Damian Dillon, Community Engagement Officer from Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society which raised £3,877. Damian is pictured with John Baron (Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees), and Professor Michael Almond (Deputy Lieutenant of Essex)
John Baron believes bonus could be 35%-40% this year
The organisers of the annual Fun Walk are delighted to share that, thanks to support from local businesses and individuals, the 2025 Bonus Pot has reached over £30,000.
The ‘Bonus Pot’ is a key incentive for supporters of local charities and community groups to raise funds for their chosen cause, as it tops up on a pro-rata basis the money raised in sponsorship by each participating organisation, over and above the amount they raise themselves in sponsorship.
Last year we were able to provide a 30% bonus, (meaning £30 was added for every £100 raised in sponsorship), and over £100,000 was raised in total by participating organisations. It is hoped to do even better this year.
Since 2002, this annual Fun Walk, which will take place through September, has helped registered charities and good causes (local schools, churches, grass roots sports teams and other community and animal welfare groups) to raise money.
John Baron, Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees, said:
“The Fun Walk Trust undertakes the organisation of the event to better enable local charities and good causes to focus on raising sponsorship money for their walks.”
“The Bonus pot provides a significant incentive for participants, and could this year add 35% – 40% to charities’ Fun Walk sponsorship money.”
“So far this year, our donors include Greater Anglia, Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing Association, One Footstep (Human Kind Café), Butyl Products Group, Tunnelcraft Ltd, C2C Rail, Mr Barrie Stone and other individuals. We thank them for their generosity and community spirit.”
Charities and local community groups wanting to take part can just register on www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk
About the Fun Walk:
John Baron and his team started the Fun Walk in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and raised £6,000 for six charities and projects. The event was very successful and so became an annual one and one which continues to grow.
To assist with its growth, in 2013 the Fun Walk became a registered Charity, and it is now officially known as The Fun Walk Trust (Registered Charity number: 1151626). In 2019, Basildon Billericay and Wickford CVS was appointed to administer the event on behalf of the Trustees.
John continues his role with the charity as Chair of the Trustees and by soliciting support and sponsorship from local businesses. The BONUS POT is a unique feature of the event, into which local businesses and individuals kindly donate, and which is then distributed to participating organisations on a pro rata basis in addition to the monies they themselves raise in sponsorship.
The 2024 event raised £100,953 for local charities and community groups, and brought the total money raised since the Fun Walk’s inception to over £1,635,000.
The Fun Walk Trust organises the walk and takes care of the paperwork, leaving the projects free to focus on raising sponsorship money and enjoying the event. The event is not confined to charities: any good cause or project may join us once approved by the Trust. For example, many pre-schools and schools, churches and community groups now regularly participate.
In 2020, given the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the recognition that our local charities and good causes needed help more than ever, the decision was made to switch to a different format, allowing supporters the flexibility to walk the distance anytime during September (and not all having to gather on a specific date). This proved to be very successful and will be continued for the foreseeable future.
