Fundraising

RAG logo

What is RAG?

Reading Raising And Giving (RAG) is the official fundraising body at The University of Reading. As a student-orientated society, we work to fundraise for a variety of charities, locally and globally, as well as engaging widely with the local community. To do this, we provide students with exciting events and experiences, from themed union nights to hitching across the country and into Europe.

All donations from our events and challenges go towards our chosen charities and we are always interested in trying new things! So get involved, dig deep and help us get everyone on campus talking about Reading RAG! Over the past year, we've raised thousands of pounds and have sent students to Nepal, Peru, Abu Dhabi and Morocco as well as running events on campus and within our local community.

Why should you join RAG?

Not only is your involvement with RAG key to help fundraise and support charitable causes, RAG also allows students to develop invaluable skills, memories and experiences that no other society can provide! Skill development and volunteering are two crucial values that extra-curricular societies can give you, alongside your degree, and Reading RAG are here to help!

Challenge Charities for 2019/20

National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading autism charity. Our aim is transform lives, changes attitudes and create a society that works for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

We support autistic people through our autism-friendly schools, specialist services and autism helpline and help educate and promote awareness to the general public through awareness campaigns, government lobbying and autism training.

Meningitis Research Foundation

Meningitis Research Foundation is a leading UK, Irish and international charity that brings together people and expertise to defeat meningitis and septicaemia wherever it exists.

Their vision is of a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. A world where effective vaccinations can protect everyone. A world where people who do get the diseases get the most effective diagnosis and treatments possible. A world where people affected and their families have the best support and information.

Breast Cancer Now

Right now, breast cancer is at a tipping point. More women are surviving. But more are being diagnosed than ever before. One in eight women in the UK will face breast cancer in their lifetime. And every 45 minutes, another woman dies from the disease.

We’re going to change that.

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity – and we're dedicated to funding research into this devastating disease.

Chosen Charities for 2019/20

Mind charity logo

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

New Beginnings logo

Reading is a homeless charity based in Reading, UK. Our aims are the prevention and relief of poverty and financial hardship of persons in Reading who are in need due to social or economic reasons, regardless of their religion or belief.

Committee 2019/20

  • RUSU RAG President for 2019/20
    President – Caitlin

    We want to take this opportunity to start introducing our new committee for 2019/20, starting with our president, Caitlin!

    Caitlin is a fourth-year student studying Consumer Behaviour and Marketing and has been involved with RAG for the past two years.

    When she’s not doing something RAG related, you can find her dancing in the cheese room at Union or going with friends to the cinema!

  • RUSU RAG Challenges Officer for 2019/20
    Challenges Officer – Cait

    Our next Committee member is Cait our Challenges Officer, if you fancy completing the Three Peaks Challenge or hiking to the base camp of Everest, she’s the one to talk to!

    Cait is a third year History and Politics with Russian student and is new to RAG but is excited to get involved.

    Outside of RAG Cait spends most of her time relaxing with her friends or at gigs.

  • RUSU RAG Fundraising & Events Officer for 2019/20
    Fundraising & Events Officer – Lillie-Mae

    Lillie-Mae is one of our Fundraising and Events Officers this year!

    Lillie-Mae is about to enter the third year of her Primary Education degree and her fourth year in Reading so feel free to ask her any questions about life here!

    She has a love for student politics, music and of course main room on a Saturday Union – she’ll see you there.

  • RUSU RAG Fundraising & Events Officer for 2019/20
    Fundraising & Events Officer – Okkor

    Our next Fundraising and Events Officer this year is Okkor!

    Okkor is a third year Philosophy, Politics and Economics student and this is her first year on the RAG committee. She’s most excited about getting involved with all the different challenges RAG has to offer.

    Fresh back from studying abroad in Hong Kong, you’ll most likely spot Okkor around Campus in her new “gap yah” attire.

  • RUSU RAG Treasurer for 2019/20
    Treasurer – Meg

    Our next Committee member is our Treasurer Meg!

    Meg is a very patriotic Welshie and is going into her fourth year studying Economics. New to RAG she is very excited to be a part of this years events and challenges!

    Meg also works for the university bars team and is always up for a night at the infamous Purple Turtle.

  • RUSU RAG Halls Coordinator for 2019/20
    Halls Coordinator – Grace

    Our Halls Coordinator this year is Grace!

    Grace is in her third year studying economics and has recently started a placement in recruitment, which she is excited about!

    Her favourite thing about university is being able to make friends with such a wide variety of people with different backgrounds and hobbies!

  • RUSU RAG Head of Events for 2019/20
    Head of Events – Ellie

    Our Head of Events / Vice President this year is Ellie!

    Ellie is a fourth year International Development student and it’s her first year on the RAG committee.

    When she’s not planning our RAG events, she is a keen traveller who likes to seize any opportunity for a quick trip!

Events

No events currently scheduled. Check back soon for updated info!

Challenges

Reading RAG work with Choose a Challenge to deliver our bigger challenges.

This means that we work with charities who have been approved through a rigorous application process and to ensure that high standards are achieved across the board.

Choose a Challenge work closely with charities to create meaningful, lasting relationships. By giving our students the experience of a lifetime, we encourage them to become lifelong supporters of their charity, and avid adventure-seekers.

This also ensures that all Health and Safety requirements are taken care of and students are able to go on trips with other University groups, forming life-long friendships with people they may otherwise never get the opportunity to meet.

Want to get involved? Take a look at what Challenges we are doing in 2020.

Society Fundraising

Are you involved with a club or society and want to get involved with our fundraising efforts?

Your society can do almost anything to raise money for charity and as all fundraising within the SU must go through RAG (Raise and Give), we can provide anything you need to do it successfully; whether you want to borrow buckets, volunteers, publicity, collection permits and or anything else you might need.

There is such a diverse range of clubs and societies on campus that every club and society could get involved with a variety of different events. You can choose a specific charity that you want to support with your club or society, or all the money you raise can go to support RAG's 'Big Four'.

Getting your society involved is easy and here are some ways you can!

  • Take part in a street collection for charity - RAG can organise a permit for you in any city of your choice.
  • Run a social to any of our events, such as Bingo Lingo.
  • Perform/ show off your skills at any of our events, from the Sleepout to Bingo.
  • If you run performances, games or any other type of events, donate the proceeds to charity or have some volunteers collect on the day.
  • Run an event specifically for charity - dance shows, sports competitions, stunt days etc.
  • Take part in our Nearly Naked Calendar - back this year!

You really can do anything and the skills you have within your club or society really can make a difference.

FAQ

Our ethos is that we are student lead, with fundraising done by students for the causes that they care about. We find that most of the students who choose to fundraise with us come to us with an organisation in mind already that they want to support. However, for the few that are unsure we keep a Charity Database that we share with them of organisations who have approached us.

If you would like to add your organisation to our database please contact us at rag@reading.ac.uk.

We have a full time staff member who work towards helping with budgeting, finance, risk assessments, insurance, event-planning and other fundraising legalities.

RAG is also a working committee consisting of volunteers who can all help you in your fundraising. We can assist you with designing publicity and advertising your events using our Facebook and Instagram pages.

We can sort out more formal things as well, giving you the buckets for you to collect money in. We’re also here to help with any general fundraising queries and to guide you through your event – by the end of the year you’ll be doing it like second nature!

Please could you also let Rich know in advance of the day just in case there are multiple events on the same day. RAG buckets can be collected from Rich – Volunteering and Fundraising Coordinator. Please could you collect them from the Student Activities Office or email him at student.activities@rusu.co.uk.

Email rag@reading.ac.uk and we’ll do our best to answer your question.

Get in touch

Email rag@reading.ac.uk
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