About Red Balloon - Friends of Red Balloon

Preston, Merseyside and Warwick are all ready to go and other than Preston (which opened in February) will be open by June.  But we have another four waiting their turn (and then another five after that).  Apart from Reading, each of these next ones: Braintree, South Yorkshire and Newcastle, requires funding.  Each Centre needs about £300K to set up (depending on where it is located).  This covers the cost of the 25% share of the mortgage (the Building Society provides the balance), an apprenticeship for up to six months for a Coordinator to work at an existing Red Balloon to understand our philosophy and practice, alterations to the house (disability compliance, addition of a science lab, etc) and refurbishment, as well as the recruitment and training of additional staff, resources and equipment and running costs for the first six months as we build up to a full complement of children.

Once the Centre is established the Trustees of a Red Balloon then need to raise £20k per annum to maintain our high standards of service.

So, can you help us with this next batch?  We are setting up Friends of Red Balloon where, for a small amount each month, you could help us change our fortunes.  There are three levels: £30 per month, £20 per month and £10 per month.  Some of you already contribute, so thank you and we hope you will continue to support us.

If just 100 of you become Friends at £30 per month we would gather £36,000 per year.  That would cover the Coordinator’s apprenticeship expenses and salary for a year.

If 200 of you become Friends at £20 per month, in a year’s time we would have the deposit - £48,000 - on a house in Newcastle (well, nearly!).

And if 500 of you join as Friends giving £10 per month we would collect £60,000 per year, enough to pay for the refurbishment of a house. If you are UK taxpayers we could collect a further 25% on top of that.

A Standing Order and Gift Aid Declaration are available to download here on the Friends of Red Balloon micro site. Please do help us. Trusts and Foundations income is generally down 11% affecting a great many charities.

Your contribution could allow us to open a Red Balloon in another part of the country to recover more children from the effects of severe bullying and enable them to get their lives back. With your help, we will reach these children faster.

Thank you

Carrie

February 2012