#CharityChallenge35
To celebrate #35YearsofImpact, we’re taking on personal challenges to raise vital funds for the Trust.
What is #CharityChallenge35?
#CharityChallenge35 is a celebration of the people who make Cranfield Trust’s work possible. During our 35th anniversary year, we invite you to undertake an activity you enjoy doing to keep fit, healthy and happy, to help raise awareness and vital funds for our work as a charity!
#CharityChallenge35 takes place between 1 June and end-December. Anyone is welcome to participate. You can choose for yourself when you would like to do a challenge, activity or sponsored event.
We really hope that #CharityChallenge35 will be an enjoyable and celebratory experience for everyone who takes part in it! It's a demanding time for charity leaders and members of our local communities, so the challenge is focussed on activities that help with physical and mental health.
To take part, you can undertake any personal challenge or fundraising activity, either on your own or with family, friends and colleague. Examples of the activities being undertaken so far are:
A sponsored 125-mile walk of the South West coastal path by one of our volunteers
Readings of 35 poems by our Development Manager
A 35 km walk by our CEO, members of the staff team and volunteers
Please visit our Justgiving page to learn more, make a donation or set up your own fundraising challenge page.
Please tell us what you are planning to do so we can share news with potential supporters and cheer you on! If you have an idea, want to get involved or have a few questions, please get in touch with Susan Elan Jones, Development Manager Email: [email protected], or call on mobile 07932 023518 or 01794 830338.
Calling all sewing enthusiasts!
Be part of the Cranfield Trust Commemorative Quilt - every block tells a story.
Chris Gatman, Cranfield Trust's Associate Regional Manager is joining the #CharityChallenge35 initiative with the creation of a commemorative quilt, which will be auctioned to raise much-needed unrestricted funds for Cranfield Trust.
The challenge will bring together the sewing enthusiasts amongst our clients, volunteers and supporters, offering the chance to be a part of this collective fundraising project. Quilting and sewing is often a good way to unwind and relax after a challenging day and we hope many of you will enjoy joining in this challenge.
Chris has been sewing all her life, having learned from her grandmother. Embroidery is her first passion but she also enjoys making all sorts of things for friends and family. Chris was the CEO of The Quilters' Guild from 2016 to June 2023.
Chris explains how you can get involved:
"Between Sept 2024 and January 2025 I would like you to create a 10 block (square) from 100% cotton (sent back to me as at least 10.5 x 10.5 inches to allow for ¼” seams), that represents your organisation and/or the support you have received from the Cranfield Trust.
The main body of the design must fit within the 10 inch central space. It can be a design of your choice, as simple or complex as you like, in colours of your choice. It can incorporate a range of sewing methods including embroidery (pictures or writing), applique, print etc. Please do not use loose embellishments such as beads, sequins etc. When the square is complete, we will ask you to send it to us accompanied by a brief written explanation of what the square represents."
Once Chris has received the squares she will join them all together to make the final quilt. Chris would also welcome support in this from any accomplished quilters who would be prepared to hand or machine quilt.
If you have any questions or to confirm that you will be joining in please email [email protected]
Poetry reading challenge
This autumn, Susan Elan Jones, our Development Manager (Partnerships and Philanthropy), will be undertaking a poetry reading challenge to raise funds for our #CharityChallenge35 fundraising initiative to raise vital funds to support the Trust's work.
Susan will read a total of 35 poems over the course of events between October and December this year.
The poetry reading plan:
26 October: Susan will read a selection of poems at an event in New Cross Gate, London.
Festival of Remembrance: On Remembrance Sunday, Susan will be reading English and Welsh poems at a venue in her former constituency that has its own First World War Roll of Remembrance. All poems read at this event will be in keeping with the commemorative nature of the occasion.
If you would like to sponsor Susan, please visit her Just Giving page. If you would to attend any of the events or have further details, please contact Susan directly on email: [email protected].
35 miles for 35 years!
Amanda Tincknell CBE, Cranfield Trust Chief Executive, Romsey office based staff and volunteers have successfully completed their 35 mile walk to raise awareness of and vital funds during our 35th anniversary year.
The team started their 35 mile walk along the Test Way at Inkpen Beacon on Sunday 23 June 2024. waking eight miles to Hurstbourne Tarrant. This will be followed by:
Leg 2- Hurstbourne Tarrant to Longparish (8.5 miles) on Sunday 14 July
Leg 3 - Longparish to Stockbridge (8 miles) on Sunday 28 July
The final leg - Stockbridge to Romsey (10.5 miles) on 18 August
Amanda Tincknell CBE, Cranfield Trust CEO comments on the 35-mile walk, “It was a pleasure walking in the company of colleagues and some of our wonderful volunteers over the 35 miles. We enjoy working together with our client charities and it was great to walk together too.
“We’re marking our 35th anniversary at an incredibly challenging time for the voluntary sector. This makes us even more determined to continue providing our free management support services to organisations and their leaders, so they can continue providing essential support and services in their local communities.
“We are raising funds to help us to continue supporting and empowering charities and non-for-profit organisations to deliver their vital services to their beneficiaries. For every £1 that we raise, our staff work with our volunteers to put £4 worth of support back into other charities.
"We would warmly appreciate any support, which can be donated through our JustGiving page.”
First Cranfield Trust volunteer completes his #CharityChallenge35
A huge thank you and congratulations to Paul Kiernan, who has completed a staggering 125 mile trek to raise funds for Cranfield Trust and the first person to complete a #CharityChallenge35.
