Fundraising FAQs

We’re delighted that you want to want to fundraise for us!  From taking part in an event to dress down days or organising a Big GBSS Bake Sale there should be something for everyone to get involved and have fun.  Download your fundraising guide today!

Once you’ve got a fundraising idea, register your event and tell us about it. Our Fundraising team are here to make whatever you are doing a success.

We are also on hand to answer any questions you may have, email fundraising@gbss.org.uk or call 0330 120 0795.

Create your own Group B Strep Support fundraising page. This allows you to raise money both online and offline, takes payments via credit or debit card, and you can set up a special text-to-donate code for your event. It’s very easy to email your friends with the URL so they can donate safely online. You can then track the total raised as it grows. Credit/debit card and text donations are sent straight to us, so there’s no hassle your end or our end. It’s easy for everyone.

You can also can download our sponsorship form and don’t forget to share your link on Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Register your event today!

We prefer you to use JustGiving. The site makes fundraising simple, fast, effective and fun. If you would prefer to use another provider please speak to us so we can ensure we’ll be able to recognise your fundraising efforts.

Group B Strep Support name and logo are extremely important to us. If you want to use our logo on your own promotional materials, please contact us first so we can advise you on using our branding and supply you with high resolution logo files.

If you are not using the GBSS logo on your materials, please state:
Raising funds in aid of Group B Strep Support. Registered charity number 1112065 (England and Wales)

All our individual fundraisers will receive a fundraising pack, which contains bespoke resources to help you organise a successful fundraising event within your local community or workplace. We want to help make your fundraising event the best it can be. We can provide the following fundraising materials for you, or if you need a bit of advice (or some moral support) contact our fundraising team at fundraising@gbss.org.uk

• A copy of the fundraising guide
• GBSS Balloons
• Logo Stickers
• Collection boxes
• Event poster
• Bunting

You can also order t-shirts via our online shop

As soon as you register your event we will be in touch and you can let us know the materials that will be suitable for your event.

Yes, of course. Not only are you raising vital funds for the charity, you are providing valuable awareness of  group B Strep infections in newborn babies. We are happy to provide you with some leaflets to hand out. Please get in touch with us at fundraising@gbss.org.uk or on 0330 120 0795.

We are sorry, but we aren’t able to promote individual’s fundraising events on Facebook, though we are happy to re-tweet any link you post on Twitter if you include @GBSSupport. We will also be very happy to share your event after the occasion on our social media platforms to celebrate your fundraising success.

Don’t forget when spreading the news about your fundraising efforts to use our hashtag #TeamGBSS

It will be dependent on the location.  Please let us know when you register your event and we will do our best to send someone along. If there’s no one available to attend, we can always share our presentation with you.

If you set up an online fundraising page, your donors will be prompted to fill in the Gift Aid details on their individual donation.

If your donors or sponsors are UK taxpayers, don’t forget to ask them to Gift Aid their donations. Please have a look at our FAQ’s on GiftAid.  By adding Gift Aid, we can make 25p for every £1 given. This means even more money goes towards saving babies’ lives – and it doesn’t cost you or your supporters a penny.

You are amazing.  Our fundraisers are absolutely vital as they provide the funds we need to continue educating families and health professionals to prevent devastating infections in babies. Without people like you, we couldn’t continue our work to protect babies – thank you.

There are several ways you can pay any sponsorship money to Group B Strep Support, please see the details below and don’t forget to let us know when and how you made the donation so we can be sure to let you know it arrived safely:-

Online: Pay your money in online.  Please note if you have set up a JustGiving or VirginMoneyGiving page then you don’t need to do anything. JustGiving sends us the money that people have donated.

Over the phone: You can pay in your sponsorship money over the phone by using your debit or credit card by calling 0330 120 0795 (Monday-Friday 9:15am-3:00pm).

At a Bank: Please get in touch with us on 0330 120 0795 or by emailing info@gbss.org.uk if you would like to make a direct transfer or pay in person at  your local HSBC bank.

By post: Simply make your cheque payable to ‘Group B Strep Support’ and send it to:

Group B Strep Support, PO Box 203, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1GF.

Please don’t send cash in the post.

Please do share what’s worked for you and how you’ve found the fundraising. It would be great if you can send us a write up and some pictures we can share on our social media sites and website. E-mail fundraising@gbss.org.uk

Yes of course! As soon as we have received the sponsorship raised from the event we are happy to e-mail you a certificate of thanks.  Printed and additional copies of certificates are available on request by sending an email to fundraising@gbss.org.uk after you’ve paid in your fundraising.

Balloon and sky lantern releases into the sky can have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife.

Balloon releases and sky lantern releases held out in the open can:

• cause litter from fallen, deflated materials, including balloons, ribbons, plastic fasteners and frames of sky lanterns. Even the ‘biodegradable’ balloons cause ugly litter, and the biodegradable balloon material takes at least several months and often years to degrade fully (and plastic ribbons and fasteners don’t).
• cause harm to wildlife and domestic animals that can be life-threatening. Birds, small mammals, and sea life can mistake balloons for food and are injured or die when they eat them. Animals can get themselves trapped in ribbons from balloons, sometimes causing strangling or bound wings or limbs.
• are, in the case of balloons, a waste of helium, a finite resource, which is needed for machines such as MRI scanners.
• cause, in the case of sky lanterns, a fire hazard and for both can damage overhead power and other cables.

We at GBSS do not encourage outdoor balloon or sky lantern releases and are keen to find safe and environmentally friendly alternatives.

Alternatives you might like to consider include:

• Blowing bubbles
• Carrying streamers
• Floating flowers or petals
• Lighting candles
• Organising a kite fly
• Painting rocks with a name, plus the charity’s website address
• Plant in remembrance (bulbs, a garden, herbs, a tree, wildflowers)
• Virtual balloon release
• Wildflower seed bombs
• Word people (use people to make a heart shape or letters & share the images/videos)