By Abby Todd, MIN Student Volunteer, 20th December 2022.
My name is Abby and I am a third year medical student at the University of Sheffield. As part of our course, we spent 4 weeks doing a social accountability placement, allowing us to give back to our community and see social determinants of health first hand. I was very pleased when I was allocated Mums In Need, one of my top choices.
I chose Mums In Need as I think although we’ve come a long way, abuse, specifically psychological abuse, is still taboo. I am a firm believer psychological abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse, and was moved by the story of the MIN founder, Laura Riley.
My main task for this placement was to organise the Mums In Need Christmas raffle. I was excited to get started, but had big shoes to fill as a previous medical student raised £1000 in the 2020 Christmas Raffle.
During the first week of the placement I emailed all the businesses I could think of: some local, some much bigger. The majority politely replied that they already support a charity, or get too many requests, so unfortunately couldn’t help me, and some didn’t reply at all. However, some businesses were keen to get involved, and I would like to thank them during this blog.
Our first prize (an overnight stay in a superior double room, with breakfast, at Hotel Du Vin York and a 3 course meal for 2 with wine at Malmaison York) was kindly provided by charity escapes. This scheme allows charities to buy prizes for auctions and raffles, at 25% of their worth. I raised the money to buy this prize by asking my wonderful friends and family for help, and a little of my own donation.
Experience days were also happy to help us with a prize. They do a lot of charity prizes, and donated a £50 voucher. You can find their charity scheme here: https://www.experiencedays.co.uk/charity-scheme
Sheffield local businesses such as Jazzy B fitness, Lock Up Escape Rooms, Utilita Sheffield, both Wagamama and Miller & Carter at Valley Centertainment, the Yorkshire Candle Co and JMA Media also donated prizes, so a huge thanks to them. You can find the links to their websites at the bottom of this page.
The raffle went live at the end of November, and I was super nervous I wouldn’t be able to raise the amount of money Mums In Need deserve. However, it was well received and we raised over £400 in the first 24 hours.
The raffle stayed open for 3 weeks, and in that time we raised £1770!
We drew the raffle on the 19th December, and all winners will be contacted before Christmas eve.
I would like to thank everyone who entered the raffle, and helped me reach my fundraising goal of £1000, and beyond. Additionally, a huge thank you to the MIN team who made my placement so enjoyable, and who do so much for the Mums of Sheffield who seek out their support.
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a happy new year.
Abby xx
Thank you so much to the businesses who donated prizes:
www.hotelduvin.com/locations/york/
www.malmaison.com/locations/york/
www.experiencedays.co.uk/charity-scheme
www.utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk/
www.wagamama.com/restaurants/sheffield/sheffield-centertainment
www.paradiseislandgolf.com/Sheffield