In order to keep Thistle’s Health and Wellbeing support available across Scotland for anyone who needs it, we rely on the generosity of our supporters, donors and funders. Regular giving plays a critical part in ensuring our long-term ability to continue providing this support, and face-to-face fundraising is the most effective way to raise awareness of our work and acquire new regular donors to sustain it.
The pandemic put our face-to-face fundraising on hold, and after two years of being unable to fundraise in this way, we are delighted to be launching a new campaign of street fundraising across Scotland.
In May 2022 we launched a joint initiative with the charity Children 1st. Our in-house fundraisers will engage with members of the public, spreading awareness of the vital work that each charity does, and allowing people to support our work through signing up for Direct Debit donations.
Please see our FAQs below. If you have any further questions, please contact us at fundraising@thistle.org.uk
Will the fundraisers be collecting money?
The fundraisers do not accept cash. They will only be collecting Direct Debit signups, and one-off donations via card or contactless.
I’d like to sign up for a Direct Debit but I’m uneasy about giving out my bank details in public.
We use secure fundraising software called Evergiving, which allows the donor to input their bank details on their own device through a secure link sent via text message. This means the bank details can be inputted into the form without the fundraiser ever seeing them. The Direct Debit details are then sent through Evergiving to Thistle, without the fundraiser ever coming into contact with this sensitive information.
What training do the fundraisers get?
Many of our fundraisers are professional fundraisers who have worked with fundraising agencies prior to joining our in-house team. We provide training on Thistle’s history, values and the support we offer, as well as the impact that our support has on the people who engage with Thistle’s support.
We also provide training to ensure that the fundraisers comply with the regulations of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, including data protection and fundraising codes of practice. Further, by instilling a thorough understanding of our person-centred values, we ensure that our fundraisers are able to engage with the public in an appropriate way at all times, and never attempt to fundraise from underage or vulnerable people.
How can I give feedback or raise a complaint?
Feedback is very important to us. If you would like to contact us about your experience with our face-to-face fundraising team, you can email fundraising@thistle.org.uk or call 0131 661 3366.
We welcome all feedback, and will keep in touch with you regarding the progress of your complaint, if relevant.
Please see the details of our complaints process here.
I’ve signed up to a Direct Debit with you. Is my data safe?
Please read our privacy policy regarding your data here. If you have any further questions, please email us at fundraising@thistle.org.uk or call 0131 661 3366.
What happens when I sign up to a Direct Debit?
Once you are signed up, you will receive an email confirmation stating the details of your regular payment.
When Thistle receives the signup data, we will liaise with the bank to set up the regular payment on the date you have chosen. We will then send you a welcome booklet, which outlines all the ways in which your gift will help Thistle support people throughout Scotland.
I’m having trouble paying my Direct Debit – what can I do?
If you’re having financial difficulties, please get in touch. We are more than happy to reduce your donation amount, the frequency with which you donate, or arrange a donation holiday. We can also cancel your Direct Debit upon your request.