Small Charity Week case study #3: Christmas wrapping service
Advantage Africa raised funds through providing a handy gift-wrapping service at a time of very high demand - Christmas - and in the perfect location.
Established in 2002, Advantage Africa supports people affected by poverty, disability and HIV to improve their education, health and incomes. We currently have an income of around £250,000, with which we support 25 community projects in Kenya and Uganda, including schools for disabled children and HIV prevention.
Every year in December, Advantage Africa aims to raise £10,000 towards its life-changing work by recruiting, training and supporting around 90 volunteers who professionally and beautifully wrap more than 4,000 Christmas presents for shoppers. We were given a prime space in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place shopping centre; there really is no better place to offer our gift-wrapping service than among all the popular Christmas shops.
How the wrapping service works
Customers pay from £1 for a small present (such as a CD) to £4 (for a big box of Lego, for example). The high quality of wrapping, bows and ribbons and information about the life-changing work of our charity compels many customers to donate on top of these charges.
Christmas spirit
Our passion to help vulnerable people in Africa motivates us in the absolutely enormous task of organising this project, which requires a dedicated project manager overseeing a 17-day rota, each day containing several three-hour shifts, of at least three people per shift.
Led by our tireless project manager Charlotte Cashman, the team works long hours, often with little or no breaks and at the expense of time with their families to reach their target. It’s hard work, but our volunteers report back that they really enjoy giving their time, and that they gain fulfillment from helping people in need at Christmas, learning new skills (such as wrapping with hidden tape!), being part of a committed team, and having fun.
And that’s a wrap - the results
Last year, we raised a total income of £11,812 - including corporate sponsorship of £4,000 - that has since been used to provide HIV testing and counselling services; buy robust wheelchairs for disabled people living in remote areas; start a nursery school for orphaned children; give single parent families the means to earn an income to provide for their families; and much more.
Our volunteers really do provide a valuable service at Christmas time - with a smile - to make a difference to some of Africa’s most vulnerable people. So much so that last year, we were selected by the FSI for an award for making the best use of volunteers.
Andrew Betts is founder-director of Advantage Africa
