Donr helps The Big Issue Foundation launch their Spring Appeal
We’re super-proud to be helping this great nationwide charity continue their fantastic work with thousands of people in personal crisis across the country.
Launching on Monday 1st April 2019, The Big Issue Foundation’s Spring Appeal focuses on the feel-good story of Bill, a former British Army Medic turned Big Issue Vendor, and asks supporters to donate either via Donr’s Text Giving service or by using the online Donr Page set up for the charity by Donr. We’re so pleased to have been able to help such a fantastic charity continue their great work, and we’re very grateful for the positive feedback we’ve received from them.
Bill had been homeless for around a year when he arrived in Bournemouth with his dog, Chloe — this period of time included six months of Bill and Chloe sleeping in a cave and two months of them walking the coast together, sleeping wherever they could find shelter. After his arrival in the south coast town, Bill began selling The Big Issue and was introduced to The Big Issue Foundation — the charity connected to the magazine which assists vendors with personal issues.
Liam, a Service Broker at The Big Issue Foundation, was able to help both Bill and Chloe get the medical attention they each needed and set them on the road to being offered suitable housing. The former military man then began getting involved in voluntary roles with The Big Issue Foundation and other community bodies, as well as improving his CV by undertaking a number of distance learning courses, with the help of the charity.
Despite further issues with his housing, Bill and Chloe are now both living happily in a council flat and, last year, Bill was able to secure a new job as a Brewery Tour Guide at Southbourne Ales — much to the delight of the charity which has given him so much support.
‘Bill’s story is a fantastic example of our charity’s ability to help those in need to achieve really positive outcomes,’ said Rhia Docherty, The Big Issue Foundation’s Individual Giving and Support Services Manager. ‘We’re hopeful it will inspire our supporters to donate to our Spring Appeal to enable us to continue to work with people in personal crisis.
‘We’re really excited to launch our online fundraising page and our new Text Giving service, as part of the campaign. The team at Donr has been excellent — as well as providing first-rate fundraising options, the support side of their service is great too. We’ve worked closely with Alex, Donr’s Digital Strategist, to plan our campaign and their other customer-facing staff members have been on-hand to answer any questions we’ve had.
‘This is also the first time we have been able to accept donation’s via digital wallet services like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Donr’s innovative platform will help us to future-proof donations in the digital age.
‘We were concerned about losing a key revenue stream, when JustGiving announced the closure of JustTextGiving [which took effect from 31st March 2019], but Donr’s Text Giving service is very effective, affordable and easy to use.’
Those interested in helping The Big Issue Foundation help more people like Bill to gain financial independence can text ‘BILL’ followed by a donation amount to 70085 to make a contribution. For instance, texting ‘BILL 3’ to 70085 would donate £3 to The Big Issue Foundation*.
Alternatively, The Big Issue Foundation’s online fundraising page, powered by Donr, is now live at www.donr.com/big-issue-foundation, where supporters can donate via their card, digital wallet service or mobile phone.
*Any whole pound amount from £1 to £20 can be donated via text. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message and this money will either be taken from a supporter’s Pay-As-You-Go credit or added to their monthly mobile phone bill.
