Question 1

Raffle And Lottery Guidance

Accepted Answer

View our handy guide to running your own raffle or lottery.

Question 2

How will my entry help?

Accepted Answer

For every £1 you play each week, 50p comes back to our charity. This means that thanks to our lottery players, our patients are the real winners. Your support will ensure we can be at the forefront of what is possible for our sick kids and their families.

Question 3

What are the terms and conditions?

Accepted Answer

There’s no limit to how many winners we have each week, or how many times you win as long as you’re in the draw. All you need is three or more digits of your numbers to match in the same positions as the digits in the winning number sequence.

For example, if the winning number sequence was 123456, the lottery number 163057 would be a 3-digit winning match; because 3 digits are positioned in the same place in the sequence.

You must be 18 years old or over to enter our lottery. Minimum entry is £1 per week. Winning numbers are drawn on Friday and displayed weekly on our Unity Lottery page.

The promoter of this lottery is Miranda Williams, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH. Registered Charity Number 1160875. Licensed by Birmingham City Council - Registration No.6746.

Question 4

How are the winners selected?

Accepted Answer

Every Friday, the lucky winners are selected at random.

Winners have to match 3, 4, 5 or all 6 digits of the winning number in the correct place in the sequence.
3-digit match = 5 entries into the next draw.
4-digit match = £25.
5-digit match = £1,000.
6-digit match = £25,000

Don’t forget, you can increase your odds of winning by signing up to more than one chance each week.

The winning lottery number will be published on the results page of the Unity website. Our Fundraising Team will contact you if you win and your winning cheque will arrive in the post.

For practical help and support on problem gambling, contact GAMCARE on 0808 802 0133 or visit www.begambleaware.org if needed.

Question 5

Can I donate toys or other items to the charity?

Accepted Answer

Please visit our gifts in kind page to find out more about our toy donation policy and what we are able to accept.

Question 6

How do I set up a regular gift?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to set up a monthly donation to us by direct debit, please visit the donate section of our website. If you have any questions or would prefer to give your details over the telephone to set up your direct debit, please call our Supporter Care team on 0121 333 8506.

Question 7

What is Gift Aid?

Accepted Answer

Gift Aid is a scheme which allows charities to claim 25p in every £1 of a charitable donation made by a UK taxpayer.

Gift Aid is only eligible on a personal donation. We cannot claim Gift Aid on donations from companies, Charitable Trusts, raffles or merchandise. For more information, please read this useful guide from HMRC.

Download your Gift Aid Declaration form.

Question 8

I would like to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Accepted Answer

If you’ve already decided on your fundraiser or have already signed up to a third party event, please complete our fundraising registration form. Once this form has been completed and submitted, a dedicated fundraiser from our team will be in touch within 48 hours to discuss your plans. They will then send you our fundraising pack with lots of advice and materials to get you started.

If you aren’t yet sure what you’d like to do, you can find plenty of inspiration on the ‘Fundraising’ tab at the top of this page. You can also find a list of all our organised events on our ‘Events’ pages, or get in touch with our team, we’d be more than happy to discuss some ideas with you. Email us or call us on 0121 333 8506.

Question 9

How do I leave a gift in my Will?

Accepted Answer

A precious gift to support the future of our hospital, here's what you need to do.

For over 160 years, visionary supporters have been leaving gifts in their wills to support the future of our hospital for generations to come. For more information please visit our Gifts in Wills page or contact us on 0121 333 8506.

Question 10

Please could you come and collect my tin/bucket?

Accepted Answer

If your tin is full or event has now finished, here's what to do

We don’t currently offer a dedicated collection service for our tins and buckets. It’s the responsibility of the supporter to return the tin or bucket along with its contents to our Fundraising Hub here at the hospital.

If you’re having problems returning your tins or buckets, please get in touch with your fundraising contact who will be able to help resolve the issue, or contact us here and someone will be in touch.

Question 11

Can I support a specific ward or appeal?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can choose for your money to go a specific ward or department, one of our current appeals or where the need is greatest across the hospital, Just let us know where you want the money to go in the comments section on your registration form.

Question 12

What are the regulations surrounding raffles?

Accepted Answer

Supporters must pay to enter and there must be at least one prize. Raffles that do not require a license are a ‘Small Raffle’ or a ‘Private Raffle’.

Small Raffle

Tickets cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16 years old.
Tickets are sold at the same price (If tickets cost £1 you cannot have a ‘special offer’ of e.g. Five for £4).
Tickets must be sold on the day of the draw only (Not in the days leading up to it) and the results made public on the same day.
You can spend a maximum of £500 on prizes (Donated prizes’ value does not count so you can have as many donated prizes as you like).
You can have a gift voucher as a prize but not actual cash.
All proceeds must go to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Private Raffle

Tickets are sold to people who are members of the same club, or who live/ work on the same premises.
The raffle can only be promoted to the members or to people on the premises.

You will need to email your Local Authority for a ‘Society Raffle’ if

Tickets are sold over a longer period of time (more than one day).
Tickets will be sold to the general public.

Just let them know when the raffle is happening, what prizes you are offering and how many tickets you hope to sell.

For detailed information please read our guide to raffles or visit the Institute of Fundraising website

Question 13

Can I organise my own bucket collection?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if it is inside a shop, supermarket or shopping centre and you have written permission from the Owner or Manager. You will also need a ‘Letter of Authenticity’ from Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity as well as our secure fundraising buckets. Please email to organise these and please try to give us at least two weeks’ notice.

If you want to organise a bucket collection in a public space e.g. a city centre or park you must apply for a license from your local council. You will need to apply for this online via your local authority’s website (we cannot apply on your behalf.)

Question 14

Tell me more about the PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) Sponsor a Star scheme

Accepted Answer

In order to obtain a star, you would need to make a minimum donation of £250.00 to the PICU ward. This can be either a personal donation or money raised as a result of fundraising. The family liaison sisters on the ward will then speak to you to confirm the wording you’d like on your star and arrange to get this made and displayed for you. The star will stay on the wall here on PICU for 18 months, and will then be sent to you for the family to keep. Please email Supporter Care for more information.

Question 15

I am not happy with the way my fundraising has been dealt with.

Accepted Answer

Please contact Kathy Chappell via email or by telephone on 0121 333 8658.

Question 16

How can I obtain a quote from the Fundraising Team?

Accepted Answer

Our Fundraising PR Manager will be able to help with these requests. Please contact our Supporter Care Team on 0121 333 8506 or email us.

Question 17

I want to hold a raffle where I am selling tickets over more than 1 day

Accepted Answer

If you are intending to hold a raffle to raise funds for the hospital and wish to sell tickets over a period of time (longer than 24 hours), you will need to obtain a lottery licence from your local Council.

Cloakroom tickets can only be used for a raffle where all of the tickets are sold and the raffle is drawn within the course of one day.

If you have any queries, please do contact the Fundraising Team who will be able to help you on 0121 333 8506 or via email.

There is also some information available on the gambling commission website providing guidance around raffles and when licences are needed.

Question 18

I would like to do a street collection.

Accepted Answer

In order to hold a bucket collection in a public area, you will need to apply for a licence from the local council where you are planning to collect.

There can be a cost to this, and it often requires some time to set up/organise.

It is much simpler to hold a collection in a supermarket, or shop where you just need to get the agreement of the Store Manager.

Question 19

I want to approach people door to door to ask for donations

Accepted Answer

We do not allow our supporters or their companies to collect cash or sponsorship donations door to door.

Question 20

Am I allowed to use your logo on posters/leaflets etc that I've made to advertise my own event?

Accepted Answer

We do have guidelines in place around the use of our charity logo, so it is always best to contact us first if would like to use our logo to help promote/advertise your fundraising. We can then ensure you have the correct version to meet legal requirements. All printed and digital materials featuring the logo must be approved by your contact point in the Fundraising Team. To request a copy of our logo, please email us.

Question 21

Can I donate used or second-hand toys to the hospital?

Accepted Answer

We cannot accept used or second-hand toys in the hospital due to our Infection Control guidelines and the risk of cross-infection to our patients. If you have used or second-hand toys, you can still donate this to support our Charity via our recycling provider Collection4Clothes+. For more information, please visit our webpage.

We can however accept brand new toys or arts/craft activities which are always very welcome for our children and young patients. For further information click here.

Question 22

I would like to volunteer for the hospital/Fundraising Team

Accepted Answer

If you’d like to be a volunteer within our Fundraising Team, please visit the Volunteer section of this website for further details, or email us.

Please note that volunteering within the main hospital is managed by the Trust Volunteer Co-ordinator. Please email bwc.volunteers@nhs.net or call 0121 333 9999 ext.6726.

Question 23

My donation doesn’t appear to have been banked.

Accepted Answer

We can check our systems here to confirm receipt of a donation. If you are concerned that it might not have reached us, please feel free to contact us on either 0121 333 8506 or via email at fundraising@bch.org.uk.

If you have posted a cheque to us, please note it can take up to 2 weeks to process cheque payments, but if you have any concerns, please do give us a call.

Question 24

I would like to be taken off your mailing list.

Accepted Answer

Please email our Supporter Care Team on fundraising@bch.org.uk or call the team on 0121 333 8506.

Question 25

I would like my money to buy a specific piece of equipment.

Accepted Answer

This is possible but can take some time for the Fundraising Team to clarify with the hospital wards what items they may need and the cost involved. Please call your Fundraising contact or our Supporter Care team to discuss this further on 0121 333 8506.

Question 26

Please can you send a t-shirt / running vest for my fundraising event?

Accepted Answer

We do have t-shirts available for adults. We ask for a suggested donation of £5 per t-shirt to cover our costs in purchasing these.

Running vests are also available, and we ask for a suggested donation of £8 per vest to cover our costs in purchasing these.

Question 27

How do I make sure that the money on my online giving page (Just Giving, Virgin Money Giving etc) goes to a specific hospital ward?

Accepted Answer

To support a specific hospital ward please select Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity as your chosen charity when setting up your online giving page. You can then include some free text about what you are doing and why - it is in this section that we suggest you mention the specific ward or department you are raising funds for.

If you haven’t registered your fundraising with us, it is really helpful to complete our online fundraising registration form. This includes a section asking where you would like your money to go.

Question 28

Do you have any charity places for the London Marathon?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do have a small number of charity places available for the London Marathon. However, as there is such a demand for these places, we ask that anyone interested completes our enquiry form. We also urge supporters to enter the public ballot as they might be fortunate in gaining a place this way. Once the public ballot is revealed around early October, we will also inform those people who have completed an enquiry form whether or not they have been successful.

NB to run for Birmingham Children's Hospital there is usually a minimum sponsorship level to raise approximately £2,500 - £3,000.

Question 29

What training and support will I be given?

Accepted Answer

Whatever volunteer role you choose to take on, we will give you all the training and support you need to feel comfortable in your work. All fundraising volunteers have a staff member who they can go to for help and support.

Question 30

What skills and experience do I need?

Accepted Answer

Some of our volunteering opportunities require you to have particular skills but these are clearly stated in the role profiles. The majority do not require you to have any experience or specialist skills and we will provide all the training and information you need.

Question 31

How much time do I have to give?

Accepted Answer

This can vary to suit you. We will let you know what opportunities are coming up, when and how much time it will take and you can sign up to volunteer.

Question 32

How old do I need to be to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

To volunteer you must be at least 16 years of age. Volunteers aged 16 or 17-years-old will need written consent from their parent or guardian.

Question 33

2011-2022

Accepted Answer

Question 34

2001-2010

Accepted Answer

Question 35

1941-2000

Accepted Answer

Question 36

1901-1940

Accepted Answer

Question 37

1842-1900

Accepted Answer

Question 38

Can I volunteer within the hospital?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can volunteer in our hospital but this is not something that we organise. You will need to contact the hospital volunteer service.

Email: bwc.volunteers@nhs.net
Tel: 0121 333 9999 extension 6726.

Question 39

Will I have to be interviewed?

Accepted Answer

Our volunteering opportunities do not require a formal interview. We will ask you to complete an application form to enable us to offer you a suitable opportunity. An informal meet and greet session will then be arranged to discuss the service and opportunities further.

Question 40

Will I get my expenses paid?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, our volunteers do not receive any payment for their work however we are able to reimburse travel expenses if required. Please get in touch with our Volunteer Co-ordinator if you would like to discuss further.