We aim to launch our first fundraise in about six months and then have these no more than  monthly. Each campaign will involve a simple email passed between friends and family members and requesting two things. Firstly, a very small donation (certainly no more than the price of a decent coffee, say £5), and secondly passing the email on to close friends and family (ensuring no details of those earlier in the chain are included). Some supporters might choose in some months to spread the word but not donate. Each campaign will be limited to seven days, with a request not to forward emails after that. 

The potential is huge, although we recognise that to become embedded we need to foster a sense of community for Friends Can.  If ten people share the message with ten people, that only has to happen six times to reach 10 million people – that’s the power of friendship networks. And research shows that the average person has over 600 people in their contacts list! We have the opportunity to do some great things.