Win-Win: Fundraising relationships for lasting impact

How does community engagement unlock additional funding for schools? In this roundtable episode four sector leaders share lessons learned: Justin Smith, Vicki Newsome, Matthew Smith MBE and Richard Manville. 

Listen for practical insights into:

• The benefits of community engagement
• Why income generators need flexibility and resilience
• Getting your support and evidence clear from the start
• Putting together beneficiary-shaped projects
• The importance of donor motivation and internal buy-in
• Stakeholder and skill mapping
• Small quick wins to get started and the power of regular donations
• Using AI as a time-saving tool (NOT to write your bids)
• The vital role of thank you.

“I just remember what it will do to those children and to those families to support them. If it can keep children and families together then we've more than exceeded.”

“Canva is my friend in school. It’s my lifeline!”

With 20 years’ experience in the education sector, Justin Smith provides specialist marketing, income generation and bid writing services through his company, Chameleon Consultancy and Training. He has secured over £7 million in additional income for schools.

Vicki Newsome is School Business Manager at Burscough Village Primary School and Nursery in Lancashire. Vicki has generated over £300,000 additional income over the last two years, for a new nursery building and community sports zone, as well as securing funding for a counsellor to work across the local schools. 

A seasoned fundraiser and community champion, Matthew Smith MBE is School Business Manager at Sheringham Woodfields School in Norfolk, for pupils with complex learning and health needs. The school’s specialised therapy centre is one of his most recent fundraising achievements.

Richard Manville is Co-founder and Managing Director of Community Inspired, a social enterprise dedicated to communities, fundraising and volunteering. Through FundEd Richard helps schools access grants, run successful events, build recurring income and develop partnerships.

Host Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about sustainable working: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities.

Links and resources

• Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
• Download 10 fundraising tips: https://createvalueschools.com/media/112-How-to-get-people-on-board-with-fundraising.pdf
• Matthew Smith’s decision-making evidence and support grid: https://createvalueschools.com/media/233-Evidence-and-support-decision-making-grid.pdf
• Support and resources from Justin Smith: https://chameleon-training.co.uk/
• FundEd and PTA+ websites: https://www.funded.org.uk/ and https://www.pta.co.uk/
• Funding Wall, a digital fundraising platform: https://www.fundingwall.org.uk/
• Example press release for the Community Unity Through Sports Project: https://burscough.lancsngfl.ac.uk/news/2025-10-13-burscough-village-primary-school-unveils-community-unity-through-sports-initiative
• Example of a video created using Canva to launch Phase 1 of the project: https://www.facebook.com/reel/4129028770716385?locale=en_GB
• About Sheringham Woodfields Therapeutic Centre: https://hudsonarchitects.co.uk/our-work/community-culture-education/schools/sheringham-woodfields-school/
• About Woodfields Den Charity Shop: https://experiencesheringham.com/places/woodfields-den-charity-shop/
• Host your own colour run: https://www.eventcolour.co.uk/
• ISBL Professional Standards: https://www.isbl.org.uk/isbl-professional-standards
• More from Justin: https://createvalueschools.com/blog/optimism-and-opportunity-creating-an-income-generation-culture/
• Who’s responsible for income generation in school? https://createvalueschools.com/blog/beyond-the-budget-why-income-generation-is-everyones-responsibility/

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and guests

01:28 Why community fundraising

06:55 Stakeholder mapping

08:23 Project pivot for community focus

12:15 Beneficiary-shaped projects for grant success

13.33 Prioritise for support and evidence

14:14 Practical engagement tactics

16.54 Linking up your team

18:39 Donor motivation and thanks

22.02 Put yourself out there and ask

25:35 Time and culture barriers

32:14 Mission driven impact story

35:23 Rapid fire top tips

40:50 Wrap up and resources

#SustainableSchools #IncomeGeneration #SchoolBusinessLeadership #SchoolFundraising