Five Reasons Why Your Community Group Should Consider Fundraising Activities

Broadway Belles WI raises £10,000 for BASICS Essex in its tenth-anniversary year

Fundraising can achieve much more than generating money for a good cause. It can bring people together, create new friendships and give members an enjoyable way to make a genuine difference in their community.

The members of Broadway Belles Women’s Institute from Leigh On Sea have demonstrated exactly that, raising an incredible £10,000 for BASICS Essex, almost more than double the amount they had ever raised for a chosen charity before.

The achievement came during the Broadway Belles tenth-anniversary year, making the milestone even more special.

In 2025, Broadway Belles nominated BASICS Essex as the group’s Charity of the Year. Members were inspired by BASICS Essex volunteer paramedic John Horton who visited the group to explain how the charity’s volunteer doctors and paramedics respond to some of the most seriously ill and injured people across Essex and provide pre hospital critical care before the patient gets to hospital.

Learning about a service operating within their own county and realising how few members had previously heard of it really resonated with the group.

BASICS Essex receives no mandatory government funding and relies on donations, fundraising and community support to keep its volunteer clinicians responding across the county.

With 98 members, Broadway Belles chose to make fundraising something in which everyone could become involved, rather than leaving all the responsibility with its committee.

We asked Lynda to share some of the benefits members have experienced during their fundraising.

1. It gives everyone an opportunity to contribute

Community fundraising does not have to begin with a large or complicated event.

Broadway Belles’ fundraising was kicked off by one member who organised a pizza and prosecco evening, despite never having run an event before. Her willingness to try something new encouraged others to come forward with their own ideas.

Members went on to organise a quiz night, curry night, barn dance and other activities. Raffles, refreshments, sponsored walks and homemade cakes all helped add to the final total.

2. It helps members discover new skills

Organising a fundraising activity can give people the confidence to try something they have never done before.

Members may discover that they enjoy planning events, baking, promoting activities, securing raffle prizes or bringing people together. Others may prefer to contribute behind the scenes or support an event simply by attending.

Fundraising works best when everyone can become involved in a way that suits their interests, confidence and available time. No single contribution is too small.

3. It strengthens friendships and creates new connections

With 98 members, fundraising gave Broadway Belles an opportunity to bring together women who might not previously have had the chance to get to know one another.

The events created relaxed social occasions where members could talk, laugh and build friendships beyond the group’s usual meetings. Friends and family members were also introduced to both the WI and the work of BASICS Essex, spreading awareness much further.

This social benefit was central to the group’s approach. Fundraising was never intended to feel like a chore—it became a light-hearted excuse to spend time together and do something enjoyable.

4. It raises awareness as well as money

Before choosing BASICS Essex as its Charity of the Year, many Broadway Belles members had never heard of the charity.

Through John Horton’s visit, the fundraising activities and conversations with friends and family, more people learned about the volunteer clinicians who respond to life-threatening emergencies across Essex and provide interventions to save lives that would normally only be given in hospital.

This shows how community fundraising can create a ripple effect.

Every conversation, event and social media post introduces the cause to someone new and that increased awareness can continue long after the fundraising year has ended.

5. It creates a shared sense of achievement

Reaching an incredible £10,000 gave Broadway Belles a powerful shared achievement to celebrate during its tenth-anniversary year.

The total was nearly almost double anything the group had previously raised, but its success was not measured by money alone. Members had tried new things, formed friendships, enjoyed memorable experiences and supported volunteer clinicians working in their local communities.

Lynda said the experience showed that fundraising should be something people enjoy. It does not matter whether an individual activity raises £50 or £1,000—every effort contributes to the final result and helps the charity continue its work.

Fundraising should be fun!

The Broadway Belles story shows that successful fundraising does not need to depend on one enormous event or a small number of organisers.

It can begin with a pizza and prosecco evening, a few homemade cakes or an idea from someone who has never organised anything before.

By keeping activities social, enjoyable and open to everyone, community groups can raise vital funds while strengthening the group itself.

BASICS Essex is enormously grateful to every member of Broadway Belles WI who organised an activity, donated, attended an event or helped spread the word. Their outstanding £10,000 contribution will help our volunteer doctors and paramedics continue responding to critically ill and injured people across Essex.

If your WI, club, workplace or community organisation would like to support BASICS Essex, arrange a free CPR or field first aid session, or invite one of our volunteers to give a talk, we would love to hear from you.