1. Top tips for organising a 70s themed party
Help us celebrate our big birthday by throwing your own 70s themed party on 5th July!
With the costumes and music alone enough to make a party, there’s plenty of inspiration to throw your own 70s style bash! Think platform shoes, glam rock, big flares and even bigger hair, the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss and ABBA. Also not forgetting those infamous vol-au-vents and interesting culinary creations that really were only acceptable in the 70s…
Just in case that’s not enough to get your wheels in motion, this handy guide will give you all the tips and advice you’ll need to ensure your party is the funkiest in town!
Let’s get this party started!
1. Set the date We would suggest hosting your party either on the run up to the 5th July, or on the day! If someone’s birthday is coming up, use that as an extra excuse to get your 70s glad rags on.
2. Venue Depending on how big you’re planning on going, a good place to start is a local community, church or village hall, social clubs or even someone’s garden – we would suggest making sure indoor space is also available for if the weather takes a turn for the worst. Make sure there’s somewhere you can put refreshments out, and remember to check disabled access and parking before making your decision. It’s also a good idea to find out how many attendees there will be so you can book an adequate space.
How to guide
Fundraising Team, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TG
Phone: Web: bwh.org.uk Facebook: Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Thank you
Registered Charity No:

2. How to guide Make it groovy! Spread the word! Thank you
3. Theme We’ve got you covered with the theme, but it’s up to you how far you take it! Why not go all out on the decorations and recreate your own Studio 54? Think disco balls, lava lamps and light up dancefloors and a playlist that will throw your
party immediately back to the disco decade, or consider hiring a DJ if you are able to?
Throw in a few games to really get people’s competitiveness going! Try creating a 70s themed quiz, a competition for the best disco moves or even limbo. You could charge a small entry fee to take part in the games, half of which can do back to the winner while the rest comes to us. Better still, why don’t you approach local businesses and see if they would be willing to provide a prize free of charge? Remember if you hire a DJ or play music, it’s best to check that your chosen venue is happy for you to do so.
4. Refreshments You want to make sure that your guests have access to refreshments to keep the party going, so make sure you stock up on snacks and drinks ahead of the party. Place a collection tin on the table, too, so people can donate some money in return for tasty treats.
Don’t forget! To keep costs down, ask venues, caterers and DJs for a charity discount. Once you register with us, we’ll provide you with a letter of authenticity to show them you are working with us. In exchange, you can offer to hand out their leaflets at the event or include their logo on publicity materials, such as posters, leaflets and social media advertisements.
Spread the word!
Make sure you start publicising your event well in advance. Hand out ‘save the date’ cards or invitations and leaflets, put up posters (we can provide you with empty belly posters to add your event details on) and start spreading the message on your social channels! Ask those taking part, as well as family and friends, to do the same.
We can also help you write a press release to send to you local newspapers and put
posters up in our Fundraising Hub. There are plenty of other ways to promote your event, too. If you need any more ideas, just get in touch!
How to guide
Fundraising Team, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TG
Phone: Web: bwh.org.uk Facebook: Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Thank you
Registered Charity No:

3. How to guide The final countdown! Thank you
On the day of your event there will be lots to do, but the most important things to remember are:
1. Timing Make sure you arrive at the venue early to ensure everything is ready in good time and to meet those taking part.
2. Risk Assessment Many venues will have their own risk assessment and guidelines you will be required to follow, but it’s a good idea to conduct one yourself, too. We can provide a risk assessment template if you need it, just ask! You will need to consider the venue, health of competitors, equipment, storage, and insurance (if you are borrowing any equipment).
3. Fundraising Resources We can provide you with a range of fundraising resources to help remind everyone where the proceeds will be donated. These include branded balloons, PVC banners, collection tins and buckets, donation envelopes and BWH stickers. Let us know what you need in plenty of time and we will arrange to get these to you before the big day. We also have certificates on our website for you to download.
4. Volunteers You can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s important to recruit volunteer helpers for the day to help you manage everything. Ask family & friends to help with decorating the venue, welcoming people on arrival, collecting donations, managing a stall, and making sure everything is running to schedule.
5. Remind everyone about Birmingham Women’s Hospital and Charity The start and end of the event are both great times to remind your guests why the event is taking place – to raise the most amount of money possible for our 50,000 patients and 8,200 babies - and why their donations are so important. We can provide a short speech for you to read out if you need a hand.
6. Make memories! Do you know a budding photographer who could come and capture the day? Or you could ask people to take photos and share these through social media using a hashtags such as #BWHBoogie and #NHS70. Just remember to get consent from anyone you are taking photos of. Share some of these images with your local newspaper after the event to show your local community what you have achieved.
How to guide
Fundraising Team, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TG
Phone: Web: bwh.org.uk Facebook: Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Thank you
Registered Charity No:

4. Most importantly, enjoy the day!
Extra ways to boost your fundraising!
Sell tickets to the event
Ask people to include a donation with their entry fee
Hold a70s themed bake sale. This could double-up as a desert station for your guests at your party
Hold a raffle or silent auction at the event – ask local businesses to donate prizes!
Most importantly, enjoy the day!
Remember…
Gift Aid
Donations made in payment or exchange for an auction lot are NOT eligible for Gift Aid.
Other general donations made at the event (not in exchange for a ticket, prize, product or service) will be eligible, so ask donors to complete a gift aid declaration and send this us with the donation in order for us to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated. Thank you.
How to guide
Fundraising Team, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TG
Phone: Web: bwh.org.uk Facebook: Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Thank you
Registered Charity No: