Woolly Jumpers raise thousands

WOOLLY JUMPERS and THE ANDOVER TAP at the LAMB

What a day – The Woolly Jumpers – 18 brave souls from the Andover Tap at the Lamb, threw themselves out of a flimsy plane above Old Sarum. 

But at least there was a brewery at the bottom to aim for, which had a beer named 'Woolly Jumpers'. 😉

From the now traditional bacon rolls at The Tap, to a full coach of 50+ jumpers and their raucous singing supporters, it was just one of many charity events the great community at The Tap have arranged.
This year's efforts are all going to the outstanding Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices, who care for seriously ill children, young adults and their families.

The award-winning Good Beer Guide pub chooses a different charity to support each year and holds numerous events ranging from hairstyling and beard shaving through to cycle rides and themed food evenings. Last year it raised funds for the Alzheimer's Society.

This weekend's jump was its largest fundraising event to date. 

 

Amazing Fundraising
Funds are still coming in, and at time of writing this event has reached an amazing £9,735 + 2k+ in Gift Aid.

With further events still to be held it is certain the overall year's total will be impressive.

If anyone would like to donate the link is here:

https://www.justgiving.com/team/andover-tap-woolly-jumper

Pubs and Charities

The public house provides a local community many benefits but there is one that is often overlooked when they are threatened by closure – their support for local charities.

£100 million raised annually
It is reported by Pub Aid that pubs raise more than £100million each year for charity which goes back into supporting a plethora of good causes.

Whether its a quiz evening, a swear box, or a red nose fancy dress, local pubs are a major fundraising source. From meat draws to auctions and haircuts the list of opportunities for a pub is almost endless. 
There are few pubs without the charity pot on the bar where even the odd pennies of change dropped in the slot will soon add up and help a good cause. 

Attracting customers
Fundraising goes further too, as it can attract customers. In an independent survey commissioned for CAMRA and PubAid, research showed that more people would use their local pub if more charity events were held. This was especially the case for younger adults.

Many pubs raise funds for specific causes.
One favourite local pub in Andover has chooses a charity for the year and runs a number of events. The last year has seen the Andover Tap at the Lamb raise over £2300 for the Alzheimers Society, through a raft of events ranging from a hairdressing event to a cycle ride. It has now just started to raise funds for its next chosen charity, Naomi House which provides hospice care for children and young adults.

£2370 raised by The Andover Tap at the Lamb

From Coffee mornings to Quizzes
Another popular fundraising event is running coffee mornings and several local pubs excel, including the popular Anton Arms and others in Andover that raise funds for cancer support.

Pub Quizzes are also of the most popular events that raise funds for charities.

A local town and its Quizzes
The north Hampshire town of Whitchurch also excels with regular quizzes in many pub venues. 

A popular theme is to raise funds in order to run a to run a community swimming pool, while another is to provide support to Whitchurch in Bloom whose volunteers add colourful planting to the town's streets.

Bish's lockdown quizzes
are now held in the Kings Arms

Onwards from Covid
One of the town's most regular quizzes is held started online during lockdown and has now continued in the Kings Arms where 'Bish' runs numerous fundraising evenings.
Also watch out for the landlord Steve Howard's infamous Tin Foil Challenge. That really is fun!

Value to Communities – JOIN IN
The value of the Pub to charities and is all too often ignored when a pub is under threat of development.

All we can say is JOIN IN – visit your local pub and not only enjoy the hospitality of good refreshments and entertainment but also know that you can be supporting your local community.

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Pubtober – supporting pubs and charities in October

Pubtober is an antidote to some of the misguided anti-alcohol promotions that can harm our country's pub and beer culture and those who rely on it for their livelihoods.

At a time when the hospitality industry is still suffering the after-effects of the covid pandemic these charity 'challenges' are akin to sticking the boot in.

Should we harm those who support our communities?
Our pubs, are not just places for an enjoyable drink or meal but also provide far wider benefits ranging from combatting loneliness and isolation to supporting thousands of livelihoods ranging from taxi drivers to window cleaners and from food suppliers to sports teams, as well as those working in and relying on the breweries that supply them.

A current headlining promotion calls on people to abstain from alcohol for October and raise funds by doing so. This is already in addition to Alcohol Change UK's similar promotion of Dry January that calls for the same.

Oh, the irony
Ironically these promotions that call for participants to forego an alcoholic drink for a month or more are often run by the very same charities that pubs and breweries support by fundraising events such as coffee mornings or charity quizzes.

So PUBTOBER was born:

So what could you do?

Support a charity, while still supporting pubs and breweries
Pubtober supports charities wholeheartedly.
This 'antidote' asks people to visit their local, enjoy a drink whether its alcoholic or not, and put some monies into the charity boxes. Maybe set a personal challenge to visit a number of different pubs?
Pubtober suggests donating to a cancer-related charity such as Macmillan Cancer Support.

That is a win-win all around, supporting both the livelihoods of the trade and raising funds for the good causes. 

Pubtober, created by Happy Pint

A Call-out for Brewdog

Amongst traditional ale drinkers Brewdog can be a bit of a 'marmite' company. There is no doubt it has had a strong influence in the growth of craft beers and the introduction of a range of exciting taste innovations but it can also be controversial.

However it is good to report a very local and positive move by the company.

Raising Funds for a local school
A recent fund raising Spring Auction by the Friends of Whitchurch Primary School (FOWPS) saw Brewdog offer two Lots - each of value £40 to be used "on anything you please - Beer, Food, Merch & Beer Schools Galore in a Brewdog Bar".

One Voucher was paired with an Overton Rugby Season Membership for one child (aged Year 6 or below) and raised £50, while the other was stand-alone and raised £33 for the Primary School.

Over £1500
In all, the Spring Auction raised over £1500 for the School. All the money raised goes directly to enriching the lives of our local school children.

So a well-done to Brewdog for helping a local worthy cause.

Brewdog, Festival Place, Basingstoke

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About FOWPS

The Friends of Whitchurch Primary School or FOWPS are a registered charity whose mission is to enrich the educational experience and enhance the well-being of all the children at school.

We bring together parents, teachers and children and raise funds and strengthen our school community. The committee is made up of volunteer parents, of which three are compulsory members and trustees. We raise money for the school through donations, sponsored events and activities.

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