CROWD funding is rapidly becoming a popular method of raising money through the effective use of social media. It involves promoting a cause to a mass audience with the aim of getting many small donations to reach a larger fundraising goal, rather than relying on the traditional methods or friends and family to donate larger amounts.
While individual fundraising sites have been commonplace for a few years now, crowd funding is proving more and more successful in raising money for groups and projects with specific themes. Catch the eye of a high profile figure and this can significantly increase the amount raised and the level of influence and reach.
That is exactly what happened to Northamptonshire Sport’s Claire Stancliffe, a multi skills PE coach who works with primary school pupils across Northamptonshire.
In her spare time, Claire plays football for Northampton Town Ladies FC and also represents GB Deaf Women’s Football team. Claire wears a Cochlear implant to assist her with hearing. The GB Deaf team doesn’t receive any external funding to compete in major championships and has traditionally had to self-fund trips to World Cups and major tournaments.
Over the past month, Claire has spearheaded a campaign by the GB Deaf Women’s football team (@GB_DeafFootball), to raise £10,000 towards the costs of going to the competition, flights, training, equipment, physio and medical treatment. Just la fortnight ago, the fundraising hit £16,000, with the highlight being an amazing one-off donation of £5,000 from Stoke City and England GK Jack Butland.
Jack tweeted: “I’ve learnt a lot from major tournaments, experiences I’ll never forget. I’d love for you to experience the same.”
The donation attracted national TV coverage that gave the girls’ campaign even more exposure.
Claire tweeted: “We just can’t stop raising money.” Donations keep coming in and members of the England women’s football team have donated signed shirts and boots for the team to auction to raise more money.
Northamptonshire also has April Malin eligible for selection. April won a Bronze medal in 2015 with the England Women’s Deaf Futsal team.
The GB team has now raised enough money to go to the Deaf World Cup this summer. We wish Claire, April and the rest of the team all the best with selection and preparation for the tournament.
Above – TEAM PLAYER: Claire in action (left).
