Summer is here and with it comes a great opportunity to make the most of the season’s clement weather (hopefully) and light evenings by organising an event or challenge in support of our Step 2 It campaign.

For those of you aren’t aware (and where have you been if you’re not), our Step 2 It campaign launched in May and aims to inspire companies and individuals to organise sports-based fundraisers in aid of our charity, encouraging friends, family and co-workers to join in the fun.

We’re hoping to raise £250,000 from May 2021 – April 2022, with the money raised going towards helping people in the trade who have fallen on hard times.

If you’re struggling for ideas on how you can get involved, we have put together a list of five ways you can Step 2 It this summer.

Five-a-side football tournament

If the pain of England not winning the Euros has shrunk to a more manageable level and you are ready to look at a football again, how about organising a five-a-side football tournament with friends or colleagues? You can scale the event depending on the number of people you involve and charge a small entry fee as a donation to our charity.

Hold a company sports day

With the Tokyo Olympic Games now underway, have some fun and hold a company sports day. You don’t have to stick to just the traditional games. Be creative and think up some unconventional events that will bring a smile to all involved. If you need some inspiration, check out the film Cube Video made of their Step 2 It sports day. Go for gold while raising us some silver!

Go for a dog walk

If you don’t have the bandwidth to organise a large event but still want to do your bit, supporting Step 2 It could be as easy as grabbing a lead and taking a furry companion out for a walk. Our Master, David Woodward, has been eating away at his 1,000-mile target for the year with the company of his dog, Madeline. Simple, fun and your pup will thank you. You just need to supply the doggo!

Join an existing event

Another way to support the campaign without putting your event planning skills to use is simply to get involved with a larger centrally planned event. Five representatives from the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO) are taking on the notorious Tough Mudder obstacle course this summer.

Alternatively, parkrun is a free, weekly, community run event that takes place around the world. Saturday morning events are 5k and take place in parks and open spaces.

Juliette Fletcher, Sam Keshavarzi and Rosie Tackley.

And if all else fails

British summers are nothing if not unpredictable. One week we can have blazing sunshine and the next it can be cold and miserable. If the volatility of BST weather is causing you to question when and how to get involved, remove the variable and set yourself a challenge that you can complete at the gym or at your local swimming pool. Taking part is what counts while raising some funds for us in the process.

Sign up to Step 2 It today and we will send you a free fundraising pack with other ideas and resources that will help you organise an event.

www.furnituremakers.org.uk/step2it

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