These Difficult Times

I heard on the radio this morning that the pharmaceutical companies will be announcing their financial results later today. It's been a tough decade for them and it isn't getting any easier. But the radio presenter reminded the listener that, in fact, it is the same for every business in every sector everywhere. No one can escape these difficult times.

Times have changed, especially for the charity sector. There was a time when we thought the best solution was to leave our supporters alone for a while - take the pressure off them to support us until things improved. But things are not improving so we had no choice but to resume our fundraising and reinstate the pressure on our supporter base. But this time in earnest.

Since we made that decision we have almost completed three fundraising events - the third one taking place on Friday 24th February in Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Three within our financial year, which ends in March, is a lot and it has been extremely hard work and sometimes quite stressful. Selling the tables is tougher than it once was and getting prizes for auction isn't easy either. You also need a good auctioneer on the night to ensure that you raise money's worth for the prizes. I hate to see an auction lot go for a bargain price at a charity auction and firmly believe that prize winners should be willing to pay at least money's worth for their prize. After all, the money is going to charity, underlying which is an extremely worthy and indeed, needy cause.

We have some truly amazing prizes coming up at our next event and amongst many others (too many to mention), I am indebted to my sister in laws who have helped out with significant personal donations - a week in an utterly stunning Californian Villa overlooking lakes and mountains near San Diego and a bespoke luxury - beyond luxury - holiday with a special emphasis on fine food and exquisite wines for 6 people in interior designer Katherine Ireland's home in France. Be warned - if you are coming to our Secret Garden event on Friday 24th February do not expect to pick up a bargain because there will be reserves on all of the prizes to ensure we achieve money's worth.

In addition to our Cinderella Ball in December, two further events in this financial year have been partnership events - a Mad Hatter's Tea Party in July last year  with Fettes College and the imminent Secret Garden event with a student team from St Andrews University Charity Fashion Show, FS 2012. Both partnerships have been most welcome but the inexperience of the student team (in terms of major fundraising events) has been challenging for us at the end of a long and tough year, whilst the Fettes College team were fabulous to work with. That said, their hearts are very much in the right place.

It will be alright on the night I am sure! Who knows what the year will reap financially over all, but so far we have raised a total of £850,000 from events, albeit some of that was shared with Fettes College. I am certain we will break the £1m for the year.

Not bad for these difficult times! We just need to keep our heads down and keep going, just like the rest of the world.

Ann Maxwell
Founder and Volunteer Fundraiser and Muir's Mum