At the start of June, the NHS Grampian Pain Service team held a bake sale in support of Pain Concern. From homemade cakes to sweet treats, their efforts helped raise both funds and awareness for people living with chronic pain. A big thank you to everyone who took part!
Love to knit? Got more yarn than you know what to do with? Good news – your hobby can do more than just keep you (and your teapot) warm… it can help raise money for charity too! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, here are some fun and easy ways to turn your knitting into a force for good.
One of the simplest ways to fundraise is by selling your makes – think scarves, hats, baby booties, or cute little animals. You can:
People love a handmade item, especially when they know the money’s going to a good cause!
Start a “knit & natter” group and fundraise as a team. You could:
It’s social, it’s soothing, and you’re doing good. Win-win-win.
Why not get sponsored to:
Set yourself a fun or slightly bonkers knitting goal and ask friends, family or social media followers to support you.
Knit things that people really want:
These seasonal makes are always popular and perfect for selling to raise funds.
And of course it doesn’t have to be just knitting! Whatever craft you’re passionate about can be turned to fundraising.
Whether you’re knitting for fun, friendship, or fundraising, your needles can make a real difference. So cast on, get creative, and know that every stitch is helping someone in need.
Want help setting up a knitting fundraiser for Pain Concern? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us at fundraising@painconcern.org.uk
Baking something delicious to share feels good – and it’s even better when you’re doing it to support a good cause. Whether you’re planning a bake sale in your workplace, local community, or even at home, here are our top tips to make your fundraiser for Pain Concern a sweet success.
If your bake sale is open to the public, go for a high-footfall spot like a town centre, library, community hall, or shopping area. Saturdays and weekday lunchtimes tend to be the busiest times. For smaller or private events, pick a place and time that’s convenient for your group.
Once you’ve set the date, get the word out! Use community noticeboards, local Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, and printable posters to advertise. Let people know where, when – and most importantly – why you’re raising money.
Ask friends, family or colleagues to join in. The more bakers you have, the more tempting treats you’ll have on offer. And if baking isn’t your thing, no worries – shop-bought goodies are welcome too!
Include a mix of cakes, biscuits, brownies and savoury items. Remember to offer options for different dietary needs, like gluten-free or vegan bakes.
Make sure everything is labelled with its name and any allergens. This keeps everyone safe and helps people choose what’s right for them.
Decide whether you want fixed prices (e.g. 50p, £1) or to encourage donations. You can collect cash or set up a JustGiving page to take online donations. Printing a QR code that links to your JustGiving page makes it easy for people to donate using their phone.
Got contacts at a local bakery or café? See if they’d be willing to donate a cake or prize. It’s a great way to boost what you can offer.
A prize draw or fun competition like a blind taste test can add an extra layer of excitement – and raise even more money.
Make your table eye-catching with bunting, tablecloths, and colourful signs. A well-decorated stall helps draw people in and shows you’ve put care into the cause.
Make sure all donations have gone through your JustGiving page, or if you’ve collected cash, you can pay it in directly. Don’t forget to thank everyone who supported you!
Every cake slice sold helps support Pain Concern’s work to improve the lives of people living with pain. So grab your mixing bowl, rally your community, and raise some dough for a great cause! 💜
Any questions? Get in touch with us at fundraising@painconcern.org.uk
Personalise this banner with your event name and share your fundraiser online!
Click on the image to take you to Canva where you can edit the template with your details. If you don’t already have a Canva account, you can create a free one.
Or you can download a Powerpoint file (pptx) and personalise your banner there!
We’ve just released our new Fundraising Guide, which you can read and download below!
Whether you’re interested in bake sales, quiz nights, online streams or sporting events, there are so many ways to get involved and support our mission.
If you’d like to fundraise for us – or want help getting started – email fundraising@painconcern.org.uk.
Cormac Ryan isn’t just a leading voice in pain research – he’s also got the trainers to prove it!
As Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation at Teesside University and Community Pain Champion for the Flippin’ Pain Campaign, Cormac has dedicated nearly 20 years to helping us better understand persistent pain. He’s published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, co-authored the Physiotherapy chapter in the Faculty of Medicine’s core standards for Pain Management Services, and recently helped update the British Pain Society’s Pain Management Programme guidelines. Basically – if it’s about pain, Cormac knows it.
But his support doesn’t stop at research or the lecture theatre. Cormac has been a passionate supporter of Pain Concern for years, and in May he went the extra (26.2!) miles by running the London Marathon for both Flippin’ Pain and Pain Concern. His amazing efforts raised over £2,000 to support people living with chronic pain. 💜🏃♂️💪
We’re so grateful to Cormac for everything he does – and if he’s inspired you to lace up your own running shoes or fundraise in your own way, we’d love to hear from you!
Could you be our next fundraising hero? Find out how to get involved [link to fundraising info].
“Pain Concern offers invaluable aid to people living with chronic pain. Their enthusiastic staff drop in on our pain management programmes to support people at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Their podcast has been a great learning tool for me as a clinician and an excellent resource for those living with pain.”
— Dr John O’Sullivan, Clinical Psychologist at Chelsea and Westminster NHS FT
On May 11th John O’Sullivan and Pete Wells ran the Richmond Park 10K to raise money for Pain Concern. In fact, this is the second time that John has run a 10k in support of Pain Concern! They were both fantastic on the day and managed to raise a whopping 123% of their target. A huge thank you guys!
For more information or to donate, visit their JustGiving page :
Narrated and introduced by Beth Evans, editor of Pain Matters.
First published in Pain Matters 85.
In November of last year, Liz, 33, ran the Brighton 10k to fundraise for Pain Concern. She was inspired to do so because of her friendship with Vicki, 33 an office administrator for Pain Concern who has lived with persistent pain for many years.
I sat down with the two of them to chat about how the run, the supportive nature of friendship and what Liz doing the run meant to the two of them.
Liz: We were discussing this. We’re like, how long has it been? We met in second year of university which would have been 13 or 14 years ago now, which seems mad that we’ve known each other that long! We met through some friends of friends, and we all ended up living together in our third year. We kept in touch over the years after we graduated.
Vicki: University of Nottingham.
Liz: Yeah, this is the clever one, she did maths!
V: Yeah…and many more to come.
L: I’ve been doing a bit of running since having Jake just to get back into physical fitness and it’s good for my mental health. I’ve been talking to Vicki throughout her volunteering at Pain Concern and then more recently having a role there and appreciating how important it is for Pain Concern to continue doing what it does. I thought there’s a 10K that I can do to sort of challenge myself and give me something to work towards, but I can also do what I can to try and help Pain Concern at the same time and raise some money.
L: The dreads one is easy because it’s November and I’m going to be running along Brighton sea front and at the moment we’ve got that Storm Ciarán here. So I’m really worried it’s going to shut it down with rain or it’s just really windy and I’ll be running into the wind, which won’t be fun but hopefully I can raise some good amount of money which will be useful for Pain Concern. I’m just hopeful that I can finish and in a good time as well.
V: I’m feeling excited for this because I know that she enjoys running and it’s great that she’s getting back into something that she’s enjoying. And I think about the training, so recently going from a 5K to training to a 10K, I think that’s great.
V: Liz is great fun and it just generally shows how much of a supportive friend she is. The fact that she’s willing to do it. But if I’m honest, it doesn’t surprise me because I know she’s amazing. But yeah, very grateful.
L: Yeah, I feel quite nervous coming up to a race. But on the day, when you’re running and if you’re doing it for a good reason, you can think about that as you’re going along and it sort of stretches you from the “ooh, I can’t breathe!” to the “yeah, there’s a good reason that I’m doing this.” That’ll get me through the finish line.
V: So my pain began literally overnight 24/7 in 2013. I had many years where I’d seen various different specialists but didn’t have a diagnosis; I had a lot of experience of healthcare professionals disbelieving me and making me feel like it was in my head. At one point I was actually referred to psychiatry but was discharged from them immediately. They said it wasn’t the right place to be.
Over the years I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and endometriosis. I’ve had a few surgeries for endometriosis and two years ago I had a hysterectomy for a condition called adenomyosis.
It was a long recovery but since then, working on self-management and then therapy to help with the mental health side of things. I’ve accepted the pain and through accepting it, that’s helped me move on in life and get back into sort of, I guess what you would call a more “standard life”; working and not everything being affected by pain. Difficulty leaving the house, I don’t have that anymore. I feel like I don’t see pain as my identification anymore, which I did before.
L: I’d like to add to that because of my perspective, living with Vicki at university and knowing Vicki then. We had a good time; we would go out and we would drink and dance. And then I remember back in 2013 when she started getting the first symptoms and I think you were saying you got pain in your hands.
Then sort of gradually seeing it; her telling me about it progressing and you can’t really do anything to help and it just gradually getting worse. And then we’d be talking, and she’d be saying how she’s been going back and forth to specialists and GPs and it would be a very long and frustrating process and you can’t do anything.
We would try and meet up near Sheffield and it would be “how’s your pain today, Vicki? How are you feeling?” And it may be that we don’t meet today, we’ll catch up another time and then if we could meet up, it was really difficult to see Vicki not being able to do much because the pain was so bad that she just needed to sit down, and that was quite upsetting as a friend watching her go through that.
It’s been really great to see her gradually, like she said, getting her life back on track and back together and now seeing her being able to do things, go to the theatre and come and visit us in Brighton. That’s been really nice. It’s been a long journey for her and I think if I was in that situation, I don’t think I would have been as resilient and as strong as she has and as positive.
V: That’s really kind Liz. I’m not just saying that you honestly did help. I always find as well as the support you’re fun and upbeat, finding humour. For me to see the funny side of things has really helped. I think humour is a good, well at least for me, coping mechanism.
V: Well, other than the obvious of well done and thanks for raising money for Pain Concern to just say thank you generally, she’s helped me a lot living with pain. I’m in a lot of a better position now in terms of self-management and being back in work and exercising, but just generally throughout the years when I’ve had a tough time, often with pain, you end up losing friendship.
So, for example, you might not be able to attend events, so people stop inviting you and you just generally lose touch. But that’s not been the case at all with Liz. She’s always been really understanding and supportive. So, I just wanted to show my appreciation to her because I really do value it.
L: Ooh, that’s lovely. Thank you.
Liz completed her run and raised £550 for Pain Concern – if you’ve been inspired by Liz and Vicki’s story, please consider fundraising or donating to Pain Concern:
Pain Concern is delighted that Jamie Hunter is taking on a 6okm bike ride from London to Essex, follow his training and show your support by sharing his story, or donating.
Kai Mason (10) has set himself the impressive goal of completing 24 hours of gaming during the Easter Holidays to raise money for Pain Concern.
Thanks for fundraising for Pain Concern – we really appreciate your support! 💙
To make it easy to promote your challenge, we’ve put together some ready-to-use messages for social media, WhatsApp and email. Just copy, personalise with your own event details, and share with your friends, colleagues and followers.
Every post helps raise awareness and support for people living with chronic pain.
I’m taking on a [fundraising event name] for Pain Concern! This amazing charity provides support and information to people living with chronic pain, as well as those who care for them. Every donation helps to ensure they can continue their vital work.
🔗You can support me by donating through the link in my bio. Thank you! 💙#TeamPainConcern
1 in 4 of us live with chronic pain, yet so many struggle to access the support they need. That’s why I’m fundraising for Pain Concern.
✨ Your donation – big or small – can make a real difference. Visit my fundraising page through the link in my bio to contribute! 🙏#TeamPainConcern
There’s still time to support my fundraising challenge! I’m so close to my goal, and every donation helps Pain Concern continue their crucial work for people with chronic pain and those who support them.
📢Donate today using the link in my bio. #TeamPainConcern
I’m taking part in [fundraising event name] for @PainConcern! Every donation, no matter how small, brings me closer to my goal and supports those living with chronic pain. Tap the link to donate! 🔗💙 [insert link to your fundraising page]
Huge THANK YOU to everyone who has already donated to my fundraiser for @PainConcern! If you’d like to help, you can donate too! Just follow the link [insert link to your fundraising page]
Want to see what I’m up to? Check out my fundraising journey for @PainConcern and help me make a difference! 🌟 [insert link to your fundraising page]
Hey [name/group], I hope you don’t mind me sharing something that means a lot to me. I am fundraising for Pain Concern – a charity that supports the 1 in 4 people living with chronic pain and those who care for them. You may know that [I/my close family/friends have experienced chronic pain] so this charity is a cause close to my heart. That’s why I’ve decided to raise for them by taking part in [insert the fundraising activity].
✨Any donation, big or small, will make a real difference. You can donate to my fundraising page here [Just Giving link].
🙏 Thank you so much for your support! 💙
Hi Team,
I wanted to share that I’m taking on a fundraising challenge for Pain Concern, a charity that supports people living with chronic pain and those who support them. I’ll be [event information], and while it’s a big challenge and I’m excited to make a difference!
1 in 4 people experience chronic pain, yet many don’t get the support and information they need. This cause is especially close to me because [personal reason]. The funds I raise will help Pain Concern continue their work, including their helpline and inline peer support services.
I know times are tough, but if you’re able to donate – even a small amount – it would mean so much. Just £10 could provide a caller with vital support through the helpline. You can donate here: [Just Giving link].
Thank you for your support!
Best,
[Your Name]
Put on your tartan and take part in the Kiltwalk, with events in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee and distances to suit everyone.
Whether you choose the Wee Wander, the Big Stroll, or the Mighty Stride, every step helps support people living with chronic pain.
Join Team Pain Concern and walk with purpose – kilt optional, impact guaranteed!
