How Can I Help?

Two ways to help:
Practical	Financial
Top of the list is practical help. If you can do something for us that means we don’t have to pay somebody else to do it, then several things follow… we don’t need to raise the money to pay for it, we don’t need to report back on the money we haven’t had to raise, so we don’t need the administrative structure to do those things, which saves even more money! The key areas of help needed at the moment are below:

TRANSLATION OF OUR ENGLISH SCRIPTS into the languages of the world’s poor - Is one of our Target Languages your mother tongue?

Have a look at our English Scripts to see whether you could translate one of them for us and if you think you can‚ contact Bev Pettle on + 44 (0) 1926 422 711 or mail@tme.org.uk

PLEASE DO NOT START A TRANSLATION WITHOUT CONTACTING BEV AS SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT ALREADY BE WORKING ON IT!

RECORDING A SOUNDTRACK of a translated script in your language.

This involves one of our team meeting you with a recording machine and asking you to read the translated script into a microphone. It takes about 3 hours and means that your voice will be used on a DVD to convey these vital messages to people who speak you language. Check our News page to see what the priority languages are at the moment. We need as many people as possible for each language so that as new English lessons are produced we don’t have to ask the same person to do all the recordings.

LEARNING HOW TO RECORD A SOUNDTRACK.

As we produce more lessons in more languages we want to train a larger group of people to use the recording equipment so that we can get to more speakers of foreign languages to record their soundtracks. This would involve coming to Leamington Spa for a day workshop and being willing to help from time to time as opportunities arise. We are especially keen to have people based in London, as it is such a cosmopolitan city with rich language resources.

SCRIPT WRITING For 2008/2009 we are planning 12 new scripts in English to add to the library of 20 titles. Some of these are already completed or under way but check our News page for the outstanding titles needed.
Writing a script involves:

• Agreeing the lesson title
• Agreeing learning objectives
• Drafting teaching points (8 - 12)
• Drafting questions to test the teaching points (between 12 - 24)
• Simplifying the English

The scripts are ALL VERY SIMPLE so many can be researched by non - specialists. However a subject expert signs off all the final scripts. The most difficult thing is making the English simple enough so that it can be translated without too many errors. If you think you would like to have a go then check the Script Writer Notes and an Example Script and then contact Bev Pettle on + 44 1926 422711 or mail@tme.org.uk

INTRODUCE NEW PARTNERS

Partners are community groups on the ground who are using the technology. They are the implementers without whom the discs would be valueless. We are always keen to develop new partnerships especially in the areas where we already have language discs finished. If you know of such a group or if you travel to an area where people are marginalised then please think about whether you could help us develop in this way.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THE DISCS?
Please Click here to complete our online feedback form.

ORGANISING EVENTS to help draw new people in or raise money for the projects!

There are a huge number of tried and tested means of raising money in the community. With a little time and thought your idea can be converted into a new, exciting and up-to-date event.

Fundraising Ideas

The list that follows is not exhaustive but is designed to stimulate your imagination.

• Non Uniform Day - Give a donation to attend school / college in your own clothes.
• Job Swaps - We all feel at times we can do better than the boss. Auction the MD's /  Head of Department's / Cleaner's job for an afternoon.
• Fancy Dress - Pay to come to work in fancy dress. (H&S permitting)
• Guess the Baby competition - photos of the staff / colleagues as babies.
• Fashion Show.
• Concert / Play / Musical Evening.
• Trivia Quiz - Pop / Sport / General Knowledge / etc.
• Fete.
• Car Boot Sale.
• It's a Knock Out.
• Sponsored Silence.
• Sponsored Haircut.
• Five / seven a side football / rugby / hockey / etc.
• Sponsored Walk.

The list is endless and we have not yet mentioned the "Thon" family, MaraTHON, WalkaTHON, SlimaTHON.

 

The Way Ahead 

Once you have chosen your event there are many areas that you must cover to make it a success.

The keyword is PLANNING - allow plenty of time to look at the various aspects of the challenge that lies before you.

• Discuss with friends, colleagues, and management how easily the event can be organised.
• Do we have the people to make all parts of the project run smoothly?
• Will the event cost us anything to get off the ground?
• Arrange a date.
• What resources do we need?
• How do we publicise the event?
• What can go wrong?
• Can we get a celebrity? ( There are generally tame celeb's in your local area, or people who may give their time)

Publicising the event

Your event must be well publicised if it is to be a success.

At work:

• Work notice boards.
• Company magazine.
• Announced at briefings.
• Word of mouth.

At home:

• Leaflets to families.
• Leaflets to local suppliers.
• Announced on local radio.
• Advertisement in local paper.
• Notices placed in public places in the community, for example, surgeries, libraries, local shops.

The media

If you are able to get the support of your local Radio and TV station your event's profile is taken onto another level. You will find it invaluable when approaching people in the local business community. If they think that they might be able to get some good (and cheap) local PR, they are more likely to help.

The person to get in touch with in the local paper is the news editor. If you know a reporter use the personal contact as this always works better than the cold contact. Find out the paper's deadlines for copy and photographs. They must always know:

• What the event is.
• Who is involved?
• Why the event is taking place.
• When, where and what time?
• Contact name for further information.

When you are planning your event, always try and think like a newspaper reporter. Think what is newsworthy. Try to create a publicity stunt / have a local dignitary / local celebrity / and always have a photo opportunity.

Handy hints when seeking sponsors

• Set your sponsorship target - aim high!
• Seek help from your friends - network, friends of friends - you will collect more than you thought possible, but you need to work at it.
• Think about organising small events, a coffee morning, disco, jumble sale or a car boot sale - whatever you feel comfortable with. The only limit is your imagination!
• Start your sponsorship early - well in advance of the event.
• When you approach people for sponsorship, ask them if they would mind giving you the money NOW - offer a receipt (we can provide you with a book if you need it). It is easier to give money back should you have to pull out of the event, as opposed to trying to collect after the event - people lose interest quickly, and often find excuses for not giving you the money.
• Always maintain a record of your sponsors and ensure that your list reflects those who have paid and those who have still to give you their contribution.
• If you belong to a club or association, get them involved either as a sponsor, by organising a fundraising event, or by 'matching' the funds you raise.
• Ask local companies or firms to sponsor you in return for wearing their logo on your T-shirt.

Sponsorship ideas that have worked 

• Approach companies for corporate sponsorship (companies have donated between £100 and £350 for their logo on a shirt).
• Put a note through all your neighbours' doors telling them who you are, what TME is and what the event is. On the note, put a time when you will come back to collect the money or pledge
• Get a friend or colleague to organise your fundraising while you train
• Get the press involved as much as possible. Try to get your photo or a story about your fundraising in the local paper as much as possible
• Do something different - pull a car along a stretch of road, get a Mohican haircut (if your boss allows it) etc.
• Organise a plush dinner with guest speakers
• Photocopy the sponsorship forms and pass them out to friends and family who live in different parts of the country
• Organise a raffle with prizes from local shops
• Do bucket collections round the local pubs and clubs (get permission from the owners first)

Raising or donating money is also really helpful, you can donate securely online, or set up a regular payment using our Standing Order Form. If you are a taxpayer and would like us to reclaim the tax you have paid on a gift to us then you can download a Gift aid form here.

For further information please call us on (01926) 422711.

Our idea is to match the existing interests and skills of people like you who would like to see a fairer world and try to make it easy for them to help. Once somebody has proved their interest in the project they may be invited to become an Associate. These are people, largely self –funded, approved by the Trustees who carry out either a specific function within the organisation or do a certain piece of work. They are people who make it all happen – not just helpers or volunteers but integral to the core business of what we are trying to do. If you are interested in becoming an Associate then please contact Stephen Clarke on + 44 1926 422711 or mail@tme.org.uk