Fundraiser doesn’t think events will be held at schools for another two years
WELSH-MEDIUM school Ysgol Treganna is raising money and supporting its community by hosting a virtual spring market showcasing parents’ products and services.
“We’re trying to be clever around how to raise money without meeting people in real-life,” says Teleri Evans, chair of the “Ffrindiau Ysgol Treganna (Friends of Treganna), a charity that supports the school by organising fundraisers and community events.
The market is running for nine days from February 13 and is hosted on a Facebook group.
“This is it now, for the next two years I can’t see us getting into the school at all to raise money,” she explains.
Anyone can join the group to see posts by participating parents and local businesses showing their products. They explain how to purchase, for example by linking to a web or Etsy shop.
“[This] is not really fundraising to me, it’s not like a raffle [which can raise £1,000], it’s more for supporting other parents and to start buying gifts for Mothers’ Day or birthdays,” explains Teleri.
The market gives parents a platform to market their businesses while Teleri is using her background in digital marketing to support them.
After the success of the virtual Christmas market, local Canton businesses were welcomed to join this one.
“A virtual market creates a bit of a community…of course, everyone would rather a physical market, but I think virtual fairs have been a great alternative while we can’t get together” says Steffan Dafydd, a local Canton printmaker and artist.
“Hosting online clearly has a different vibe to it, seeing products physically and chatting with artists and makers…that connection is more difficult [now] but [the] people hosting these virtual markets are still brilliant and [it] helps,” he adds.
“I’ve sold a few prints and some people that wouldn’t have usually seen my work have started following my profiles online [and] I think that’s important.”
Parents are asked to pay £5 to join the group, while local businesses are asked to pay £10. The Friends group is not asking for donations or a commission on sales.
The spring market has raised £150 so far, which is “not big bucks” but helps parents with their businesses by giving them some free marketing, says Teleri.
With January and February being slower months for fundraising activity it’s also about keeping momentum going.
The money collected goes towards buying Chrome books to support children’s home-schooling.
Teleri, 37, of Fairwater, Cardiff, has a daughter in the first grade of Ysgol Treganna.
She is also looking to create an Easter-themed virtual treasure hunt in the upcoming break between March 29 and April 9, alongside other events.
“I’m trying to sort out a virtual balloon race, believe it or not, and we want to do virtual duck race so there’s so much we could do,” Teleri added.
