Background

Bluebell Wood invited 30 teams to create and bring their own karts to race over ramps, jumps and bumps on a 500-metre course at Clifton Park in Rotherham, in the north of the United Kingdom.

Summary / objectives

The objectives of the event were to engage with the Rotherham community, build awareness of Bluebell Wood’s work and raise at least £3,000 for the charity: to help children with life-threatening and life-shortening conditions.

Results

The first children's hospice to organise a Soapbox Derby, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice smashed the financial and non-financial targets, raising £17,000 and attracting 3,500 spectators to the event on the day. The Facebook event reached nearly a quarter of a million people through purely organic engagement.

Bluebell Wood scooped the Best Use of Events trophy at the UK’s Institute of Fundraising’s National Fundraising Awards for the event that has become one of its most successful community activities to date.

Final notes

The judges at the Awards said: ‘Highly innovative and creative. They devised new and innovative ways of engaging a wide, diverse mix of potential supporters, using a good mix of media, community fundraising, PR and digital platforms. All this was achieved on a limited budget and has potential to be replicated year on year.’

Bluebell Wood’s events organiser Jo Berry, who devised and delivered the event with volunteers’ help, said: 'We’re absolutely delighted that our Soapbox Derby has been recognised by the Institute of Fundraising. It’s great to have brought such a respected accolade back to South Yorkshire and it’s all thanks to the volunteers, supporters and fundraisers who helped make this event such a big success.'