Jane McGowan looks at how school PTAs are growing increasingly creative in the search for funds.
Traditionally, the school PTA (parent teacher association) comprised an army of capable women who could simultaneously whip up a Victoria sponge, knit a tree decoration or 12 and ticket a whole tombola, while still ensuring that their husband’s dinner was on the table at 6pm sharp.
Nowadays things have changed. Either the committee is the fiefdom of an uber parent who runs the association with all the zeal of a CEO at a leading multinational, or it’s the haunt of a few beleaguered souls left to bake, make, facepaint, source prizes and set up stalls, all the while trying desperately to entice additional parents on board.
So, with more mums working full time, and factors such as cultural difference and income disparity also coming into play, how can PTAs best reach out to modern parents?
Clare Jenner, membership services manager at Parentkind – a charitable resource that encourages parents to get involved with their child’s school community – believes that clarity is the key. In order to maximise help, she says, a committee must be precise about the kind of assistance it needs at specific events.
“It’s a good idea to carry out an audit of parents’ skills. That way you can play to people’s strong points without constantly taking up too much of their time,” she explains. “For example, find out who has first aid skills, who holds food hygiene qualifications, or maybe who has some accounts knowledge.”
The committee should also make it clear just how much people’s help has contributed – not only in cash terms, but in relation to the school community’s enjoyment of events.
“It’s very important for people to get feedback from their involvement,” insists Clare. “And our children also like to see that their parents are having fun. So everyone’s happy!”
So much for recruitment. But which events offer the best financial returns? Research shows that seasonal fairs are still the big winners – bringing in between £1,800 and £5,000, depending on the enthusiasm of volunteers – while winter favourites such as quizzes and film nights are relatively easy money-spinners. However, new activities such as colour runs – a type of fun run – and glow discos are gaining in popularity, says Clare.
“It’s good to have a mix of events – some where the kids can come along, others just for adults so that they can get to know each other beyond the playground.”
Nicola Glass, from Dorking, has been on the fundraising committees of her daughters’ primary and secondary schools.
“To raise money for the Year Six leavers’ hoodies, at primary school, we got the children on a sort of bob-a-job scheme. Ultimately the parents were still paying, but at least the kids did some chores, like tidying cupboards or washing the car.
“Secondary school is harder, as parents aren’t even at the school gates. But things like quiz nights offer a chance to make cash on the bar.”
Non-event fundraising is also on the rise. One easy option is for parents to shop via donate-as-you-spend websites, such as Easyfundraising and TheGivingMachine. Shoppers have a great range of retailers to choose from and the school receives a percentage of sales.
“Also, some companies will do matched giving for their employees, while local businesses may give donations or take paid advertising in event brochures,” adds Clare.
At Heathbrook Community School at Nine Elms, the PTA took on the challenge of raising £130,000 for a new all-weather sports facility to benefit not only the school, but the local community as well. The committee put forward a detailed proposal to several grant-making charities and received a substantial amount from Sport England.
“It was very much a team effort between parents and staff,” explained chair Roy Wilson, speaking on Radio 4’s Money Box. “In our PTA people are as involved as they want to be, whether it’s half an hour at a fair or leading a massive fundraising push.”
Sadly, while parents may have fewer hours in which to help, the need for fundraising grows and grows, as schools battle continuing cuts. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that government spending has fallen by 8% per pupil over the past decade. The reduction has left some schools relying on PTAs to provide basic education equipment rather than ‘showpiece’ items, such as minibuses, as in the past.
“We’ve heard of PTAs being asked to buy run-of-the mill items, like paper and glue sticks, or to contribute to the costs of school trips,” says Clare.
“There is a common misunderstanding that PTAs only fund the ‘extras’, or fun things, but this just isn’t the case. They have to spend in line with the objects written into their governing document. The ideal would be to fund a mixture of essentials and extras.”
To find out how Parentkind could help your school, visit: parentkind.org.uk