The total cost of making these workshops happen is £4,290. To my mind this is an incredibly scary amount of money! But, when I consider that this amount will enable six months of art workshops, five days a week, helping over 120 children, I suppose it's not a lot!
I am putting £2,200 of my own money into this project. This amount covers my personal travel, visa and language training costs. I am saving as hard as I can and selling my car (in October) to reach my personal target of £2,200.
I decided to fundraising for the remaining £2,090! After a couple of months of feeling shy and embarrassed, my colleagues and confidants at Charlotte Miller Art Project persuaded me that public fundraising is the best way to raise money and raise awareness for the charity. The ‘pep talk’ from the lovely Lynn, Chloe and Jenny persuaded me that people will want to support me in this venture, and want to be more informed about the problems in Latin America and the potential of Participatory Arts for children and young people. SO, I finally bit my tongue, swallowed my pride and got money making!!
Firstly, I sent some letters out to friends and family, explaining the project and pleading for support. The response I have received has been overwhelming and I want to say a huge blog THANK YOU to everybody who has responded with help. And yes, I got a wonderful, generous £935 of cold hard cash for the workshops! And I also received letters and texts with words of encouragement and advice, gleaming personal references (necessary to send to CMAP before my employment) and catch up letters from estranged friends… Thank you all! All donations were sent through my Just Giving;
Secondly, I decided to capitalise on my campervan. Molly the (1965 Bedford) van is being used as a vehicle for ‘Good Golly Cream Teas For Charity’… touring the South West in summer 2011, raising funds for CMAP by selling scones! (Homemade scones!)
Thirdly, I searched and searched for trusts and funds that might support this project – and came up with 14 to write to. They all received personal letters, my personal reference, CV and a letter of support from Sue Miller. So far I have had one rejection letter and two rejection emails…but I have also had a good meeting over tea and cake with the lovely people from The Lions Club Reading…and I wait with baited breath to see if they have decided to support this project financially. As for the other ten – fingers crossed I’ll hear from them soon!
