Shakespeare Schools Foundation is delighted to have won the first place prize in last month's Big Give Christmas Challenge Awards, recognising our outstanding work in engaging new and existing donors.

The Big Give is a national, annual fundraising event that takes place over one week in late November - early December. In 2018, almost 600 charities from every corner of the UK took part. At the end of each year, The Big Give selects the charities with the most successful, engaging and creative campaigns for its annual awards.

Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation’s Big Give campaign was launched with a target of £30,000 - enough to fund the work of a regional Festival coordinator, ensuring they can travel to and from their region, delivering high quality support, rooted in the communities they work with.

Our award application focussed on the innovative use of video content on social media, showing how children would benefit from each donation. We highlighted our use of celebrity patron, Hugh Dennis, in our marketing of the Big Give campaign. Another key pillar of our application was the speed and ambition with which we switched our messaging from “fund one coordinator” to “help us raise £60,000 for two coordinators” once we had reached our initial target. We ended the Big Give campaign on 4th December, having raised £60,213 in one week.

Last week’s award announcement underlines the tireless and innovative work of Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation’s fundraising team in ensuring the transformative Festival experience remains accessible for every child. The Big Give commented on our “inspiring application” and we, like The Big Give team, understand the huge impact of each donation made.

Following the announcement of the award, our Chair of Trustees, James Dray, said:

“I'm delighted that Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation have been selected for this award. The team put together an innovative campaign, doubling their fundraising target, and ensuring that even more young people get to experience the Festival process. This award, just like our work in schools and theatres, has only been made possible by the generous support of our donors. We are, as ever, humbled by and grateful for their support.”

What’s clear is that without the support of our many generous donors this win would not have been possible and, more importantly, nor would our vital work with young people.

At the end of last year, one Festival participant called Eual from a primary school in London told us, “I loved performing in The Tempest because I got to meet new people and make new friends. It made me a new person and made me confident.”

On Eual’s behalf: thank you.

If you’d like to support our work impacting the confidence, life skills and ambition of young people throughout the UK, you can make a donation here.