Wear dots... raise lotsFundraising guide 2016

Why wear dots and raise lots? 100 people every day in the UK start losing their sight. It will change their life completely.

Too many people are left alone to cope with this news. Many will quickly feel isolated and depressed. Right now, RNIB can only reach one in three of those who need our help the most.

But by wearing dots and raising lots you’ll help us to support them. We’ll be able to be there from the moment of diagnosis, you’ll be helping people face their future with confidence.

This October we’re asking you to Wear dots… raise lots to support RNIB – it’s a really fun and easy way to help the almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss; a figure we believe will double by 2050.

But why dots? Wear dots... raise lots this October to highlight the impact of braille, a unique system of raised dots that can be read by touch.

This fundraising guide tells you more about the need for your help, the brilliant braille and how it is used, and is full of ideas to help you plan your dotty event for Dotober.

100people every day in the UK start losing their sight.

2

Jessica’s story Jessica is six and has Cone Dystrophy and Nystagmus. She reads giant print and has her school work enlarged for her. She is learning braille which she enjoys and her Mum is also learning braille so that she can be of support to her. Jessica’s Mum, Sam says:

“She is strong willed, funny, intelligent and very energetic. She makes me proud every day.”

Isabella’s storyIsabella is 10, has Retinopathy of Prematurity and uses a cane. She loves reading and her favourite book in braille is The Secret Garden.

“ I use my fingers and I feel the dots. When I first read a book in braille I was really really excited… Wear dots… raise lots is a fabulous idea.”

Find out more about Jessica and Isabella by watching their film at rnib.org.uk/dotsjessicaisabella

Look at what we did last year...Children and staff at BilsthorpeFlying High Academy raised a fantastic £185 at their dotty bonanza.

Roman Baker, age seven, ispartially sighted and has been inspiring his fellow pupils and staff to go dotty! He and hisbrother Isaac wore t-shirts spelling out their names in dots. He says,

“ RNIB need money and then theycan buy and make things forpartially sighted people like me....I don’t let it stop me; I’m quite good at running around the playground!”

3

4

ActivityUse the braille alphabet card in your pack to feel the dots – can you tell the difference between the letters? Now test your braille skills to work out the message below and on our decipher the dots card

Can you read me

The need to read When you lose your sight, reading anything – from a cash machine screen, to labels on food and drink, to a book – can become impossible.

Think of the sense of isolation and loneliness that losing your eyesight would bring to your life. Reading isn’t just a fun pastime.

Braille is a system of six raised dots, arranged in two columns of three dots, just like a domino. It is designed to be read by fingers.

RNIB is the largest publisher of braille books in Europe. Last year our reading services lent 116,529 volumes of braille and braille music. Blind and partially sighted adults and children can also borrow from our audio and giant print libraries.

Why learn braille?Learning braille from a young age means that blind and partially sighted children can enjoy reading for life.

Braille also helps literacy, as it’s a much better way to understand punctuation, grammar and spelling than audio.

RNIB campaigns for blind and partially sighted children to learn braille, whether they are in mainstream or special schools.

4

A few facts about braille• It was invented in 1824 by a 15-year-

old blind boy called Louis Braille.

• All writing can be turned into braille: from bank statements to street signs, medicine packets to music.

• Braille has been adapted into every language, from Albanian to Zulu.

• RNIB published our first braille book in 1871.

• RNIB has taken braille from dot to dot.com! New braille technology is revolutionising the way that blind people read everything from smartphones to computer screens.

You should have your sight tested at least every two yearsAn eye examination is an important health check for your eyes and can detect early signs of a sight problem. Many eye conditions can be treated if they are spotted early enough.

Some people, especially children, may need their eyes examined more often and your optometrist will advise you about this.

For further information visit rnib.org.uk/eyehealth

5

Look at what we did last year...Wiltshire recruitment agency, Alpha People, dotted up their office for a day and asked all staff to don their dots. Everyone still managed to look very classy which was lovely to see!

Richard Williams, Director of Alpha People said:

“ We had a successful day raising money for RNIB by Wearing Dots and selling cakes. We have raised over £90!”

5

6

1…2…3 it’s as simple as joining the dots1 Get the word outTell everyone you know that you’re going to Wear dots... raise lots for RNIB. Explain that you will be helping to end isolation for blind and partially people through your fundraising.

Why not ask your friends, family and colleagues to join you and dress in dots for the day – the more dots, the better! Use the materials included in your pack and remember there are more available to download from our  website at rnib.org.uk/dotsdownloads

2 Line up your dots!Raid your wardrobe and discover your dots – don’t worry if you can’t find anything, pop down to your local charity shop and pick up a bargain. You can always add to the effect by painting your nails with dots or accessorising with a dotty scarf, hair band, tie or socks. Or you could even make your own!

3 Wear dots... raise lots this OctoberWhether pretty in polka dot or divine in Dalmatian, ask everyone taking part to donate a suggested amount. We suggest £2 for adults and £1 for children.

For more ideas visit rnib.org.uk/weardots

ActivityTry painting your nails with different coloured dots and dotty patterns, you could even make them tactile and stick on jewels or gems!

How about getting your friends together and having a nail painting party and asking people to make a donation?

6

Don’t stop at just wearing dots

There are lots of other things you can do with dots – here are a few suggestions:• Bake dots… raise lots. Get creative

with choc chips and arty with smarties and hold a cake sale at your school, club or work. Think dotty tablecloths, cups and saucers and some delectable delights for sale.

• Play dots… raise lots. Challenge your friends and colleagues to a “dot games tournament” using dominoes, darts, draughts, hoopla, Connect 4®, bingo, Twister®, or hula hooping.

• Paint dots… raise lots. Paint people’s nails with dots and ask for a donation, or print some t-shirts with dots to sell, maybe with names in braille.

Check out rnib.org.uk/dotsaz for more ideas.

7

Look at what we did last year...Children at Stetchworth Old School House day nursery went dotty as part of a weeklong event. The Wear dots... raise lots activities raised a massive £450 and included an obstacle course challenge, baby rock, nursery dance and a blindfold trail.

Lisa Weston, Nursery Manager, said:

“ Throughout the week we were also raising awareness to children about sight impairment with activities that have included exploring braille books and experiencing different levels of sight impairment through visual simulator glasses.”

7

8

Free schools’ resources Why not encourage your class to learn more about sight loss when they Wear dots… raise lots? You could even have a week of dots!

We have produced free curriculum relevant lesson plans for EYFS/Foundation Stage and KS1–4/P1-7/S1-4 which enable teachers to easily include the materials in their daily lessons.

Download our free materials from rnib.org.uk/dotsteachers.

• EYFS/Foundation Stage and KS1–4/P1-7/S1-4 lesson plans

• PowerPoint presentation

• Information and statistics about sight loss

• Videos and quizzes

• The story of Louis Braille

• Braille alphabet sheets and activities

• Information on eye health

We also have activities specifically for uniform groups such as Guiding or Scouting. Take a look at rnib.org.uk/dotsuniform to download them.

Don’t forget you can request more materials such as braille cards, balloons and our super simspecs that show what it might be like to have a sight problem. You could get people to move around a room (carefully!), reading something or describing what they can see while wearing them.

Contact us on 0345 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk to order more.

Poppy, five, who learnt about braille in class says:

“They’re little dots but to some people they’re not, they’re braille.”

Freddy, nine, who is blind says:

“It’s great when my friends in class are learning a bit more about what it’s like to be blind. It makes me feel more included.”

ActivityTry printing your own t-shirts with fun brightly coloured dots, maybe even write your name in braille! You can use fabric paints or pens, or simply stick on dots to customise plain t-shirts. You could even use tactile dots – cut out of felt, fake fur, or bubble wrap!

8

Join in at workWould your company like to be more involved with Wear dots... raise lots? Our Corporate Team would love to work with you to create a unique and innovative partnership that will not only meet your CSR and business objectives, but make your company stand out from the crowd!

A few ideas to get you started:• Get involved in employee

fundraising throughout the month of October. You could host anything dotty, from a tea party, a nail salon to wear a dotty tie for the day! Do your employees dare to dot!

• How about a limited edition bespoke dotty cause related marketing (CRM) opportunity? This could include donations on certain product ranges in the month of October or even throughout the year.

• You could become an official dotty sponsor with an exclusive package tailored to your company.

Benefits could include brand presence and promotion across campaign marketing materials, dedications on our Award winning Sony RNIB Connect radio, as well as presence on the RNIB website.

Partnering with RNIB will help you:• Achieve CSR and business goals

• Help drive footfall

• Increase market share and income

• Attract and retain staff

• Enhance your reputation

With your support, we can be there for more people with sight loss.

Contact us on 0345 345 0054 or email corporatepartnerships@rnib.org.uk

9

Look at what we did last year...Bluestar bus company have an ongoing relationship with RNIB which started when they signed up to our bus charter and did a ‘driver swap with me day’ in early 2015.

They continued this support with the Wear dots campaign in October. The public face of Blue Star buses, ‘Passenger Pete’, collected £103 on his route by allowing people to draw dots on him for a small fee!

Stacey from their marketing team said;

“ We’ve also got the dotty bus going round Southampton on our number 17 route helping to support the charity.”

9

10

Promoting your event

The more promotion you get, the bigger your profile and the more money you will raise.

Be sure to contact your local newspapers and radio stations – hitting the headlines can help you raise more vitally needed funds. You can download media information, templates and our hashtag page from rnib.org.uk/dotsdownloads.

We’d love to see any photos or updates on how you’re getting on wearing your dots.

Social media is a great place to promote your events. Don’t forget to like us and post your pictures using #weardots on facebook.com/weardots, and follow us @RNIB.

My FundraisingRemember to set up an account with rnib.org.uk/myfundraising where you can order materials online such as balloons, leaflets and collection tins to make sure that everyone knows you are raising money for RNIB. You can also customize and print posters with details of your events!

Contact us on 0345 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk for more information.

Maximise  your moneyGift AidGift Aid is a great way for us to raise even more from donations. For more about Gift Aid, please visit rnib.org.uk/giftaid

Online fundraisingThe easiest and most cost effective way to fundraise is via the donation site Just Giving – remember to choose RNIB from the list of event options: justgiving.com/rnib

We’ve also included a sponsorship form if you’d prefer.

Matched fundingMany companies offer matched funding as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. This means that they’ll match what you fundraise pound for pound (often up to a restricted amount). Be sure to speak to your company to see if this is an option when you wear dots and raise lots.

10

How your money helps

£5 could help more callers to the RNIB Helpline access the advice

and support they need to live their lives independently.

£12 could help our Activity Co-ordinators to support blind and

partially sighted children in discovering their adventurous side with Actionnaires club activities such as climbing, skiing and kayaking.

£20 could help provide information and support to someone with

sight problems seeking employment.

£75 could offer advice, a listening ear, understanding and friendship

with one of our weekly Talk and Support telephone groups.

£100 could pay for the recording of a talking newspaper keeping

someone in touch with local and world events.

£500 could pay for someone at a desperate time in their life to have

six sessions of one to one professional counselling

£1,295 could help produce a book in braille meaning that no one is

closed off to a world of reading and enjoyment

11

Look at what we did last year...65th City of Edinburgh Rainbows raised a fabulous £45 by holding a dotty party on the last meeting of October. Janet Avery said:

“ The girls were invited to attend wearing dotty clothes and to bring friends and family. A variety of activities were made available, with donation pots on every table. This included a dotty nail off, decorating a dotty cake, writing your name in braille and a simspecs obstacle course.”

11

We’re here to help youWe want you to have fun with your event and to have huge success as you Wear dots... raise lots! We hope this guide gives you all the information you need but don’t forget to visit rnib.org.uk/weardots for more ideas and resources. If we can help at all, please call 0345 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk. You can also order more materials such as balloons, simspecs, stickers and braille cards.

Text DOTS to 70111 to donate £3 Texts cost £3 + 1 standard rate msg. RNIB will receive 100% of your donation. If you have any questions please call 0345 345 0054.

Follow us online:

facebook.com/weardots

twitter.com/rnib #weardots

youtube.com/user/rnibuk

© 2016 RNIB Reg charity nos. 226227, SC039316