Our Fundraising and Sponsorship
Community outreach, fundraising and awareness raising is a huge component of the what the Bears do as a club. Not only to we host our own Satellite club but also offer school outreach session, on a one off or more regular basis, corporate team building events, talks on disability and charity challenge games.
The club relies on donations and fundraising to cover running costs. All coaches and management team members are volunteers and so all money raised is invested into the club, our players and their development. To create an inclusive environment for all, we aim to reduce costs associated with playing wheelchair basketball for the individual to close to nothing and, at some points, we have achieved our aim of providing a cost-free experience.
This is all down to the support we gain from individuals and organisations who donate or support the Bears in some way. Money raised by the Bears typically goes towards:
- The purchase of playing chairs – these can cost up to £5,000. The Bears are proud to say that we cover the cost of new chairs for our players.
- Subsidising playing kit – the Bears are proud to say that we offer cost-free kit to all of our team members.
- Registration fees.
- Costs of travel and accommodation for games – the Bears are proud to say that all accommodation required by the team for away fixtures and tournaments is covered by the club.
Community outreach is important to the Bears not only to raise much needed funds, but also to raise awareness for disability sport and to publicise wheelchair basketball and the Warwickshire Bears.
Bag Packing Events.
The main form of fundraising that the Bears conduct throughout the year, both in and out of season, is done through bag packing events. This provides an opportunity for players and coaches to get out into the community, meet and chat with members of the public and raise awareness for disability sport. It is also an excellent opportunity to raise funds, which are injected into the club in the form of funding items such as new kit, new playing chairs and sports hall hire. The Bears are fortunate to be partnered with Sainsbury’s Marshall Lake for the year 2017/2018, so you will find the teams at Sainsbury’s frequently, working closely with their fantastic team to get out into the community and raise awareness as well as funds.
Sponsored pushes
All teams at the Warwickshire Bears enjoy challenging themselves as well as one another, and are always looking for new opportunities and experiences. Sponsored pushes are a high demand fundraising event, through which the club seeks donations as they pledge to push a certain distance. These days are hugely enjoyable with family and friends also getting involved to push too, or simply to walk alongside.
Corporate team building events
The senior coaching team at Warwickshire Bears, along with the club’s 1st Team, offer bespoke and highly informative corporate team building events. Usually 2-3 hours in length, these team building sessions can include:
Informative talk surrounding disability: A more general discussion/ In sport/ In the work place | Team building through exercises involving wheelchair basketball e.g. basic chair and ball skill games | A challenge game against the 1st Team.
School Events**
Open to all schools, colleges and sixth forms, The Bears offer a wide range of school events both on a one off and more regular basis. School events can be uniquely created by the management team and Junior coach, in collaboration with the appropriate team at the school. These events can include but are not limited to the following:
A regular after school club – children would be taught the fundamentals of wheelchair basketball and encouraged to develop their skills and talent. The children would be coached by our senior coaching team. | Informative talks surrounding disability and disability sport. | An adaptation of our Corporate team building events (see above). | Challenge games – children would be split into two teams and play against one another, or have a chance to take on the Bears.
Sponsorship packages and one off donations.
The Bears are also immensely grateful for one off donations or offers of sponsorship. The club values sponsor relationships highly and enjoys working closely with sponsors to form a partnership that incorporates the deliverables of both parties. The Bears offer Sponsorship and Donation packages, that set out a clear guideline of the costs associated with the sport and provides individuals and organisations with the opportunity to fund a specific aspect of the club. All donations, no matter the size, are welcome and appreciated.
** Please contact senior management team for proof of appropriate DBS and other.