WARWICKSHIRE’S SUMMER 2020 CHARITY RAFFLE – HOW DID IT GO?
Our first ever charity raffle came to an end just over a week ago and waw, we are so grateful to EVERY SINGLE person and business who took part! We wanted to dedicate this post to thanking as many people as we can!!
Who organised it? The Warwickshire Review’s owner, Sarah Cheney
What was it? A charity raffle with 50 prizes up for grabs in aid of 5 Warwickshire charities
When did it happen? Friday 5th June 2020 – Friday 10th July 2020
Where did it happen? HERE
Why? To raise as much money as possible for 5 Warwickshire charities, to help them recover from the COVID19 crisis and beyond
How much was raised? £3,287
You may be thinking, hang on, wasn’t the target to raise £5,000?! And yes you’re right. We set out with high hopes to raise £5K for 5 charities….£1K for each. However, within the first few weeks of launching the event, it became clear times were changing quickly: lockdown was starting to ease; more and more people were losing their jobs; more and more businesses were going bust. Overall people just didn’t have the money to spare for yet another fundraiser! So we went back to the drawing board and thought, if we can raise even 50% of our target, that’s still £2,500, £500 for each of the 5 charities. A decent sum of money that would benefit 5 amazing causes. And on Thursday 9th July we did it, we hit £2,500! We were SO happy and SO relieved that we could proudly present each charity with £500. Warwickshire had done us proud.
Then, 24 hours later, the raffle ended at 7 pm on Friday 10th July and we couldn’t believe our eyes! Warwickshire, you donated a further £787 overnight!… Bringing our grand total to £3,287, meaning we’re able to give OVER £600 to each charity!!!! This just shows what a generous and supportive county we live in. Even though times are tough, you came together to help 5 organisations in your community that needed your help.
Here’s a quick reminder of the 5 charities that benefited from your raffle donations….
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Charity
SWFT Charity supports Warwick hospital, Leamington Spa Hospital, Stratford hospital & Ellen Badger Hospital.
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Charity
UHCW Charity supports the hospital of St. Cross Rugby, University hospital Coventry plus local mental health and community services.
The GEH Charity supports staff and patients of The George Eliot Hospital. Helping to provide additional equipment and supplies above and beyond that of the NHS. Offering increased comfort – the icing on the cake!
A local mental health charity affiliated to Mind: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales. Mind develops and delivers quality services with, and for, people with mental health problems.
Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire
An independent charity working in the community to offer support and services to older people, their families, and carers. Helping people to love later life in Warwickshire and Coventry.
We’re incredibly grateful to the 42 local businesses that donated 50 wonderful prizes, worth over £1,000……these businesses really did go above and beyond our expectations when it came to donating prizes, promoting the raffle and supporting us in any way they could! So thank you to……
Wonderful Events
Wonderful Events by Martina Paul, is a Cotswolds based wedding planner & coordinator with over 15 years of experience. Martina will save you weeks of browsing the internet, give you access to reliable suppliers and help you (over skype or face to face) turn your dream wedding into a reality!
Cara Mia Photography
Whether you choose to have your photoshoot at Cara Mia’s Photography studio in Harbury or at a location of your choice, the photos she captures will be ones you’ll want to treasure forever.
Tropic Skincare With Helen Chidgey
Helen’s pamper parties give the chance for you & a few friends to relax & unwind with a free bottle of prosecco as she pampers you with the very best products from Tropic’s 100% natural skincare ranges.
The Warwickshire Gin Company
The Warwickshire Gin Company combines two passions, their love of gin, with their love of local Warwickshire History! Resulting in a delicious handcrafted gin, distilled using a small batch method and a traditional copper pot
JPF Sports Therapy
JPF Sports Therapy, based in Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore within Therapy Rooms Rugby, offers high-quality sports therapy. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, optimising your sporting performance, improving your posture or just want to reduce your everyday aches & pains, Jamie will to help your body move in the right direction!
Get Cooking! With Anne-Marie
Based in Warwick, with over 10 years of experience, Anne Marie teaches all ages the joy of cooking face to face and online. The winner of this voucher will be able to attend the cooking workshop of their choice. Whether you’re a complete beginner or regular home cook, you’ll discover imaginative ways to use up leftovers, how to cook sustainably, developed new skills, and boost your confidence in the kitchen!
Cafe Vin Cinq
Cafe Vin Cinq is a multi-award-winning, intimate boutique-style restaurant and cocktail bar located in the center of Rugby. Specialising in freshly prepared (organic where possible), dishes, using locally supplied, and seasonal ingredients. Often but not exclusively, French-themed, with plenty of choices to suit all tastes.
Inner Peace Hatha Yoga
Leigh has been teaching hatha yoga since 1998 and is offering one lucky household a one-month yoga subscription to her classes, valued at £30. This entitles all adults in the same household access to 4 live streamed yoga classes per week, plus access to her growing yoga video library.
Misters Barbers Shop
Based in Leamington Spa, Misters Barbers Shop is a gentlemen’s hairdressers offering old school barbering for the modern man! Specialising in traditional, classic, and on-trend hairstyles/cuts, as well an offering exclusive cut-throat razor shave service and flaming ears!
Pink Chocolate Beauty Salon
Based in Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore on the outskirts of Rugby, Pink Chocolate offers a huge range of beauty, hair, and nail treatments; an established one-stop-beauty-shop for well over 5 years. Treatments include facials, hair styling, colouring, hair up, message, manicures, pedicures, nail art, gel nails, hair removal, spray tanning and so much more!
The Cake Collective
The Cake Collective, based in Wellesbourne, delivers delicious homemade cupcakes, with a little bit of luxury, straight to your door! Whether they’re for a celebration…or just a treat, Lauren’s indulgent cakes are bound to impress.
Drama Tots
Sam’s Drama Tots provides award-winning drama, music, and imaginative play classes in Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, and Warwick for children aged 18 months-4 years.
The Retreat
The Retreat Leamington Spa is an award-winning Salon in Leamington Spa offering a range of beauty treatments and world-leading Spa Brand products.
Michelle Abrahall Design
Michelle Abrahall Design is an Illustrator & designer helping businesses in Leamington Spa & beyond with graphic design, infographics, logos, book covers, illustrations, copywriting, & website graphics.
Sparkle Kirsty’s Holistic Therapies
Sparkle Kirsty’s Holistic Therapies, based in Rugby, offer a relaxing, warm, friendly atmosphere a selection of Holistic Therapies including Seated Massage, Indian Head Massage, Crystal Therapy, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflexology, Reiki and Holistic Pain Management.
Rebecca’s Kitchen
Rebecca’s Kitchen is an exciting and tasty venture at the new and improved Malt Kiln Farm. A ‘farm to fork’ concept, offering a seasonal, locally sourced menu of tasty lunches, afternoon tea, and plenty of sweet treats!
Sofya & I + Sofya Style
Sofy & I is a women & girl’s fashion boutique located in Hatton Country world, founded by business owner and fashion enthusiast Ann Pendlebury. The shop also has its own magazine, Sofya Style!
Paper Personalities
Paper Personalities offers an ever-growing selection of greetings cards specialising in cards that combine age & relation for milestone birthdays and personalised anniversary cards.
We Are DRM
DRM, standing for dream, is a social enterprise & streetwear brand based in Rugby. Offering fashionable t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and accessories they raise awareness for mental health & use 25% of our profits to go into the community work that they do.
Raise The Bars
Raise the Bars Rugby is a family-friendly gym and fitness studio run by Personal Trainer Tracy and her family. They offer a fun friendly atmosphere for people to train in, focusing not only on the body, but also on the mind and soul to help strengthen you from the inside out.
Miss Esther Photography
Harriet is a photographer currently based in Coventry. Creating original fine art prints and high-quality greetings cards as Miss Esther Photography.
Juebags
Based in Coventry, Juebags specialise in handmade wash bags, makeup bags, makeup pouches, cushion covers, tote bags, mini totes, wedding ring pillows, and Christmas stockings
The Dice Box Cafe
The Dice Box Cafe is Warwickshire’s first Board Game Cafe on Regent Street in Leamington Spa! They have a board game library of over 600 games for you to choose and play, ranging from children’s games to strategy games. A wide selection of food and beverages are available, served to you by Game Gurus who are also on hand to help you.
Kiddibops
Kiddibops run fun, independent Music Education classes in the local community for babies, toddlers and preschool children, using the latest music research to support early learning development . Planned and delivered by a qualified and experienced Music Educator focusing on early years, classes are structured around the EYFS curriculum for nurseries and primary schools.
Monsoon Estates Coffee
Monsoon Estates is a small family owner coffee roastery. A traditional craft coffee roastery based near Stratford upon Avon, hand roasting small batches of coffee in a relentless quest to find the perfect cup of coffee.
Cakes Fabulous cakes
A Cake designer based in Rugby, Cakes Fabulous cakes specialise in creating edible memories in the form of wedding cakes, cupcakes and celebration cakes!
Terracotta Boutique
Terracotta, an independent boutique in Rugby, is full of quality, stylish clothing, individual labels, beautiful accessories, and the best style advice!
Emily’s Lollies
Based in Southam, Emily created beautiful, luxury handmade lollipops for weddings and other special occasions.
Bubble Luxe Balloons
Baed in Hillmorton on the outskirts of Rugby, Bubble Luxe Balloons is a bespoke service dedicated to personalising balloons for any occasion.
Olivia’s Coffee House
Based in Hillmorton on the outskirts of Rugby, Olivia’s Coffee House is a fresh take on a classic coffee house, with delicious cakes, and gorgeous locally sourced coffees.
Napton Cidery
Napton Cidery is an award-winning craft cidery in Southam, celebrating real cider from traditional British orchards.
Twinings Home Fragrance
Twinings Home Fragrance is a small family run business based in Rugby. They produce beautiful, handmade, high-quality candles, melts and gifts that are affordable and fill your home with incredible fragrance!
Shape It Up Pilates
Shape It Up Pilates has a specialist pilates studio in the centre of Rugby where their friendly, professional team offers 1-2-1 and group pilates classes. Providing you with the opportunity to tone, strengthen, and improve both your flexibility and posture.
Shelle’s Chic
Shelle’s Chic is a small independent Nuneatonbased business, specialising in upcycling beautiful vintage, retro and antique furniture. Michelle is also a proud official stockist for Vintro Luxury Paint, the fastest growing decorative paint brand in the UK.
Mallory Journals
Based in Shipston On Stour, Mallory Journals makes hand-bound journals from Italian leather and Portuguese cork.
Cherry Tree Naturals
Cherry Tree Naturals makes handcrafted, natural, Organic skin-loving products made with organic oils, butters, and Essential Oils…without toxins, chemicals, and additives. Artisan Soap, Solid Lotion Bar, Lip Balm, Botanical Hair Conditioner all made with love and passion in Wellesbourne.
La Casa Loco
La Casa Loco, Rugby’s only Mexican restaurant provides great food, a great atmosphere, and a great dining experience for the whole family!
Positive Instinct
Based in Rugby, Positive Instinct handprints ceramic coffee mugs that can be personalised, made to order or chosen from Sarah’s range of over 250 designs. Positive Instinct’s mugs are purchased from all over the via the online market place, Etsy.
Hawkins Estate Agents
Since 1989 Hawkins have helped thousands of people buy, sell, let and rent. Professional local property experts providing market-leading solutions and support for your journey within and through the property market. Based in Bedworth, Coventry & Nuneaton…they’re local people with local knowledge and local interests.
Love Pieces Of Eight
Based in Rugby, Love Pieces Of Eight specialises in Personalised jewellery, hand-stamped vintage cutlery & other little gifts…all of which are hand-made by Carly! Another popular item is Carly’s colourful animal drink stirrers which have been featured in the UK’s Best Selling Wedding Magazine – Perfect Wedding Magazine.
Kidslingo
Covering Nuneaton & Hinckley, Christina’s Kidslingo classes provide fun Spanish lessons for children age 0 – 11 years. Due to coronavirus, all classes are now live online, as well as prerecorded sessions.
June’s Chatterbox Tunes
June is a qualified Baby Signs Teacher with additional experience as a Speech Therapist and Early Years Educator. June runs her own (now online) Music classes with Singing, Signs, Sensory Messy Play, and Speech and Language activities from 2 months to 4 years.
And we want to say a special thank you to the following 13 businesses who not only donated some fabulous prizes but also helped raise some vital funds that contributed to our grand total…..
DRM who raised £105
The Dice Box Cafe who raised £65
Rebecca’s Kitchen who raised £60
Get Cooking! With Anne-Marie who raised £55
Michelle Abrahall who raised £35
Inner Peace Hatha Yoga who raised £25
Cara Mia Photography who raised £20
June’s Chatterbox Tunes who raised £20
Mallory Journals who raised £10
Twinings Home Fragrance who raised £10
Warwickshire Gin Company who raised £8
Cakes Fabulous Cakes who raised £8
The Retreat Leamington Ltd who raised £5
We also want to say a big thank you to the businesses that pledged some significant donations in the last few days of the raffle that really pushed our total over the £3K mark! So thank you to….
- Prologis UK who are leading developers and owner of industrial, warehouse, distribution and logistics property in the UK and worldwide
- HOET (Heart Of England Training) who provide Apprenticeship & FL courses across the Midlands. Hair, Beauty, Business, Retail, Customer Service, Management & more.
- Buckingham Group who provide total construction solutions and are part of the ‘DIRFT Project’
Also, thank you to Warwickshire’s local newspapers and PR’s that covered our raffle. Including The Rugby Advertiser, Coventry Live, The Rugby Observer and Amanda at Chalmers News PR.
And last but not least we want to thank each and every one of the 259 people who purchased raffle tickets. We couldn’t have done it without you and it was truly heart-warming to see so many of you supporting your local charities. Congratulations to our 50 winners, our commiserations to those who didn’t win. If you didn’t win but had your heart set on a specific prize, you can support the local business that provided it by purchasing it from them yourself. All the prizes donated are available to purchase from the businesses who donated them!!! Click here to view the raffle website and see who donated what. You can also find links to each business’s website & social media pages #ShopLocal #SupportLocal
Thank you again so much for all your support
Kind regards
Sarah, The Warwickshire Review
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