Thanks To Alfie

Thanks to Alfie!!! Yes indeed, sincere, heartfelt thanks to Alfie. And these are not my sentiments only either. Where would we be without Alfie? Hang on…..hang on, who’s Alfie you may ask?

Read on and I’ll explain.

Take A Bow Tom Moore And Others

There has been some incredible support for the incredible efforts made by the brilliant frontliners. And rightly so. The support given is the very least we can do.

Of course, when I refer to frontliners, I mean all frontliners. As well as the NHS superstars it means so many others. One and all have earned more than just our thanks and respect. We are, or maybe should be, forever in their debt.

With the ‘forever’ bit of the last statement in mind, I think it’s important that when we do return to some sort of normality – however long that takes – we should remember these heroes on a regular basis. So how do we do that?

As mentioned there have been so many wonderful ideas put out there. None more so than Tom Moore. Probably everyone today will now have heard of the hero of all heroes Tom Moore. Or should that be, Sir Tom Moore?

At the last count, Sir Tom’s efforts had generated a more than impressive £32m+ funds for the NHS fighting fund. Considering his original target was £1,000, that is nothing short of remarkable. Well done, Sir Tom. Even if you are not officially knighted (you should be!!!) you will be known as Sir Tom by people everywhere.

Going forward beyond resurfacing out of lockdown, how can the Alfie connection help?

Thanks To Alfie

Over the last few weeks there has been so many stories of financial hardship in so many quarters. For instance, only a few weeks ago I posted an article about the Hospice Of The Good Shepherd in Chester. The article made reference to the financial problems this worthy and well respected charity are facing to even continue.

(By the way you can read the article HERE)

Do you think things will be any easier after lockdown? Probably not for a while. So, the struggles will continue. The Hospice is not alone though. So many other frontline organisations are struggling. Care homes are another prime example.

“Thanks to Alfie” could maybe help going forward.

My version of “Thanks To Alfie” actually means – “Thanks To All Local Frontliners Incredible Efforts“

Or to put it into website speak – https://ThanksToAlfie.co.uk.

And what’s with the pink and purple? This HERE explains it.

Thanks To Alfie – How Would It Work?

Another good question. Bear in mind this is early days and the idea(s) are still in the embryonic stage. But allow me to empty my head on this idea.

One of my firm beliefs first and foremost is that charity begins at home. That being so, why not organise any major charity events first and foremost for the benefit of our frontliners? More specifically, the frontline charities (all of them really) and the NHS would be in the front of the queue.

In essence, the website is a platform where all the events, frontliners mentions, ideas etc can be displayed.

Thanks To Alfie – An Example

Let me demonstrate an example. Every year there is a charity football match between a team of entertainers versus a team of ex-professionals. It is normally played at Old Trafford in case you didn’t know. That’s fine as it currently stands.

But what about other, similar events being organised where the benefits raised go to the frontliners charities and NHS? A website like ThanksToAlfie.co.uk could explain what the aim of the website is and other bits of information.

Spin offs from the main website would be for regional events, news and information. For instance, a charity football match could be arranged at Chester FC’s ground. I am using footie as an example being a footie fan myself.

The match could be, for example, between two teams managed by Chester born ex-players. Say, a Danny Murphy Select XI v Michael Owen Select XI would get many footie fans interested. Especially if it was for a good cause. With their contacts, Messrs Murphy and Owen could no doubt call upon a fair old good gathering of players.

In fact, I think I’ve still got my “Barnes Stormers” footie boots somewhere!!! “I’ll play…..I’ll play!!!”

Seriously though, such a game could be a goer I reckon.

The event would be promoted under the “Thanks To Alfie” brand name and the details set up in an a sub-folder of the main website and called ThanksToAlfie.co.uk/Chester

That scenario allows the main brand name website to be used for other regions. So, using footie again as an example, what about a match at Anfield or Goodison arranged by two teams managed by ex Liverpool and/or Everton stars. Details and information of which would be recorded in ThanksToAlfie.co.uk/Liverpool

And so on. Rinse and repeat.

Thanks To Alfie-A Few Other Examples

We have in our midst a world renowned racecourse. Not exactly under used but it does have quite a few spare weekends where it lies unused. So, what about a concert on the Roodee? Again under the brand name of “Thanks To Alfie” where proceeds go to the frontliners charities etc.

Taking this example even further, merchandise could be sold at the event. “Thanks To Alfie” t-shirts; baseball caps etc would be good mementoes to treasure. Again proceeds to go to the cause.

A CD could be produced of the concert as well.

Replicate the same sort of ideas for Manchester, Liverpool, London etc….etc…

In short, the fundraising ideas are endless really. They are as limited as the imagination. Keeping it local and yet also being displayed on a national website covers a lot of angles and ensures some pretty wide coverage. Especially when you link the posts to Social Media, including YouTube videos.

The above is just a few of the snippets of what possibilities are popping up. Still very much a general idea and a work in progress. However, I have started a bit of a think tank with ideas of how to organise, manage and arrange the website and how organisations get to use the platform of the website. You can see some of the early thoughts HERE.

The initial aim is to get the idea out there and to see if such a brand name would be a suitable central focus rather than there being so many individual events promoted locally only on, say, a local forum? But of course each event would still have the local emphasis to it as well.

Other Regions

However, looking further afield, what’s to say people from Chester won’t take a look at say ThanksToAlfie.co.uk/Liverpool or ThanksToAlfie.co.uk/Manchester to see what’s happening close by?

The centralisation of the main domain branching out to other regions ensures maximum coverage.

Some local businesses may offer special deals or freebies. Maybe a local spa business may want to offer a reduced priced massage to Care Home workers for instance. Scan the voucher, take some proof of Care Home ID and job’s a good ‘un. Care Home worker gets a good deal and the local business gets a good advertising platform and hopefully a positive review from a happy customer.

Thanks To Alfie – Income From Website

How so? Quite simply, one of the blog posts on the main website tells us this “ThanksToAlfie.co.uk/Shopping-With-Alfie.”

This provides suggestions as to how fundraising can extend to the website itself.

Anyway, I’ll break off now and I’ll go back to the drawing board. Much to weigh up and draft ideas to be noted. The domain(s) have been bought, so a start has been made at least. The first website is now up and running as of yesterday. A significant date in more ways than one. Yesterday happened to be my late father’s birthday. Thanks To Alfie is another reason to remember such a memorable date.

Watch this space. Or rather watch the spaces on Thanks To Alfie and the Thanks To Alfie blog posts.

Thanks for reading. And stay safe!!!

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

I hope you enjoyed reading my latest blog post. To read all the my other blog posts, click HERE.

Missing Places To Visit?

As we are still in the middle of this necessary lockdown, you may well be getting Chester withdrawal symptoms. If so, have a look at the many places to visit HERE and look forward to when we can all go and visit them again.

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