The Pre-School Learning Alliance joins forces with good causes shopping site

Through the good causes website easyfundraising.org.uk, parents and supporters will be able to raise money for their chosen childcare setting by simply ordering their shopping online.

The Pre-School Learning Alliance has formed a new fundraising partnership with the website, but any childcare provider can register themselves with the website to reap the benefits.

Every time staff, families and volunteers buy their shopping through the website their chosen group will receive a donation.

More than 2,700 online retailers and well-known high street names are members of the scheme, including Amazon, the Body Shop and Marks & Spencer.

The website has already helped to raised more than £5m for good causes in the UK including more than £100,000 for childcare groups who are registered with the site.

Childcare providers have used the funds to buy or update their play equipment, learning resources, children’s furniture and story corners.

Childcare settings just need to register online at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/childcaregroup so that their teams, volunteers and families can sign up via the same website link to become supports of their chosen setting.

The website, which says it has raised more than £4 million for UK charities, schools, sports clubs, community groups, and others, works in a similar way to many other loyalty shopping sites, but instead of earning points when you shop, you raise a donation for your cause instead.

Each store donates up to 15 per cent of what you spend. For example, John Lewis will donate 1 per cent, Amazon 1.5 per cent, The Body Shop 6 per cent and some insurance retailers will donate up to £30 simply for taking out a policy with them.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said, ‘With many childcare groups operating on increasingly tight budgets, easyfundraising.org.uk offers an effective way to raise funds on an ongoing basis with very little input required by the setting or the parents themselves.

‘We would encourage settings and the families they support to take full advantage of this opportunity. All settings need to do is sign up, promote and share the link with their parents then enjoy the benefits.

He added, ‘We know that many childcare groups are struggling during these tough economic times. This partnership will positively contribute towards local fundraising efforts and parents will welcome having another way that they can actively support their child’s setting.’

Martyn Daly, head of partnerships at easyfundraising.org.uk, said, ‘We are delighted to partner with Pre-school Learning Alliance.

‘Easyfundraising.org.uk is a quick, easy way to raise free funds, so we feel the partnership represents a great opportunity for parents to support their children through early years education.’

'We are looking forward to seeing the benefits easyfundraising.org.uk will bring to all childcare groups.'