Organising a Sponsored Charity Walk

Pick a walk that excites and motivates you:

• Local landmark to landmark: Walk from your house to a famous local spot

• Distance challenge: Set a target like 10km, half-marathon (21km), or full marathon (42km)

• Multi-day trek: Take on a long-distance trail over several days

• Virtual walk: Track your distance over a month—perfect if you prefer shorter daily walks

Popular routes include coastal paths, national trails, urban circuits, or even walking to work every day for a month.

Decide how much you'd like to raise. Solo walkers typically aim for £100-£500, but you might go higher for longer challenges. Share your target with potential sponsors—it gives them a clear goal to support.

Set up an online fundraising page. Make it personal:

• Explain why you're walking for Save the Children

• Share what your target distance is

• Post training updates and photos to keep momentum going

• Thank sponsors publicly as donations come in

Set up your fundraising page

Promote your walk through:

• Social media posts and stories

• Email to friends, family, and colleagues

• Workplace notice boards or team meetings

• Local community groups

Share regular updates as you train—people love following your journey and are more likely to sponsor when they feel involved.

Give yourself time to build up fitness:

• Start with shorter distances and gradually increase

• Break in your walking boots to avoid blisters

• Practice with the kit you'll carry on the day

• Walk your planned route beforehand if possible

Pack essentials like water, snacks, a phone, first aid kit, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Before you set off:

• Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to finish

• Check the weather forecast

• Carry a charged phone and emergency contact details

• Know the route and have a map or GPS

If walking alone in remote areas, consider carrying a personal alarm and stick to well-marked trails during daylight hours.

Once you've completed your walk:

• Share photos and your final fundraising total on social media

• Thank everyone who sponsored you

• Let people know the difference their support will make for children

Ready to send your funds to Save the Children? It's quick and easy:

Pay online: Head to our page to transfer your total securely.

Pay by phone: Call our Supporter Care team on 020 7012 6400 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).

Start by deciding how much you'd like to raise. A clear target motivates participants and gives your event focus. Consider:

• How many walkers you expect

• Average sponsorship per person (typically £50-£200)

• Additional fundraising activities on the day (raffles, refreshment sales)

Be ambitious but realistic. You can always increase your goal if momentum builds! Share your target widely—it helps sponsors see the impact they're making.

Organising a charity walk is much easier with a team. Recruit volunteers to help with:

• Route planning and recce: Walking the route in advance to check conditions

• Promotion and communications: Managing social media, posters, and outreach

• Registration: Signing up participants and collecting sponsorship

• Health and safety: First aid, risk assessments, and emergency contacts

• Logistics on the day: Setting up checkpoints, refreshments, and signage

Assign clear roles early so everyone knows what they're responsible for. Regular check-ins keep things on track.

Your route sets the tone for the whole event. Popular options include:

• Local parks and nature reserves: Great for families and accessible walks

• Coastal paths or canal towpaths: Scenic and straightforward routes

• Countryside trails: Perfect for more challenging sponsored walks

• City circuits: Ideal for urban communities who want something local

Aim for a distance that suits your audience. Family-friendly walks work well at 3-5km, while keen walkers might prefer 10km or more. Make sure the route:

• Has clear start and finish points

• Includes accessible toilet facilities

• Is safe, well-marked, and suitable for all abilities

• Has interesting landmarks or scenery to keep morale high

Walk the route yourself beforehand to check for obstacles, steep sections, or road crossings.

Choose a date that gives you plenty of time to promote your walk—ideally 8-12 weeks ahead. Consider:

• Weather: Spring and autumn are ideal; summer can be hot, winter unpredictable

• Local events: Avoid clashing with other community activities

• Time of day: Morning or early afternoon works best, finishing before dark

Weekend dates tend to attract more participants, especially families.

Before you set an entry fee, calculate your costs. Common expenses include:

• Permits or permissions (if walking on private land or through national parks)

• Public liability insurance

• Printing for posters, registration forms, and route maps

• Signage and waymarkers

• Refreshments and first aid supplies

• Promotional materials

Keep costs low by asking local businesses to donate supplies or sponsor the event. Every pound saved means more goes to Save the Children.

Local businesses often support charity walks in exchange for visibility. Approach:

• Cafes or restaurants (who might provide refreshments)

• Sports shops (who could donate water bottles or T-shirts)

• Estate agents or banks (who might sponsor checkpoints or signage)

Offer to include their logo on promotional materials, mention them on social media, and thank them publicly on the day.

Make it easy for participants to collect sponsorship by setting up online fundraising pages. JustGiving, Virgin Money Giving, and Facebook Fundraisers all work brilliantly for charity walks.

Encourage walkers to:

• Share their page on social media

• Explain why they're walking for Save the Children

• Post updates in the lead-up to the event

Online pages make sponsorship quick, secure, and trackable—plus they often include Gift Aid automatically.

Set up your fundraising page.

Get the word out early and often. Effective promotion ideas include:

• Posters and flyers: Display in community centres, libraries, GP surgeries, and local shops

• Social media: Create a Facebook event, share Instagram stories, and post regular countdowns

• Local press: Contact newspapers and radio stations—they love covering charity events

• Email and word of mouth: Invite friends, family, colleagues, and community groups directly

Download free fundraising posters and resources from our fundraising toolkit.

Make sure your promotional materials include:

• Date, time, and meeting point

• Route distance and difficulty level

• Entry fee (if applicable)

• How to register

• That funds raised support Save the Children

Request free fundraising materials from Save the Children to bring your event to life:

• Branded T-shirts or vests for participants

• Collection buckets and sponsorship forms

• Balloons, banners, and posters

Order early to ensure everything arrives in time. Find out more about requesting materials here.

Set up a simple registration process. Collect:

• Full name and contact details

• Emergency contact information

• Any medical conditions or accessibility needs

• Sponsorship collected (if paid in advance)

Registration helps you estimate numbers for refreshments, plan for safety, and follow up after the event. You can use free online tools like Google Forms or Eventbrite to streamline this.

Charge a small entry fee (£5-£10) to cover costs and boost fundraising. Make it clear that all proceeds go to Save the Children.

Safety comes first. Key considerations include:

• Risk assessment: Identify potential hazards on the route (uneven ground, road crossings, water hazards)

• First aid: Have at least one trained first aider present, plus a well-stocked first aid kit

• Emergency plan: Know the nearest hospital and how you'll contact emergency services if needed

• Weather contingency: Have a backup plan if conditions become unsafe

• Insurance: Check if your venue or organisation has public liability insurance—Save the Children can advise on this

Share safety information with participants in advance, including what to wear, what to bring, and how to stay hydrated.

For more guidance, visit our need-to-knows page.

Help walkers stay on track and energised with:

Signage: Mark your route clearly with arrows, balloons, or directional signs at key junctions. Include encouraging messages like "You're doing great!" or "Halfway there!"

Refreshments: Set up a drinks station or two along the route, plus a finish line area with water, juice, and snacks. Check for allergies and dietary requirements when planning food.

Check-ins: Position volunteers at checkpoints to tick off participants, offer encouragement, and ensure no one gets lost. Provide a contact number for walkers in case of emergencies.

Once your walk wraps up:

• Thank everyone who participated, volunteered, or sponsored walkers

• Share photos and highlights on social media—tag Save the Children (@savechildrenuk) so we can celebrate with you

• Send a quick update letting participants know how much you raised

• Collect feedback to make your next event even better

Ready to send your funds to Save the Children? It's quick and easy:

Pay online: Head to our page to transfer your total securely.

Pay by phone: Call our Supporter Care team on 020 7012 6400 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).