of the first round questions. Whoever wins the first round goes forward to the next and this will continue until only one person is left for the ‘Head to Head’ round.

A lot of prior preparation is necessary and a sub-committee should get together and format the evening, the personnel, the questions and the refreshments.

Inter-Church quiz

This could take the form of any kind of quiz but Churches in the surrounding area should be invited to enter teams for this quiz. Prizes should be obtained and tickets prepared in order that the Church knows how many people are coming to support their teams. All tickets should be the same price but teams should pay an additional entry fee per team. If numbered tickets are sold then the Church will know how many to cater for if the evening is to include a buffet supper.

Inter Church competitions of any nature are to be encouraged; Churches can take it in turn to host various Social Activities and many Churches will hire minibuses to transport their members to the host Church.

Final Comments

Advertise all quiz nights locally and with the surrounding Churches, asking them to pin the information on the Church Notice Board; calculate the cost of advertising, tickets, light, heat, postage, food and liquid refreshments and determine the price of the tickets if it is to be an ‘entrance by ticket’ evening. Have regard to the Rules of the Health & Hygiene Act and ensure any catering provided does not contravene any of the provisions of this act.

Theme Nights

Theme nights, like quizzes, are as numerous as the Church Committee can think of. A theme should be decided upon and advertised. It is a social event and should be fun. It might be a good idea to hire a hall which has a music/dancing licence or obtain a temporary one for the Church so that members can dance if they wish. There can be games and quizzes organised and refreshments served.

Once the Theme has been decided upon people are expected to attend the night wearing the theme chosen; some themes are:

Whist/Beetle Drives

These kind of events can also include Bingo. Evenings of this nature are easy to arrange once the paperwork/cards required are obtained. Games of chance are very popular and a good time for these activities would be on an afternoon as opposed to an evening as many senior citizens who enjoy whist and beetle drives do not like coming out at night. Prizes should be given to winners as opposed to money.

One or two people will be required to organise and run the afternoon and also to provide tea and biscuits. It may not raise much money as prizes will have to be given but it is good to encourage meetings of the older members of the Church in a social environment.