Calvert Devon is also a charity, and we need your help to:
- Fund life-changing adventures
- Purchase new equipment
- Provide much-needed funding to subsidise guest costs
- Cover the costs of the general upkeep of the centre
- Care for the horses and ponies who live on-site
- And much more
As a charity, we ask for donations to subsidise the booking costs we offer to guests (funding) so they don’t pay the full cost of a break. The cost-of-living crisis and recent Government cuts affect guests’ ability to afford a break. We have to raise even more funds to cover this gap with funding, update activity equipment and invest in the estate.
Your kindness and support make our mission possible. Without your support, much of what we do would be a dream. Thank you for making it a reality.
As a charity, we fundraise to subsidise the rate we offer to guests so they don’t pay the full cost of a break. With inflationary centre costs and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on guests’ ability to afford a break, we have to raise even more funds to cover this gap, update activity equipment, invest in the estate, and provide a bursary scheme.
Therefore, staff and guests hugely value how you, our supporters, assist us in raising funds.
If you’re interested in joining our family of supporters, keep reading to learn more about how you can help, and feel free to contact us:
SPONSOR A HORSE OR PONY
Support the stables by supporting your favourite horse or pony
FUNDRAISE WITH EVENTS OR RACES
Our work wouldn’t be possible without continued fundraising support from people like you – thank you so much!
If you’d like further information or support in your fundraising efforts, please email [email protected] or call us on 01598 763221.
You can rest assured that 100% of every £1 you fundraise will go directly towards our vital work.
Enter a marathon or create an event of your own! However you decide to help, our supporters tell us that dedicating time to raise money for Calvert Devon is highly rewarding. You’ll be part of something incredible and feel a sense of pride in helping people with disabilities fulfil their potential.
- Decide how you want to raise money. You could run a 5K, organise an event, hold a sponsored silence, or do a combination of these!
- Online or in-person? You can either set up an online fundraiser/donation page or request a Fundraising Form from us.
- Set a fundraising target. This target can be as small or large as you like. Make sure you’re challenging yourself, but also realistic.
- Use social media to spread the word. Shout about every thought, step, and success on social media platforms, asking people to share the news far and wide. Send us any information we need to publicise it on our own media, and tag Calvert Devon too!
- Send us your raised amount. Once your campaign or event has finished, it’s time to send the money to Calvert Devon. You can do this online, by BACS, by cheque, or by dropping it into our reception with cash. Please get in touch with us via email or phone first so we know where it’s coming from!
Addresses: Fundraising team, Calvert Devon, Wistlandpound, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4SJ
Email to: [email protected]
Ideas:
- Have a sale – old toys, clothes, household items, you name it!
- Put on a bake sale
- Do a sponsored silence
- Get sponsored to dress up
- Start a regular ‘non-uniform’ day at school for a £1 entry fee
- Hold a ‘Come Dine With Me’ event
- Put on a music concert
- Host a quiz night
- Run a fashion show and auction off clothes at the end
- Hold a raffle – ask local businesses and shops to donate prizes
- Host a movie night
- Rent a local village hall for an event
- Get sponsored to give up a guilty pleasure
- Have a spring clean and auction off items
- Shave it off – get sponsored to shave off your hair, eyebrows, or maybe even wax your legs
- Bikeathon – cycle across the country with a buddy and get fit whilst raising money
- Long-distance sponsored walk or run
- Empty your pockets – any loose change at the end of each day/week/month, pop into a jar and donate this when it’s full
LEAVE A LEGACY
Whether you’re requesting donations at a funeral, in lieu of flowers or making an in memoriam donation through a gift in a will, these gifts make a world of difference to Calvert Devon’s guests.
We are always touched by the generosity of people who leave us something. No matter how large or small the gift, 100% of it will go towards our important work.
Leaving a Gift in your Will
Leaving a gift in your Will is a great way to leave a lasting legacy of support for Calvert Devon.
After making provision for those family or friends you leave behind, you may be able to donate to the charity, which will be free of inheritance tax. No matter how large or small your gift is, it will be used to benefit people with disabilities and to help them achieve their full potential through adventure activities.
PLEASE NOTE: Include our correct name in the Will.
Calvert Devon is the centre’s trading name. The charity name is ‘Exmoor Calvert Trust’.
Please detail that you are leaving your gift to ‘Exmoor Calvert Trust, Registered Charity Number in England and Wales (1005776)’.
Without being specific, your gift might not reach us.
Contact a solicitor. We strongly advise contacting a solicitor if you are considering leaving us a gift in your will. A solicitor can advise you on everything you need to consider, including tax relief, trusts, and restrictions. They can also ensure your intentions are clear and handle the whole process.
Types of legacies
- Specific Gift: This could be a property or anything else you think may be valuable to us after you are gone.
- Residuary Gift: This is a gift in which you bequeath to us either the sole or a proportionate share of the net balance of your estate after all taxes, duties and legal fees have been paid and dispensed. Generally, a residuary gift will keep its value better than a gift of a fixed sum of money.
- Reversionary Gift: This will make a provision to a named person in your Will during their lifetime, after which you can ask that the remainder of the bequeathed estate be passed to Calvert Devon.
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
We also fundraise to offer funding to guests and keep improving the centre, thanks to the incredibly generous contributions of trusts and foundations that allow us to continue doing our life-changing work. In fact, these grants are essential and crucially restricted grants support our rquipment, assests and estate.
Our funding model
75% of our normal operating income comes from the contributions of individuals and groups (including charities) towards their stay. The impact of the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and dramatically increased fuel, food and electricity costs has shifted this to a 65%/35% split.
The remaining amount is the “Bednight Funding Gap” between the tariff the guests pay and the actual cost. As a UK-registered charity, our task is to raise the funds for this gap through voluntary donations and grants to make our breaks affordable and accessible for all.
We also offer a range of bursaries to those who are financially disadvantaged through funds raised.
We secure funds from various sources, including corporates, trusts and foundations, community groups and individuals.
If you belong to a trust or foundation capable of providing Calvert Devon grant or donation money, with restricted or unrestricted, we’d love to hear from you:
Call 01598 763221 and select option 3.
Email us at [email protected]
Please note: Our fundraising team works between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.
VOLUNTEER AT THE CENTRE
Would you like to volunteer at Calvert Devon? Then please contact us to ask for a Volunteer Application Form.
Email [email protected] or phone 01598 763221
From assisting at a fundraising event to becoming a weekly volunteer in the stables, doing some admin work or even gardening in the lovely courtyard, your support will help us provide a better service for our guests.
Volunteer roles available include:
- Stables
- Activities
- Housekeeping
- Fundraising speaker representatives
- Events
- Maintenance
- Gardening
We welcome applications from people of all abilities, backgrounds and communities. Calvert Devon abides by the Data Protection Act 1998 and operates an Equal Opportunities policy.
Unfortunately, for health and safety reasons, we can only accept volunteers who are 18 and over.
