Event ideas

Raising money for Samaritans is a fun and rewarding way to help and don't forget to log your hours after the event has happened.

Virtual events

Fancy dress

It’s a great way to raise money any time of year. Invite colleagues to work in fancy-dress and ask them to pay a small donation for the day?

Games night

Bring back the old days of board games or borrow something from the children perhaps Connect Four, Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit or maybe one of these.

Coffee morning

Bring friends or colleagues together for a hot drink and a chat. It’s so important to talk and listen to each other. As you’ve already watched the videos for the Wellbeing Toolkit and the Active listening skills you will already know how.

Auction of promises

Do you have something special you’re willing donate for a good cause? Can you get your hands on some sports memorabilia? It’s a great way to raise money.

Arts & crafts

Are you a dab hand at sewing, knitting, jewellery making or painting. Would you donate your arts & crafts for sale for Samaritans?

Make a change

Why wait for a New Years’ resolution. Everyone has something they want to start doing, change or give up – what is yours?

Hair dry and head shave and stream live

Promote your fundraising by changing your hair colour for a week or so before shaving your hair off to maximise donations.

Quizzes

An old favourite and lots of fun.

Raffle

A raffle is great to have at a fundraising event. Just charge a fee for tickets and the winner gets a prize.

Sweepstakes

Who will win the football/ rugby, how many sweets in the jar?’ and people pay to be given an answer. Whoever has the winning answer gets a prize, while you donate the money raised.

When things are a little more normal

Bake sale

You may be a master chef and extreme cake maker or more like Mary Berry baking and selling cakes and savoury treats is a great way to raise money and make friends.

Snooker, Pool or darts match

Bring people together and test your dexterity and aim.

Eating

Did you ever watch Man Vs Food? Or fancy getting into the Guinness book of records with a food eating challenges – How many crackers can you eat without water?

Film night

Can you get your local cinema involved or take over a large meeting room and bring colleagues together for a marathon film session, Star Wars anyone?

Fancy-dress days

It’s a great way to raise money any time of year. Invite colleagues to come to work in fancy-dress and ask them to pay a small donation for the day?

Games night

Bring back the old days of board games or borrow something from the children perhaps Connect Four, Monopoly, Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit

Physical events

Even if you’re not a runner you may be able to hold an event that raises lots of money and you don’t have to do it alone; with relay races on a gym bike, swimming or walking, DJ sets, roller skating, ice skating, staying awake choose your challenge 26.2 miles or hours. Click here to find out more.

Sponsored silence

Treat your friends, family or colleagues to a day of peace and quiet and if you don’t manage it you’ll need to add a special contribution to the fundraising pot.

Hot wax

For those who think a leg wax is nothing, perhaps a chest or back wax to raise money for your local Samaritans Branch.

Community awareness

This could be presenting at a college or to a community group or supporting your local railway station following an incident.