How to host a Coffee Morning at work

Once you sign up to host a Coffee Morning, we'll send you a free fundraising kit that is full of ideas to help make your event a success. It will include a fundraising game and a Gift Aid sheet to help you raise even more.

We will also send you a link to your online Coffee Morning. In your fundraising pack, we will give you QR code stickers that links to your fundraising page. You could add these to any invites or posters you use to promote your event.

Other ways you can raise money at your workplace Coffee Morning:

• Hold a raffle or sweepstake. Collect prizes for the raffle or sweepstake by asking colleagues, your company, local businesses or clients to donate.
• Host a tournament. Charge teams for taking part in a sports tournament like bowls, football or any activity that takes your fancy. You could then host your Coffee Morning afterwards.
• Wear it Green day or Fancy Dress day. You could ask your colleagues or staff to make a small donation and skip the uniform for one day at work. We have a poster you can use to promote your Wear it Green day.
• Get your employer or a sponsor to match your donations. Use our Matched Giving Form to help collect your matched Coffee Morning donations.

Don't be afraid to think outside the box! Most importantly, however you host and raise funds at your Coffee Morning will make a difference in the lives of people living with cancer.

You may need to speak to your employer if you want to host a Coffee Morning at work. It can also be helpful to involve your employers as they may be able to support you during planning and hosting the event.

They may be able to help with:

• finding a time that works for staff, customers, colleagues and clients
• booking a space at your place of work
• spreading the word about your Coffee Morning through the staff newsletter, social media channels or in important work meetings
• sponsoring or finding a sponsor to match your donations
• finding speakers to give presentations during your event
• organising a raffle or sweepstake
• sourcing food or drinks for the event.

There are many ways you can invite people to your Coffee Morning.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Set up a Facebook event.
• Put up our event poster and send out invitations. Visit our fundraising resources page to view our Coffee Morning themed ones. You'll also find these in your fundraising kit.
• Ask your employer to put your Coffee Morning in the staff newsletter, marketing emails and/or on the intranet.
• Set up a WhatsApp or Facebook group.
• Send an email to your colleagues, customers and clients.
• Ask other local businesses and organisations if they can help promote your Coffee Morning. For example, if you work in an office building the building's management team may be able to tell other company's about your event. Or if you work on a high street, other shops and businesses could put your Coffee Morning posters in their shop windows.

You can share your personal Coffee Morning fundraising page at the same time. We'll send you sticker QR codes in your fundraising kit and a digital version of your QR code by email. These will link to your fundraising page. This way people can donate even if they can't attend your event.

If your Coffee Morning is a public event, fill in our form and we'll share the details of the event on our Coffee Morning map.

You could:

• Use the QR codes you will receive that link to your online fundraising page. You could add these to any posters or invites you use to promote your event.
• Share your fundraising page on your businesses or company's social media channels so people can donate directly to your Coffee Morning.
• Use the moneybox from your fundraising kit to collect cash and coin donations. You can then use the pay-in slip from your fundraising kit to pay these in at a bank, by post or at the Post Office.
• Make your donations go even further by using our Gift Aid form.
• Get a sponsor to match your donations. It's easy - simply use our Matched Giving form.

Find out more about how to pay in your Coffee Morning donations.

Members of the public are not subject to the food standards regulations or the UK Food Information Amendment, also known as Natasha's law (even if products were to be wrapped in cling film etc).

Where a school or organisation is "hosting" the Coffee Morning and inviting the public to donate goods, again they would not be subject to this regulation.

If a school or organisation is a registered food business and supplies their own products they would be subject to the regulation (as for any products they produce).

It is considered best practice to list allergens where possible, but as above not a legal requirement for the public.

For more information please visit the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website.

Matched funding is where a company offers to give a certain amount of money to your fundraising efforts. This can either ‘match’ the amount that you’re able to raise or a fixed amount agreed up front.

See our matched giving form.

There are several benefits for companies, including helping them achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility targets and potentially reducing the amount of corporate tax they pay.

Yes! You could host an online Coffee Morning. It can be a fun and inclusive way to connect with your colleagues regardless of where they are based.

Read our tips for hosting a virtual Coffee Morning, and don't forget to use our Coffee Morning virtual background.

Yes! Here are some ways you company can support your Coffee Morning:

• They could match your donations - simply use our Matched Giving form.
• Promote your Coffee Morning by sharing it in your staff newsletter, intranet, marketing emails or on the company's social media channels.
• Be your sponsor or help you find a sponsor for your Coffee Morning.
• Help you reach out to other businesses for donations like food and drink, or for a raffle or sweepstake.
• Book a room, time or space for you to host your Coffee Morning.