This volunteering challenge is the perfect opportunity for businesses of any size to engage staff and the local community while raising important funds for a great charity. Could your business be Challenge Champion in 2022?

Registrations are now open for the Charity Shops’ Challenge 2022 and we’re delighted to announce that we will be continuing our partnership with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland which has raised a staggering £117K for the charity over the past two years.

What is the Charity Shops' Challenge?

The premise is simple, businesses take over the running of a Cancer Focus NI charity shop for one day (26 May) and compete against each other to make the most money for the charity. Teams also participate in fundraising activities in the run up to ‘take-over day’, with the overall winner being crowned Challenge Champion.

Please note: fundraising is required in advance of shop take-over day. See Timeline below for more information.

As well as the fundraising and volunteering aspect to the event, the Charity Shop Challenge is a great opportunity for businesses of any size to raise their profile within their local community, engage with customers and suppliers and can even provide a creative training opportunity for staff.

The Charity Shops’ Challenge is the perfect opportunity to pit your wits against businesses from across Northern Ireland, and there are plenty of reasons to get involved, for example:

• Engaging with your local community
• Bolstering staff wellbeing through active engagement and team building
• A cost-effective way to develop staff skills
• Helps raise essential funds for a local charity
• An excellent PR opportunity

What shops are taking part?

This unique and innovative volunteer event is open to businesses of all sizes and sectors with 12 Cancer Focus NI shops taking part.

Shops are available in the following locations:

• Bangor
• Limavady
• Newtownards
• Newtownstewart

Already taken

• Ballyhackamore - TAKEN BY SRUP
• Banbridge - TAKEN BY HALDANE FISHER
• Coleraine - TAKEN BY IDVERDE
• Holywood - TAKEN BY KPMG
• Lisburn - TAKEN BY ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
• Lisburn Road - TAKEN BY JP CORRY
• Ormeau Road - TAKEN BY CHOICE HOUSING
• Derry/Londonderry - TAKEN BY ALLSTATE NI

Timeline

22nd February – 26 May: Fundraising period

26 May: Shop take-over day

6th June: deadline for teams to submit all monies raised and forward award submissions

8th June – Panel of judges, discuss and decide on winners.

14th June: celebration event at Malone Lodge Hotel (winners announced)

Award Categories

Challenge Champion (Large Organisation) – The grandstand award based on a combination of taking on shop take-over day and fundraising monies

Challenge Champion (Small Organisation) – The grandstand award based on a combination of taking on shop take-over day and fundraising monies

Best Community Collaboration – How successfully can you engage local community groups, schools and suppliers?

Best Social Media Campaign – Test your innovation and creativity by developing a social media campaign around #CharityShopsChallenge

High 5 Award – An opportunity for teams to engage their senior management team. How well can one of your Directors spend £5 in your store on takeover day?

Best Window Display – The window display is an essential element of retail. Test your creativity by putting together a display to increase footfall.

Best Shop Theme – An opportunity for you to stamp your character on the store, for example A Night at the Movies, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.....the only limits are your own imagination

For more information, contact Lauren.Cunningham@bitcni.org.uk