Be a Local Link

Local Links are volunteers who give a little of their time to help Send a Cow. This is a very flexible role which allows you to use the skills, contacts and time you have to help us raise awareness and funds.

Here are a few examples of how a Local Link may use their time:

• Give out Gift Catalogues to friends and neighbours.
• Help organise a fundraising event, such as a coffee morning, sponsored walk or African supper.
• Talk to the public at a regional event where we have a stand. For example, some volunteers may have a stand at an agricultural fair, gardening fair or a community festival.
• Help a local Ambassador to organise speaking opportunities to groups. These may include schools, youth groups, churches, gardening clubs, Rotary clubs and women's groups.

If you would like to become a Local Link please call Carolyn Aitken on 01225 871921 or email carolyn.aitken@sendacow.org.uk for an informal discussion.

Meet a Local Link

Kathleen Stirrup is a Local Link for Send a Cow in Chester. She first heard about Send a Cow at an Inner Wheel conference and uses her local contacts and interests to raise money for Send a Cow.

“After I heard about Send a Cow I was so inspired that I went back to my club and suggested we raise money together. Over the following year we raised £750 for a dairy cow. The next year, we raised money for an appeal for orphans in Rwanda.

My club has gone on to support many other charities, but Send a Cow has always remained close to my heart. Each Christmas, my husband and I encourage our family and friends to consider buying gifts from Send a Cow’s catalogue and we are always delighted if they buy a virtual gift for us.

This year, we thought we would do a special event for Send a Cow’s 21st birthday. As keen gardeners, and members of our local horticultural society, we thought we would open our garden to the public to raise money. We invited all our family and friends, our neighbours and members of the horticultural society. I invited my Inner Wheel group and my husband Peter invited his Rotary club.

We were delighted that over 100 people came throughout the day. Everyone enjoyed looking around our garden and enjoyed the good weather. They were happy to make a £2 donation on their way in. To raise more money, we set up a second hand book stall and a bring and buy stand in the garage. We also sold teas, coffees and cakes which were very popular. Of course, we had some leaflets available and invited an Ambassador along to talk to people about the charity. A few people weren’t able to make it, so we had a smaller group come the following day too.

The whole event raised £750! We really enjoyed putting on this event and it was a great way to remind all our friends what a great charity Send a Cow is!"