Giving back to CH - some ideas....
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:00 pm
With the recent debate around the 1552 petition, the number of full fee paying pupils, and the desire to ensure CH can deliver as many subsidised or free places as possible, it’s clear that there’s a financial gap which needs filling.
Over the years, I’ve given mostly my time to CH, having been part of the original CH Association Board, setting up the first CHA website, and also the Unofficial CH Forum. I’ve not felt able to donate money, apart from an annual donation to the Benevolent Society of Blues. I completely appreciate that we as Old Blues must do whatever we can to support the school, fulfilling The Charge, when we are able.
To this end, I have two ideas which I could feel could help engage Old Blues in giving something back, whether in their time or money.
First idea:-
A webpage providing ideas for how to give back, and what a donation will fund within CH. I originally raised this idea back in 2010 to the CHA (now CHOBA) Board, and prototyped the web page which I felt illustrated the potential. It may have been ahead of time, or it may have been rubbish, but was never pursued – but I’d be interested in whether Old Blues feel that this might help provide a more tangible way of giving back, linking the donation to an element of school life with which we’re familiar.
I’ve reinstated the prototype here:-
http://www.chforum.info/giveback/
Take a look - it’s a bit clunky now, and has the list of ideas I had back in 2010 for ways to give back (none of which have been endorsed by the school!), so would need some work and revision. The idea was that the list could be proactively managed, with Boarding House, sports groups etc. requesting items to be added to the list, which Old Blues could then fund reactively, rather like a wedding list. Social Media may fill that gap now for that type of more immediate one-off item, but I’m sure if there was a request for “a replacement pool table for Leight Hunt B” I might find myself considering a one-off donation if I could afford it!
The other key to this approach would be to recognise the donors within the boarding house, club, group, sport etc. on a regular basis, showing current Blues that Old Blues are supporting their house, activity, and the school as a whole, and establishing that virtuous cycle of giving, from Blues to Old Blues…?
Second idea:-
This is based on the recently launched Blue Fund, and the collective joint Governor approach I’ve heard about, allowing Old Blues to group together to present a child to the School. The Blue Fund is currently seeking to find £180,000 to fund a single child’s full seven years at the school. I believe a Governor presentation comprises funding 1 year of a child’s time at CH.
I feel that the key to group-funding is establishing a feeling of common interest and identity for the Old Blue cohort, challenging the group (and their parents) to club together, and giving it an identity. e.g. “Choir Members of 1990s”, “Rugby players of the 1990s”, “Old Blue Class of 1992” etc. By approaching a group, with a list of people being approached, and an idea of the monthly average commitment required from each cohort over a period of time, there’s a potential to tap into that group identity to fund a child’s place at CH. This would be a much more personal approach than simply a direct-debit mandate form in the post (which I’ve been in receipt of a number of times.) This one needs more thought, but I feel if led by the Development at CH, who have the contacts and the data to target specific cohorts, there’s more change of real engagement…
Interested in all feedback, positive, negative or constructive!
Over the years, I’ve given mostly my time to CH, having been part of the original CH Association Board, setting up the first CHA website, and also the Unofficial CH Forum. I’ve not felt able to donate money, apart from an annual donation to the Benevolent Society of Blues. I completely appreciate that we as Old Blues must do whatever we can to support the school, fulfilling The Charge, when we are able.
To this end, I have two ideas which I could feel could help engage Old Blues in giving something back, whether in their time or money.
First idea:-
A webpage providing ideas for how to give back, and what a donation will fund within CH. I originally raised this idea back in 2010 to the CHA (now CHOBA) Board, and prototyped the web page which I felt illustrated the potential. It may have been ahead of time, or it may have been rubbish, but was never pursued – but I’d be interested in whether Old Blues feel that this might help provide a more tangible way of giving back, linking the donation to an element of school life with which we’re familiar.
I’ve reinstated the prototype here:-
http://www.chforum.info/giveback/
Take a look - it’s a bit clunky now, and has the list of ideas I had back in 2010 for ways to give back (none of which have been endorsed by the school!), so would need some work and revision. The idea was that the list could be proactively managed, with Boarding House, sports groups etc. requesting items to be added to the list, which Old Blues could then fund reactively, rather like a wedding list. Social Media may fill that gap now for that type of more immediate one-off item, but I’m sure if there was a request for “a replacement pool table for Leight Hunt B” I might find myself considering a one-off donation if I could afford it!
The other key to this approach would be to recognise the donors within the boarding house, club, group, sport etc. on a regular basis, showing current Blues that Old Blues are supporting their house, activity, and the school as a whole, and establishing that virtuous cycle of giving, from Blues to Old Blues…?
Second idea:-
This is based on the recently launched Blue Fund, and the collective joint Governor approach I’ve heard about, allowing Old Blues to group together to present a child to the School. The Blue Fund is currently seeking to find £180,000 to fund a single child’s full seven years at the school. I believe a Governor presentation comprises funding 1 year of a child’s time at CH.
I feel that the key to group-funding is establishing a feeling of common interest and identity for the Old Blue cohort, challenging the group (and their parents) to club together, and giving it an identity. e.g. “Choir Members of 1990s”, “Rugby players of the 1990s”, “Old Blue Class of 1992” etc. By approaching a group, with a list of people being approached, and an idea of the monthly average commitment required from each cohort over a period of time, there’s a potential to tap into that group identity to fund a child’s place at CH. This would be a much more personal approach than simply a direct-debit mandate form in the post (which I’ve been in receipt of a number of times.) This one needs more thought, but I feel if led by the Development at CH, who have the contacts and the data to target specific cohorts, there’s more change of real engagement…
Interested in all feedback, positive, negative or constructive!