Find out how Taunton Military Wives Choir are raising money through online shopping with easyfundraising
Eleanor Pullen • Oct 27, 2020
Fundraising this year has been hard. And as it looks like local lockdowns and restrictions will be with us for some time, we know many choirs are wondering how they can keep funds coming in through the winter and into 2021. That was our reason for partnering with easyfundraising
this year, to give our choirs an alternative way of funding themselves, through shopping online.
When choir members and supporters use the easyfundraising
website or app to shop online with over 4000 leading retailers including Amazon, eBay, John Lewis, M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s & Argos, the retailer they shop with sends their choir a free donation at no extra cost.
Taunton Military Wives Choir started using easyfundraising
in August and have already raised almost £50. Here’s their story:
How has the coronavirus crisis affected your funds?
For the first time ever, we had been fully booked for 2020 by the end of January. This would have ensured a steady income from events throughout the year. Our bread and butter is performing at small local churches - the average age of our audience is 70+ so this cohort may never return and our income could be affected for several years. We are also unable to access our free rehearsal space so are having to pay rent to use a local hall and our volunteer accompanist stepped down due to self-isolating so we are now paying for that role.
What made you register to raise money with easyfundraising?
We saw something about easyfundraising
on the Military Wives Choirs Facebook page.
What do you think of easyfundraising
as a way for choirs to raise money?
It’s a fantastic way to fundraise as it requires minimal effort on our part. It’s worth joining as even if you only have a few members signed up, their regular online shopping habit will raise significant amounts! Would definitely recommend!
How do you get members involved and raising free funds when they shop?
We advertise easyfundraising
via our choir WhatsApp support group which we set up at the beginning of lockdown.
What will you do with the funds you raise through online via easyfundraising?
We will be using the income towards our general running costs which have increased considerably during lockdown.
To benefit from free donations when your choir members shop online, register your choir as a good cause with easyfundraising
– it’s free to register and use so you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Our Chair of Trustees, Caroline Paxton, has written an article for The Naval Review about the Military Wives Choirs and what we offer to women across the military community: 'Understanding women impacted by their military connection'. 
Thanks to funding, the Military Wives Choirs is delighted to announce a new commission and invites applications from composers across the musical landscape.
New research finds mental and physical health benefits to joining the Military Wives Choirs
