12 Feb How Abbey Turned a Night Out into Lifelong Impact for Act4Africa
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At Act4Africa, our work in Uganda depends on the kindness and energy of people far beyond the communities we serve. Community fundraising is a lifeline for our programmes. Without it, many of our projects for women, children and families simply could not happen.
We are lucky to have volunteers and supporters who organise their own events to raise money for Act4Africa. From quiz nights to coffee mornings, and from marathons to icy cold water swims, people find creative ways to stand with us. Every event, big or small, helps change lives.
One of those amazing volunteers is Abbey. She has been supporting Act4Africa since 2024 and has already hosted three fantastic community fundraising events to raise vital funds.
In her own words:
‘In 2025, I co-hosted 3 concert fundraisers for Act4Africa in my local village, raising over £3,200 over the year. I loved engaging with community fundraising because it empowered me to work with local people and organise successful events. I was super proud of my huge shift in confidence from this experience because of all the coordination with others and my public speaking at each fundraiser. I wasn’t sure what to expect when we planned the first event – would anyone even show up?!
If you are considering organising a fundraiser for Act4Africa, absolutely go for it, and here is a bit about what I learned from my experience last year. The ticket charge covered our expenses, such as the singer, DJ and resources, and surplus was donated. But most of our fundraising success is owed to the extra bits that we added to the concert night, like our tombola, raffle and ‘water or wine’ stalls. When we did our speeches to say a bit about the cause later in the night, it helps to be brave and ask for a bit of extra generosity to help reach our fundraising goal. Know your audience!
What made me go on to do more events after the first was the overwhelming support and feedback I received from our guests, who said they had such a fantastic time, and even to see everyone dancing and having fun. It was the feeling of togetherness – how local people came out not just for an evening of music, but to support a cause bigger than all of us.
All we fundraised went directly to support Act4Africa’s life changing work on the ground, supporting the delivery of their two flagship programmes: Kathy’s Kindergarten and the She Leads women empowerment programme. These programmes rely solely on our fundraising efforts in the UK. From funding the salaries of Act4Africa Uganda’s exceptional local field workers and teachers, to essential learning resources for the age 3-6 children, to the monumental starter-kits given to single mother entrepreneurs in She Leads.
I would massively encourage others to fundraise for Act4Africa too. After seeing first-hand the huge impact that our small donations make to young mothers and children in Uganda, I cannot advocate more for what an exceptional and life changing cause Act4Africa is. Thank you for your support and good luck with your fundraising!’
Abbey – Act4Africa volunteer & supporter
We are incredibly grateful for Abbey’s hard work, determination and dedication in delivering her charity music nights, and for the fantastic funds she raised to support our She Leads and Kathy’s Kindergarten programmes. Abbey’s story shows that when one person decides to act, a whole community can follow – and the impact reaches all the way to Uganda. Her commitment and enthusiasm for these events is a powerful example of how community fundraising can create lasting change, and how Act4Africa can continue to empower women and children.
Feeling inspired by Abbey’s story? If you would like to organise your own community fundraising event on behalf of Act4Africa, then check out our fundraise page on our website. You’ll find our A–Z fundraising ideas sheet for inspiration, as well as our full fundraising pack to help guide you every step of the way.
To let us know about your plans, please register your fundraising by filling out our initial fundraising form, also on our fundraise page. Once submitted, our team will be in touch with further guidance and ongoing support throughout your fundraising journey
If you have any questions or would like any additional support, please contact admin@act4africa.org.