Thinking about hosting a fundraiser but not sure where to start? Faith's story shows how a simple idea can grow into something brilliant.
What began as a Brilliant Breakfast with a few friends quickly became a thriving community event, bringing together more than 130 women to raise funds for The King's Trust through the Change a Girl's Life campaign.
Through ticket sales, sponsorship and fundraising activities, Faith's event has raised vital funds to support young women into work.
Here’s how she organised her charity breakfast event, what made it successful and why she’s now preparing to host her third Brilliant Breakfast!
Why did you decide to host a Brilliant Breakfast?
I have been involved with The King’s Trust for many years through my work at Faith Elder Beauty Academy. Over the years, I have worked with many young women, helping them gain skills, confidence, and qualifications and, ultimately, helping them change the direction of their lives.
Fundraising wasn’t something I’d done before, but I wanted to support The King’s Trust and give back in a new way. When I heard about Change a Girl’s Life, it immediately felt like the perfect fit for me. Changing girls’ lives is already such a big part of what I do every day, so supporting a fundraising campaign that helps young women overcome barriers and achieve their goals was incredibly important to me.
How did you fundraise at your Brilliant Breakfast?
My first Brilliant Breakfast raised money in several different ways, by combining ticket sales with support from local businesses and fundraising activities on the day.
What started as a small breakfast fundraiser became a big Brilliant Breakfast, allowing even more people to take part. With support from my sister and my friend, we organised an event attended by 130 women! Every single one of them came dressed in King’s Trust red, which was important to me and looked fantastic.
We decided to raise money through:
- Ticket sales
- A £500 sponsorship donation from a local business
- A raffle with prizes generously donated by local businesses
- Additional fundraising activities throughout the event
Alongside fundraising, we also had a lovely buffet, a magician, a well-known Dundee DJ, lots of music, singing, and Scottish dancing. It was such a brilliant atmosphere that really brought everyone together.
What impact did your fundraiser have?
One of the most memorable moments was hearing from two young women who had previously received support through a King's Trust Development Award to complete training courses with me at Faith Elder Beauty Academy.
They both shared their own stories with everyone in the room and spoke about where their journeys had taken them since receiving support from The King’s Trust. One has gone on to set up her own business, while the other is continuing into further education.
Their stories brought the whole purpose of Change a Girl’s Life to life. Everyone attending could see and hear first-hand the difference that the right support, funding, and opportunities could make to a young woman’s future.
What was your favourite part about hosting a Brilliant Breakfast?
One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing 130 women together in one room, all there to support something that can genuinely make a difference to another young woman’s life.
What advice would you offer to other people who are thinking about hosting a Brilliant Breakfast?
Don’t underestimate the power of sharing your event.
I'd recommend having a videographer there or capturing content yourself throughout the day. We were able to share photos and videos across social media afterwards, which helped us celebrate the event and raise awareness of the Change a Girl's Life campaign.
For me, that was important because the event wasn’t only about raising money. It was also about raising awareness and showing people what we can achieve when we come together.
Will you host another Brilliant Breakfast?
Absolutely.
I’m now heading into my third year of supporting the Change a Girl’s Life campaign, and I genuinely cannot wait.
My goal is to bring even more women together, raise even more money and continue spreading awareness of the support The King's Trust provides to young people.
Faith’s top fundraising tips
- Start planning early. Put together your guest list and start organising your event well in advance.
- Ask local businesses for support. Businesses may be willing to sponsor your event or donate prizes for a raffle.
- Make your fundraising page easy to share. Send it to friends and family and post it on your social media channels.
- Take photos and videos. Sharing content from your event can help raise awareness and encourage others to get involved.
- Don't be afraid to start small. Faith's Brilliant Breakfast grew from a small event with friends into a fundraiser attended by more than 130 women.
Want to know more about The Brilliant Breakfast?
The Brilliant Breakfast brings people together to raise funds for The King's Trust's Change a Girl's Life campaign, helping young women access the support and opportunities they need to build their futures.
Get involved by hosting your own, this March.
