Men United match days 2016Volunteer team and assistant leader guide

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Thank you for volunteering to lead a Men United match day. You’re helping raise money and awareness of prostate cancer and helping save men’s lives.

What’s a Men United match day?This season we expect to have a presence at over 70 matches in The Football League, Premier League, SPFL and Wembley Cup Finals – from February to May 2016.

Our match days include:• a collection before the match• managers wearing our pin badge• stories in the programme and on the club’s social media/website• tannoy announcements.

Many games will also include:• players walking out in scarves • a Prostate Cancer UK guest of honour leading out the teams• local/regional media coverage• tickets to the game for volunteers.

Your responsibilitiesAs Team Leader you’re pivotal to the match day’s success. Your key responsibilities include:

• Helping to recruit collectors ahead of the game. We will also be recruiting directly, so it’s not all on your shoulders.

• Touching base with the club and your team of collectors a few days ahead of the game to make sure everyone’s clear on the arrangements. We will send the club all the information beforehand, but it’s prudent to double-check.

• Arriving early on match day to meet your club contact and prepare materials ready for your team to arrive.

• Meeting and greeting your team members, issuing them with materials and briefing them on what to do.

• Collecting up all the materials after the collection, thanking your team and issuing their match tickets.

• Counting the money and safely paying it into the Prostate Cancer UK bank account.

Full details are in the checklists on the pages that follow.

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Why we need you on the teamWe are proud and honoured to have you on our team, Men United. We know when people get together to support us with their friends and family this season they’ll have a great time while helping us beat prostate cancer.

That’s what Men United is all about. A movement for everyone who believes that men are worth fighting for. And having a good time doing it.

With you on the team we can build a movement to take action on men’s health further than we’ve ever gone before. We’ll reach over 500,000 fans in The Football League this season. And reach our Men United match day target of £75,000 to fund our work. We also know the impact we can make on the ground with the support of you and your team to keep us in the minds of fans up and down the country for years to come.

I find it ever so uplifting to get involved in the volunteering opportunities for Prostate Cancer UK. Having been through the diagnoses and treatment process myself it gives me the opportunity to chat to men who are keen to further their knowledge of prostate cancer, as well as helping to raise funds for the charity.Harold Haddock, Bolton Wanderers and Men United

Thousands more men will know about our Specialist Nurses, our website, and their risk of prostate cancer.

Thank you for supporting Prostate Cancer UK.

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Your checklistPrepare earlyþRead through the match-specific briefing which we will send to you.

þCheck if your match includes free tickets to the game (most will but not all do).

þIf possible ask a friend or family member to be your ‘assistant leader’. Let us know if you want our help to find someone.

þStart recruiting! Get your friends, family, and colleagues to join you. They can sign up at prostatecanceruk.org/matchdays and we’ll also aim to recruit people in your area directly. We’re looking for teams of 12-20 volunteers at every match so everyone you can get on board counts!

þPlease visit prostatecanceruk.org/matchdayresources which includes recruitment posters, handy hints and tips on recruiting and collecting on the day, do’s and don’t when fundraising, and how to keep you and your team safe when fundraising.

Getting to know your team – two weeks beforeþWe will send you a list of who’s on your collection team, please touch base with

them and introduce yourself, double check they are still available for the day.

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The warm up – five days to goþCall the club contact to introduce yourself – double-check the logistics for the day

and check they’ve received their box of materials.

þMake sure you have a plan for taking the money home (see page 8).

þCall your collection team and Assistant Leader to confirm the plan.

We’ll also be sending briefings to all the members of your team.

Please contact your Volunteer Support Officer at anytime if you have any questions or concerns.

Pre-match preparation – the day beforeþGet all your paperwork ready – this document, your match-specific briefing, letters

of authority for your collection team and your team contact details.

þPlan your journey to the ground.

þPlan your journey home.

þIf you have an assistant leader helping you, liaise with them to confirm information for collection day (tomorrow).

NB: If you need copies printed and sent to you in the post please contact your Volunteer Support Officer no later than a week before the collection.

Please refer to the resources page of our website where you will find useful information for the day such as banking instructions and pay slips.

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4We’ll be sending each club a box of materials in advance, including:• buckets, with lids and seals• tabards for volunteers (black for team and

assistant leaders, white for fundraisers)• coin bags and paying in slips for you to bank the money• man of men stickers• pocket cards and other awareness materials.

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prostatecanceruk.org/matchdayresourcesThe match day Please note these timings are based on a 3pm kick-off. If your kick-off time is different please contact your Volunteer Support Officer for information.

12-12.30pm [kick-off minus 3-2.5 hours]þMeet your club contact.

þAsk them to show you the best places to collect.

þAsk about collecting in hospitality areas too – often the most lucrative!

þConfirm other details: where are the toilets, when and where will you collect tickets from?

þPrepare materials for the collection by sticking seals on the buckets and laying-out the tabards.

1.00pm [kick-off minus 2 hours]þYour team arrive ready for action.

þGive them buckets and tabards (black tabards for leader and assistant leader, white tabards for fundraisers).

þWhere possible pair the volunteers up.

þBrief them on where to collect and what to say [see page 7 and 8].

þArrange where you will meet back – 10 minutes before kick off.

1.15pm – 2.45pm [during collection period]þCheck that the collectors are ok, in correct locations, happy, or need

any assistance.

þHand out awareness literature, if the club permits this.

2.45pm [kick-off minus 15 minutes]þReturn to base to meet up with your collectors.

þTick off the volunteers as they return and start to put all the money in one bucket.

þThank all the volunteers and give them their match ticket (if available).

þRepack the empty buckets and tabards into the original box and give them to the club contact to return to us after the match – we’ll arrange collection the following week.

þEither take the money off site or leave it in a secure place agreed with the club contact [see page 9].

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Briefing your team Once your team has arrived, give them a short team-talk.

• Remind them why they’re helping.

• Work in pairs if possible.

• It may be quiet to begin with – but it will get busier.

• Say thank you to the supporters who donate and tell them to enjoy the game.

• Don’t worry if a lot of people refuse to donate, or ignore you – don’t take it personally!

• Make sure your tabard and your bucket are visible at all times. And don’t shake it aggressively as it’s not allowed.

• If supporters would like more information, hand them a pocket card and direct them to the website and our Specialist Nurses.

• Be polite but vocal. Try the suggested phrases on the next page or create your own.

• Run through the Fundraiser Musts document with the collection team, which can be found on prostatecanceruk.org/matchdayresources

• If you need a break, then take one. Please let the Team Leader (you) know.

• Call the Team Leader (you) if there are any problems. If you experience any abuse, tell a club steward immediately.

• Meet back 10 minutes before kick off, where you’ll give them their match ticket (if available).

• Good luck – let’s raise a lot of money, let everyone know we’re here and help save men’s lives!

We also included our ‘Risk infographic’ at the back of this document - it’s an easy way to remember the key risk factors which can be passed on to your team.

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Share Geoff’s top tips with everyoneGeoff Douglass is one of our most successful fundraisers, below are some of the secrets of his success.

• Always look happy and approachable.

• Make eye contact.

• Be friendly and joke with people giving a donation and always thank them.

• Say hello to people and tell them you are collecting for Prostate Cancer UK.

• Wish them luck for the match.

• Try standing near places where people will be spending money e.g. burger vans, programme sellers, the superstore.

Let’s have your small change, you’ll only need notes when you buy your beer inside.

Make sure the (opposition) fans don’t give more than you!

Spend a penny for prostate cancer.

Donate to Prostate Cancer UK; it’s an investment in your future!

And let everyone know what else is going on at the game – check twitter, look out for the manager wearing our badge and our advert in the programme.

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Some of his tried and tested phrases:

After the matchWhat do I do with the money?Getting the money to the bankIt is your responsibility as Team Leader to count the money and safely pay it into the Prostate Cancer UK bank account. This can take some planning, so it’s important to work out how you’ll do this ahead of the game.

Counting the moneyYou must count the money with another person present, and separate coins and notes into the individual coin bags provided. Place all the coin bags into the security bag and write the total amount on the security bag, your cash collection sheet and your bank paying-in slip. Both of you must sign the bag and cash collection sheet to confirm the amount.

PLEASE NOTE: Some NatWest banks have counting machines you can use and save you time. Please call your local bank prior to taking the money down to double check they have the facility and it is in working order. Alternatively click on this link: http://goo.gl/9LqNP5 and search your town or postcode via ‘cheque and cash deposit machine’ search function.

Some clubs will offer a secure area to count the money at the ground, but many won’t. In instances where you can’t count the money at the ground you can count it at home. Be aware that it can take a couple of hours or more to count – and the more effective your collectors, the longer it will take!

Your Team Leader’s briefing sheet will tell you whether the club can provide a secure place to count the money while the game is in progress.

Taking the money homeWe will provide two security bags – one to take the money home (please use this immediately to store the money securely as soon as the collection has ended), and a second to take the money to the bank (after the money has been counted).

Some clubs will store the money for you during the game, to allow you to watch the game. Others will require you to take the money out of the stadium prior to kick-off.

Your Team Leader’s briefing sheet will tell you whether your club will agree to securely store the money until after the game.

Note that the bags of coins can be heavy. Enlisting the help of some strong team members is a good tip too!

Paying into the bank• Take the counted money in your sealed security bag to your local bank as soon as possible

on the next working day.

• Get a receipt, attach this to your cash collection sheet and post it back to us at Men United match days, Freepost RTGC-BASH-USLX Prostate Cancer UK, The Counting House, 53 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QN.

• Please email matchdays@prostatecanceruk.org with how much you raised!

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Your safety when handling moneyYour safety is important to us. Below are some hints and tips to help you keep safe.

• If at all possible buddy up with someone to help you transport the money.

• Don’t make it obvious to thieves that you are carrying money.

• Stay alert to what’s going on around you.

• Stay away from dark or empty places.

• Take extra care where thieves often operate: tube stations, cash machines, car parks, bus stations and overcrowded areas.

What happens afterwards?We’ll be in touch to let you know how much our Men United match days have raised across the country.

We’ll also send a short survey to you and your team to find out how your volunteering experience went. Please do take a moment to fill this survey out as your feedback will help us improve these events in the future.

Thank you!With your help we’re raising money and awareness among thousands of men across the country. The money you raise will help fund vital research and services throughout the UK to help more men survive prostate cancer and enjoy a better quality of life. Without the support of volunteers like you we wouldn’t be able to continue our lifesaving work.

If you have any questions please email volunteer@prostatecanceruk.org or call your Volunteer Support Officer.

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What is my risk of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer mainly a�ects men over 50and your risk increases with age. The average age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 70 and 74 years.

In the UK, about one in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

1 in 8

Over 50 years old

Family history and genetics

Your risk of prostate cancer might be higher if your mother or sister has had breast cancer, particularly if it was linked to faults in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2.

Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men. In the UK, about 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

Ethnicity

Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). A company limited by guarantee registered number 2653887 (England and Wales). VAT 905 9415 18.

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© Prostate Cancer UK January 2015. To be reviewed January 2017

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.

Speak to our Specialist Nurses0800 074 8383prostatecanceruk.org

You are two and a half times more likely toget prostate cancer if your father or brotherhas been diagnosed with it, compared with a man who has no a�ected relatives.

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Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company number 02653887.

Speak to our Specialist Nurses0800 074 8383*prostatecanceruk.org