OPEN EVENT FAQ'S COMING SOON

CHARITIES EXCLUSIVE EVENTS FAQ'S

A charity challenge is an adventure of a lifetime and a fantastic way to raise money for your charity.

However, we understand that you may have some questions so we have listed our most frequently asked questions below. If you cannot find the answer to your question then please email us.

1. How do I decide on a location?

Working with our experienced team, we can help you decide on the destination that is perfect for you. Questions to ask include:

• What destinations interest you and others associated with your charity?

• Who will your target audience be?

• What destinations are popular at present?

• What destinations are other charities offering?

• What is the fundraising target compared to the cost of the expedition?

• What time of year do you want to go?

2. Once decided, how much time do I need to leave between now and departure?

We would recommend leaving at least 9 months from deciding on a location to actual departure. This may seem like a long time, but not when you consider:

• 2 weeks to complete contracts and receive your event manuals;

• 4 weeks for preparation of your event publicity materials;

• 10 weeks of intensive marketing and administration to get the participants registered;

• 20 weeks for the participants to fundraise for the event;

• 2 weeks of final preparations.

3. How do I decide my fundraising target?

We always encourage that at least half the revenue raised should go back directly to the charity. Therefore if ground and flight costs are £1,200 per person, you could aim at £2,400 individual fundraising target, with a £200 registration fee.

4. You’ve decided to run an exclusive event – so what happens now?

Just give our Sales Manager Steve Clark a call on 01460 30456 (or email steve@acrossthedivide.com) and he will talk you through the options available and the booking process.

Once you have decided when and where you would like your event to take place, we reserve the dates with our local agent and send you an event manual, which tells you everything you need to know about your event – from climate facts and kit list, to visa information and suggested training programmes.

As a general guide, you should aim to book your event about 12 – 15 months in advance. This is to allow enough time for you to promote the event, and for your participants to fundraise successfully. Once we have confirmed the dates of your event with our local agents, a small deposit will be payable. The flights are usually available to book 11 months prior to departure, although most airlines do not require names and full payment until 8 weeks before departure. We will then require full payment for ground arrangements and flights 8 weeks before your event.

5. Who organises the flights?

We do! Across the Divide has its own ATOL licence (ATOL number 6475) which allows us to make all of the flight arrangements on your behalf.

6. What support will we get from Across the Divide

Across the Divide offers the very highest level of support from start to finish. Once your trip is confirmed, we will send you a comprehensive event manual which contains everything you need to know about your particular event and of course our office staff are always happy to help with any further questions. Across the Divide can also provide images for your promotional material and will advertise your event on our website.

We will organise a local information day for your event, which allows participants to meet each other, find out more about the trip, and put any concerns or questions they may have to one of our experienced guides. Across the Divide also offers exclusive training days for participants, and runs an annual rep training day for charity representatives planning to take part in the event themselves. Topics covered include how best to prepare for the trip; how to promote your charity during the event; and ways in which to keep your participants motivated and retain their support for future events.

Across the Divide will look after all of the ground and flight arrangements for your event, leaving you free to concentrate on what matters most - your fundraisers.

We will also provide in-office training to assist with you call reception and marketing, and the chance to attend a free charity rep training day.

7. Who do participants need to send money to?

As their main contact, the participants should send registration fees and fundraised amounts to you. By arranging scheduled 'deadline' dates with the participants, this can help cover the amounts to be paid for flights and ground costs in advance.

8. What do the participants need to do in preparation for the event?

Before the trip we ask all participants to complete a medical questionnaire so that we can check that they are fit enough to take part. Our doctors will contact anyone with specific health problems to discuss any additional medications that they might require whilst on the trip.
All participants need to have travel insurance that covers them for the activity to be undertaken. We offer a highly competitive insurance policy if required.
Prior to the event, at a date decided by the charity, we provide one experienced member of the Across the Divide team to be available for an Information Evening for the participants. At this point we can try to help with any questions they may still have regards kit, training, blisters etc

9. Can a charity representative come on the trip?

We encourage this as much as possible, as the charity representative can be a valuable member of the Expedition Team. Whilst in country, Across the Divide want the participants to identify the expedition with the charity, and appreciate the contribution their fundraising brings to a worthwhile cause. For most destinations, once 30 or more participants has been reached a free place is provided.

13. Kit Advice where can I find this?

Across the Divide has negotiated some great deals direct with suppliers such as Montane and RAB that can be found in our online challenge equipment store here and a special deal with Trekhire UK the details of which can be found on our kit advice page here

14. Still have a few questions?

Then please feel free to email us here.