Hitting Cancer for Six: The Bob Willis Fund’s uses CollecTin in its fight against Prostate Cancer

The Bob Willis Fund was established in memory of the beloved cricketer and commentator, Bob Willis. The fund is dedicated to advancing vital research into prostate cancer, with the goal of implementing a national screening program to help save lives.

The charity’s signature fundraising event, ‘Blue for Bob Day,’ invites spectators at Edgbaston to wear blue in Bob’s honour, to raise awareness and support the cause.

Background

Like many charities, the Bob Willis Fund recognised the need to diversify its donation methods. With fewer people carrying cash, the demand for card-based donations has increased, prompting the charity to explore more convenient options for supporters.

The charity had previously tried other donation methods, each presenting its own set of challenges. While text-to-give donations proved effective during large-scale events, especially with the support of Sky Sports, they still needed more transparent and user-friendly options.

Solution

The charity chose to introduce four CollecTin More contactless donation boxes as an efficient way to collect donations during different activities on Blue for Bob Day. These included Bob’s Bowling Zone, a merchandise stall with a suggested donation of £20 and two units dedicated to general fundraising.

With the inbuilt Give A Little software, each CollecTin ran a unique campaign tailored to its specific activity, offering a professional experience for participants. This setup also allowed the charity to easily track the income generated by each device.

With Blue for Bob Day a permanent fixture in the calendar the charity also extended its use of the CollecTins by lending the devices to their supporters for charity cricket matches and other events. This has made donating easier and more transparent for the attendees and the organisers know the funds are going directly to the charity without additional effort on their part.

Results

The charity has been really pleased with the devices and the enthusiastic way that donors have embraced and understood their purpose.

Ricky Moore, Operations Lead for the charity, shared his thoughts: "I think the CollecTins look fantastic. What I appreciate is that the Give A Little software allows us to customise the screen with our branding and messaging, making the donation process clear and engaging for donors. It looks sleek and professional, and people respond positively to that."

He added, "The campaigns have really helped us gain insight into each revenue stream and where donations are coming from, what's generating the most money, and what’s raising awareness, or a combination of both. It has definitely allowed us to be more deliberate about what we are doing moving forward."

When asked if he would recommend CollecTin and Give A Little to other charities, Ricky replied, “I already have. I work with a few other charities, and we've discussed how well it has worked for us. We would absolutely recommend it!"