Wear dots... raise lots Fundraising guideFundraising guide

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Why wear dots and raise lots? Every day 100 people in the UK start losing their sight. It will change their life completely.Too many people are left alone to cope with this news. Many will quickly feel isolated and depressed. Right now, RNIB can only reach one in three of those who need our help the most.

With your support, we can be there from the moment of diagnosis to help people face their future with confidence.

This October we’re asking you to Wear dots… raise lots to support RNIB – it’s a really fun and easy way to help the almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss; a figure we believe will double by 2050.

Why dots? Wear dots... raise lots this October to celebrate braille, a unique system of raised dots that can be read by touch.

This fundraising guide tells you more about braille and how it is used and is full of ideas to help you plan your event for October.

Kimberley was born with congenital cataracts and her sight has deteriorated over time. She says:

“ I was always interested in art and despite having sight problems, I studied to become an illustrator. I use special techniques including labelling my paints and pens with braille and having all the shades lined up in order.”

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1…2…3 it’s as simple as joining the dots1 Get the word out

Tell everyone you know that you are going to Wear dots... raise lots for RNIB. Why not ask your friends, family and colleagues to join you and dress in dots for the day – the more dots, the better! Use the materials included in your pack and remember there are more available to download from our website at rnib.org.uk/dotsdownloads

2 Line up your dots!Raid your wardrobe and discover your dots – don’t worry if you can’t find anything, pop down to your local charity shop and pick up a bargain. You can always add to the effect by painting your nails with dots or accessorising with a dotty scarf, hair band, tie or socks. Or you could even make your own!

3 Wear dots... raise lots this OctoberWhether pretty in polka dot or divine in Dalmatian, ask everyone taking part to donate a suggested amount. We suggest £2 for adults and £1 for children.

For more ideas visit rnib.org.uk/weardots

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Don’t stop at just wearing dotsThere are lots of other things you can do with dots – here are a few suggestions:

• Bake dots… raise lots. Get creative with choc chips and arty with smarties and hold a cake sale at your school, club or work. Think dotty tablecloths, cups and saucers and some delectable delights for sale.

• Play dots… raise lots. Challenge your friends and colleagues to a “dot games tournament” using dominoes, darts, draughts, Connect 4®, Twister®, bingo, hoopla, or hula hooping.

• Paint dots… raise lots. Paint people’s nails with dots and ask for a donation, or print some t-shirts with dots to sell, maybe with names in braille.

• Pack with dots… raise lots. Speak to your local shop or supermarket and organise a bag pack for donations while dressed in your dots.

• Extreme dots… raise lots. Hold a competition to see who can read in the most extreme place while dressed in dots. Get people to send a photo in and contribute to take part – make sure you get a prize donated for the winner.

ActivityTry printing your own t-shirts with fun brightly coloured dots! You can use fabric paints or pens, or simply stick on dots to customise plain t-shirts. You could even use tactile dots – cut out of felt, fake fur, or bubble wrap!

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Other fun ideas for raising lots There are also plenty of other ideas to try on your day of dots. How about adding these into the mix – remember they can all be done while wearing dots:

Check out rnib.org.uk/dotsaz for more ideas.

• Bingo day• Book sale/swap• Braille trail• CD sale• Karaoke• Literary lunch• Nail painting

• Pub quiz• Reading group challenge• Scrabble competition• Sponsored read• Story sleepover• £1 sale – everything on sale

is one round pound

Look what we did last year...The team at Cubex coudn’t wait to support RNIB by holding a “day of dots” – dressing in dotty clothes and baking fabulous dotty cakes.

Frances Mackenzie, whose family members have benefited from RNIB braille books, said

“ I’ve been delighted to support RNIB, who are a wonderful charity.”

£

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The need to read When you lose your sight, reading anything – from a cash machine screen, to labels on food and drink, to a book – can become impossible.

Braille is a system of six raised dots, arranged in two columns of three dots, just like a domino. It is designed to be read by fingers.

RNIB is the largest publisher of braille books in Europe. Last year our reading services lent 83,200 volumes of braille and braille music. Blind and partially sighted adults and children can also borrow from our audio and giant print libraries.

Why learn braille?Learning braille from a young age means that blind and partially sighted children can enjoy reading for life. Braille also helps literacy, as it’s a much better way to understand punctuation, grammar and spelling than audio.

RNIB campaigns for blind and partially sighted children to learn braille, whether they are in mainstream or special schools.

ActivityUse the braille alphabet card in your pack to feel the dots – can you tell the difference between the letters? Now test your braille skills to work out the message below and our decipher the dots card.

can you read

this

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A few facts about braille• It was invented in 1824 by a 15-year-old blind boy called Louis Braille.

• All writing can be turned into braille: from bank statements to street signs, medicine packets to music.

• Braille has been adapted into every known language, from Albanian to Zulu.

• RNIB published our first braille book in 1871.

• RNIB has taken braille from dot to dot.com! New braille technology is revolutionising the way that blind people read everything from smartphones to computer screens.

ActivityThe simspecs in your pack show what it might be like to have a sight problem.

Get people to try moving around a room (carefully!), reading something or describing what they can see while wearing them.

You should have your sight tested at least every two yearsAn eye examination is an important health check for your eyes and can detect early signs of a sight problem. Many eye conditions can be treated if they are spotted early enough.

Some people, especially children, may need their eyes examined more often and your optometrist will advise you about this. For further information visit rnib.org.uk/eyehealth

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Free schools’ resources Why not encourage your class to learn more about sight loss when they Wear dots… raise lots? You could even have a week of dots!

We have produced free curriculum relevant lesson plans for EYFS and KS1–4 which enable teachers to easily include the materials in their daily lessons.

All our free materials can be downloaded from rnib.org.uk/dotsteachers and include:

• EYFS and KS1–4 lesson plans • PowerPoint presentation• Information and statistics about sight loss• Videos• Quizzes• The story of Louis Braille• Braille alphabet sheets and activities• A template letter about wearing dots to send to parents• Information on eye health

Don’t forget you can request more materials such as braille cards, balloons and our super simspecs. Contact us on 0845 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk to order more.

Freddy, aged 9, who is blind says:

“ It’s great when my friends in class are learning a bit more about what it’s like to be blind. It makes me feel more included.”

ActivityTry painting your nails with different coloured dots and dotty patterns, you could even make them tactile and stick on jewels or gems!

How about getting your friends together and having a nail painting party?

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Freddy’s storyFreddy, aged 9, has Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis, a disease that has resulted in severe loss of vision. Freddy struggles to see more than colours and high contrast shapes and cannot read standard print books.

He has worked very hard to crack the code and learn braille. This allows him to take part in all his lessons, the same as everyone else.

“ I use a Brailler to type braille in class. I can write just the same things as the other kids do.”

For Freddy, being able to read and write provides much more than the thrill of a great story. It is the key to his self-esteem.

RNIB’s reading choices have helped Freddy enjoy the adventures that books have to offer. Not only does he now feel “one of the gang” with friends but the books are also helping him to do better at school.

Fiona, Freddy’s mum says:

“ I think it’s made a big difference to his literacy – and really improved his vocabulary and writing. It’s also helped his imagination develop.”

Find out more about Freddy at rnib.org.uk/dotsfreddy

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Look what we did last year...Hatfield Peverel Beavers decorated cakes and sold them to raise money for RNIB. The Beavers dressed up in dotty clothing and painted their faces with multi-coloured dots. They tried on the simspecs to see what life was like for blind people and had a go at reading braille.

They had brilliant fun and raised £55.

£

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ActivityCut out the bunting triangles and string them up to make your event more colourful. Download and colour in the blank ones (available online) to create your own fabulous dotty bunting. Why not string up some dotty clothing to add to the effect?

Promoting your eventThe more promotion you get, the bigger your profile and the more money you will raise.

We can provide you with posters and balloons to make sure that everyone knows you are raising money for RNIB. Contact us on 0845 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk

Be sure to contact your local newspapers and radio stations – hitting the headlines can help you raise more vitally needed funds. You can download media information and templates from rnib.org.uk/dotsdownloads

We’d love to see any photos or updates on how you are getting on wearing your dots.

Don’t forget to like us and post your pictures on facebook.com/weardots as well as follow us @RNIB and tweet using #weardots.

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How your money helps£5 can help us to answer

a call to our Helpline from someone who has just found out they are losing their sight.

£20 can help provide information and support to someone with sight problems seeking employment.

£75 can offer advice, a listening ear, understanding and friendship with one of our weekly Talk and Support telephone groups.

£100 can pay for the recording of a talking newspaper keeping someone in touch with local and world events.

£400 can give blind and partially sighted children the chance to make friends, build confidence and have fun on a specially designed action-packed holiday.

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£20

£75

£100

£400

Maximise your moneyGift AidGift Aid is a great way for us to raise even more from donations. For more about Gift Aid, please visit rnib.org.uk/giftaid

Online fundraisingThe easiest and most cost effective way to fundraise is via the donation site Just Giving – remember to choose RNIB from the list of event options: justgiving.com/rnib

We have also included a sponsorship form if you’d prefer. Please remember to encourage supporters to fill in their full details and tick the Gift Aid box or we can’t claim it.

Matched fundingMany companies offer matched funding as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. This means that they will match whatever amount you fundraise pound for pound (often up to a restricted amount). Be sure to speak to your company to see if this is an option when you wear dots and raise lots.

Reg charity nos. 226227, SC039316

© RNIB 2015

We’re here to help youWe want you to have fun with your event and to have huge success as you Wear dots... raise lots! We hope this guide gives you all the information you need but don’t forget to visit rnib.org.uk/weardots for more ideas and resources.

If we can help at all, please call 0845 345 0054 or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk. You can also order more materials such as balloons, simspecs, stickers and braille cards.

facebook.com/weardotstwitter.com/rnib #weardots