A Fun and Fast-Paced Way to Support Life-Saving Journeys Across the East Midlands
Are you looking for a lively, community-focused fundraising idea? East Midlands Freewheelers (EMF) Blood Bikes invites you to organise your very own Bingo for Charity Night!
Hosting a bingo event is a brilliant way to gather friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours for a night of fun, prizes, and fast-paced action—all while raising essential funds for our volunteer-led, life-saving service across Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester.
What Are East Midlands Freewheelers Blood Bikes?
The East Midlands Freewheelers are a team of dedicated volunteers who provide a free, urgent courier service to the NHS across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire.
We operate 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, often in challenging weather conditions. Our volunteers transport vital medical supplies that the NHS needs immediately, including:
- Blood products for transfusions
- Urgent samples for testing
- Donor breast milk for premature babies
- Essential documents and medical equipment
The service we provide is crucial. It ensures hospitals can maintain high standards of patient care outside of normal contracted transport hours, saving the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds every year that can be redirected back into patient services. We receive no government funding, relying entirely on donations and fundraising events like this Charity Bingo Night.
Host Your Own: The East Midlands Blood Bike Bingo Challenge
Hosting a successful charity bingo night is easier than you think! It’s highly adaptable and can be scaled from a small gathering in your home to a large event in a local hall.
Step 1: Set the Scene and Gather Supplies
- Date and Location: Choose a venue—a community centre, pub function room, school hall, or even your living room. A weekend evening is usually best.
- Equipment: You’ll need bingo books/cards, dabbers (or pens), and a way to call the numbers (a traditional cage or a free online number-caller app).
- Prizes: The fun of bingo is the prizes! Ask guests to contribute small prizes, or approach local businesses for gift vouchers or donated items to boost the excitement.
Step 2: Structure Your Fundraising
You can raise money in multiple ways during a single event, making Bingo a fantastic fundraiser!
- Ticket Sales: Charge a small entry fee for the entire evening (e.g., £5 per person). This covers the cost of basic bingo cards and guarantees an initial profit.
- Per-Game Fee: For bigger prize games (like the jackpot round), charge a small additional fee (e.g., £1 per card) to play.
- Raffles and Side Games: Run a separate raffle during the interval. A “guess the number of jelly beans” jar is also a popular way to bring in extra donations.
- Refreshments: If the venue allows, sell tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks (or even a small bar) with the profits going to EMF.
Step 3: Promote & Call Out!
- Promotion: Use posters, local social media groups, and word-of-mouth. Highlight that the night is in aid of the East Midlands Freewheelers Blood Bikes to attract community support. Use the hashtag #EMFBingo.
- Find a Caller: Appoint an enthusiastic and loud person to be your Bingo Caller! Their energy will make the night a success.
- Collect Donations: Have a secure, clearly labelled donation bucket, and mention during the night how the money will help save lives.
Step 4: After the Fun
Once the last number is called, gather all your funds. Our fundraising team is available to help you make the transfer safely and easily.
The Difference Your Night Makes
Every ticket sold and every raffle prize won translates directly into operational support for our volunteer riders.
- £30 covers the fuel costs for a single life-saving journey between two hospitals.
- £150 helps fund vital maintenance and insurance for one of our Blood Bikes for a whole month.
- £500 could purchase new high-visibility and protective gear for a volunteer rider, ensuring their safety on the road.
Need some help or guidance? Reach out to our Fundraising Team today.