Advise about Fundraising/Charity

lillianna_2

Hi,

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section but didn't know where to post it.

I am after some help/advice but I'll explain a bit of our background.

In October last year my 12 year old son was diagnosed with a Ewings Sarcoma (bone cancer) in his left tibia. He has undergone 6 cycles of VIDE chemotherapy (basically very intensive chemo) where he has spent most of the past 6mths in hospital either fighting infection or having more chemo. In March this year we had a meeting with our consultant who told us that although the chemo had worked the damage to the bone and surrounding tissues the only safe option to ensure that he had the best possible survival he was to have a through knee amputation and its because of this I need some help.

I am wanting to raise some money for him to allow him to get any type of leg or equipment he may need to allow him to be as independent as possible, but can't set up a charity as he is only one individual. My sisters' secondary school (she is only 15) is wanting to raise money with varies events for Kieran but can only do so if I have some form of charitable number.

Is there anyway I can set up some form of a charity where I won't have to pay any tax on any monies that are raised also.


Please any help or advice you can give would be really appreciated.

Nicola

babyemily

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/

I dont know if this would help? Wishing you and your son lots of love and luck xxx

lillianna_2

Thanks for the post unfortunately they don't deal with individuals but couldn't advise who I need to speak to

babyemily

http://www.getlegal.org.uk/

This seems like it may be able to help you?

babyemily

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/settingupacharity

There also seems to be quite a bit of info here!

jexygirl

http://www.richardswish.org/

can you tag on to something like this? I understand you want to almost set up a trust type fund for Keiran however affiliation might be an option so if he needed something it would potentially be provided? or if not, simply allowing people to raise awareness and funds so that all can be helped? Im not an experienced charities person, but there are several here that will surely post soon.
good thoughts, strength in tough times, admiration, and best wishes
Jex

Savvy_Sue

The thing is that it's not appropriate or possible to set up a charity, because the OP wants to raise money for one individual. Raising money for one individual is always problematic, because it's very hard to demonstrate that the necessary 'checks and balances' are in place, and that the money is going where the donors think it's going.

If you read our sticky on starting a charity, you'll see that there's a lot of work to be done, and that actually, another new charity isn't always the best way to go.

Now, it's easy for me to say this, because it's not me with the 12 yo in this position, and I do feel for the OP. But there are already support groups for those affected, and a wealth of information - obviously I don't know how good it is.

So what I would suggest is contacting the charities who already offer support and services which might help. Find out what, realistically, you either won't get or will have to fight all the way for, and find out who can help with that kind of thing.

For example, I'd have thought that providing a basic leg shouldn't be down to the individual's family. Obviously if the lad is a keen sportsman and needs an enhanced leg for that, then you wouldn't expect to get that on the NHS - but maybe there is a charity which supplies enhanced legs for special situations. Then, I'd raise money for that charity.

That way your primary efforts go into supporting your son, rather than into the bureaucracy of setting up and running a new charity, which will overlap with the work of existing charities.

Does that make sense?