First thing to do is to create a committee and assemble volunteers-  the more help you have the better. Also work out who is in charge of the event.

A TOP TIP to deciding what challenge to do is looking back at previous years.

• • Do you now want to change it?

  • What experience will your target audience be interested in?

  • What are the current travel restrictions?

  • Is there a safe mode of transport, that allows distancing and is also cost effective?

Popular challenges include mountain climbs (UK based: Snowdon, Scafell Pike etc), hikes, long distance cycle rides and even vertical challenges of abseiling or taking on the stairs up a really tall building!

We would advise sticking to local challenges where possible.

• A TOP TIP to work out how many people you should plan for is to look at numbers from previous years or similar events at your institution.

• If you really don't know, maybe get out an interest poll via social media and Whatsapp to get the best estimate. 

• Also consider what a safe number of people would be to allow for distancing.

You know where you want to go, and how many you want to take, but how to do it?

This is where our experienced Islamic Relief team come in, do get in touch to see how feasible your idea is, how much guides will cost, and how you can book them.

Remember as fun as Challenges are, they do come with their element of risk. This is why it is an obligation on you as an organiser and us, to ensure you safeguard all your participants health and wellbeing by taking guides along with you.  

Do also check with your student union, you may be required to complete a risk assessment with them. We would advise additionally carrying out specific risk assessments to ensure everyone is deemed healthy at the time and able to wear a face covering where applicable. 

With this one, a TOP TIP is to explore all your potential travel options. You must also consider the ability to socially distance appropriately during the journey. 

Dependent on the group size, a minibus or coach may be suitable. You can contact local companies or even your student union (if they have a mini bus for hire).

You've got your challenge sorted, guides preliminarily booked and even transport lined up. Now to work out the overall cost, and how much it is going to cost per head.

We recommend charging a little over the actual cost per head to factor in signing up less people overall.

There are many ways to sell tickets, from taking cash simply to using online platforms such as Eventbrite.

A TOP TIP when using Eventbrite is to have your tickets as free on the site and ask contestants to use bank transfer/paypal to send the ticker money (so that Eventbrite doesn’t take part of the ticket price).

When choosing a fundraising target, remember this doesn’t need to reflect the event or challenge and you’re raising for a worthy cause!

We find targets between £/€/$100-250 or R2500 or QAR500 work best! But you may choose to go for more too. 

Once you have decided a target, set up your fundraising page.

A TOP TIP is to set up a fundraising page for all participants or guide them through the process 1 on 1. 

Be as creative as possible, consider making videos, cool posters and social media graphics. You need to get as much attention to gather sign ups, make fun and creative comparisons to mountain climbs and other big challenges and this years new challenge!

Next spread the word far and wide, utilise social media by making event pages, regular posts as well as messaging personally.

Potentially look into contacting the union and contacting other societies directly asking them to share your posts too.

As well as general posts about the challenge and how to get signed up, find stories from previous years; of people's experience and memorable moments.

Share these, but with a slight twist linking it back to this years challenge 

You may also want to have prizes or awards. These can be competitive i.e. fastest to finish or fun!

So once someone has signed up, share your Institutional fundraising page and how they can make their own fundraising page.

These are three top ways we feel a participant can fundraise: 

1. Firstly, have an ask. If your target is £250, ask for 10 people to donate £25 or 25 to donate £10! Simply saying donate, means you tend to get lesser amounts, and there's no harm in asking! More often than not, people will donate at your ask amount.

2. Secondly, Share. Share. Share.

Utilise all your Social Media platforms to get the word out. Share why you're doing this challenge, how you're feeling about it, what it means to you. When using WhatsApp and text message, don't always broadcast messages, even better don't broadcast at all, as these can be missed. Send direct, personal messages for a better response.

3. Lastly, arguably the most important, the projects. Share information about the projects that we hope to fund, and why they're so important.

A TOP TIP is as the challenge gets closer, keep a track of all the participants and how their fundraising is going. Share stories of people doing well, and what they're doing, motivating those struggling to keep trying.

Check out info for the challenges, but as an extra special gesture you may want to take along some snacks and food for all the participants.

But don't forget water, not only for drinking but for making wudu along the way!

Do also take extra masks, gloves and hand sanitiser, in case anyone forgets to bring their own.

A TOP TIP if you have any sponsors is to let them know you're doing the challenge. Or finding sponsors for the challenge specifically.

This is an opportunity to potentially gain extra sponsorship money, you can even ask for them to subsidise the travel and guide expenses that you're having to pay!

In return you may offer them advertising as you publicise the challenge, but don't stop there, offer taking a flag with their logo up on your challenge to signify their support and be sure to send lots of pictures back!

Make sure you've informed everyone of the meeting point and time. Ensure the meet up point allows for social distancing, well ventilated and all touch points are cleaned. 

Try and leave some leeway in your planning with what time you need to set off. Utilise this time waiting filling out any necessary forms for the day ahead. 

A TOP TIP is to plan an Islamic Reminder. Once everyone is there, deliver a reminder to everyone about why they're here, what it is you're all trying to achieve!

As you set off, a TOP TIP is to say the travelling du'a. Not alone, but together!

Ask one person to lead, and everyone else repeats. We recommend someone say the translation too after, truly understand and ask Allah for help upon your challenge! 

Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Subhaanal-lathee sakhkhara lanaa haathaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen. Wa 'innaa 'ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon. Allaahumma 'innaa nas'aluka fee safarinaa haathal-birrawattaqwaa, waminal-'amalimaa tardhaa, Allaahumma hawwin 'alaynaa safaranaa haathaa watwi 'annaa bu'dahu, Allaahumma 'Antas-saahibu fis-safari, walkhaleefatu fil-'ahli, Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika min wa'thaa'is-safari, wa ka'aabanl-mandhari, wa soo'il-munqalabi fil-maaliwal'ahli.

Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You . O Allah , lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us . O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family . O Allah , I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.

Upon returning recite the same again adding:

'Aa'iboona, taa'iboona, 'aabidoona, Lirabbinaa haamidoon.

We return repentant to our Lord, worshipping our Lord, and praising our Lord.

Reference: Muslim 2/978.

Speak to the driver and guides about potential stops for prayer.

Your participants may be unsure when they'll be able to pray, so plan ahead and give everyone the opportunity to do so.

We promise your experience will be invaluable!

During the challenge encourage everyone to make lots of social media posts and messages, to encourage donations. 

Encourage the team organising the challenge or your core team to talk to the participants on your challenge, motivate those struggling and help everyone do their best!

This is a great opportunity to reflect on the experience, whether it's on the journey back or the day after, but don't forget to thank everyone who came along, and check up on them if they're well rested now!

The challenge has been fun, but there's a cause to support. This is the time to take those last opportunities to motivate those who haven't yet hit their target to make some last tries to share their page, and how the challenge went. 

There are always hiccups or lessons that we learn, but do we make sure that the team next year will learn from these? Use our template event planning document to keep a record of how you put on your event and also any feedback to pass onto next year's team!