event information pack

Crisis
Square
Mile Run
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EVENT
INFORMATION
PACK
Page 2
Contents
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04
05
06
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Introduction
What we do
Fundraising
Five steps to fundraising success
Getting ready for race day
The route
Useful information
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RACE TO END
HOMELESSNESS
hank you for deciding to join us in Paternoster
T
Square for the 17th annual Crisis Square Mile Run.
Since the race began in 1993 the Crisis Square
Mile Run has raised well over £2 million, and this
year, more that ever, we need you to come together
and help us reach £150,000. We are asking that as
many of you as possible raise £100 for Crisis so
we can continue to provide essential services for
homeless people across the UK.
The money raised from the Crisis Square Mile Run
will directly improve the lives of homeless people
throughout the UK. Together, we can come one
step closer to ending homelessness for good.
Taking part in the Crisis Square Mile Run is a fun
and simple way to make a true difference to the
lives of homeless people throughout the UK. As
you cross the finish line, I hope you remember
the difference your participation will make to
the people who use our services. Two thousand
people are expected to participate this year so your
support will make a real difference. I hope each and
every one of you enjoys the run.
Leslie Morphy
Chief Executive of Crisis
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What we do
Crisis is the national charity for single
homeless people. We are dedicated to ending
homelessness by delivering life-changing services
and campaigning for change.
Crisis
Christmas
Temporary centres providing general services
for up to 2,000 homeless and vulnerably housed
people each Christmas.
Our innovative education, employment, housing
and well-being services address individual needs
and help people to transform their lives.
Crisis
Skylight
Inspirational learning and activity centres,
equipping homeless people with practical and
vocational skills and qualifications. On an average
day 250 clients come through the doors in London
and Newcastle.
We are determined campaigners, working to
prevent people from becoming homeless and
advocating solutions informed by research and
our direct experience.
We know we won’t end homelessness overnight
or on our own but together we can make
change happen.
Crisis
Skylight Café
Working cafes and art space offering on the job
training and support into permanent employment.
How we do it
Crisis
Changing Lives
A UK-wide financial awards scheme, enabling
homeless people to achieve their career goals.
Crisis Changing Lives has helped over 1,000 people.
Crisis
Employment Services
Vocational opportunities and tailored employment
programmes to help homeless people find and
keep jobs.
Crisis
SmartMove
A nationwide rent deposit scheme, delivered in
partnership in 27 areas across the UK, providing
comprehensive housing advice and homes in the
private-rented sector. So far 11,000 people have
found homes through Crisis SmartMove.
Ashley’s Story
Coming from a broken home, Ashley Green
felt life was always going to be a struggle.
He became homeless after being made
redundant. He never knew where he would be
spending the night. Life changed for Ashley
after seeking advice from his local Crisis
SmartMove project.
After finding a property under the guarantee
scheme, he returned to education, and began
to study for a Diploma in Horticulture. The
Crisis Changing Lives Award allowed him to
buy vital tools for his course, and he is now
studying for a BSC in Landscape Architecture
whilst working part time as a Gardener.
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Fundraising
As a result of the recession, our services are more
important than ever. You can do your bit by raising
money through your participation in the Crisis
Square Mile Run.
We want to raise £150,000 from the 2009 Crisis
Square Mile Run and we will need every single one
of you to help us achieve this.
See the impact it would have if every person
who took part in the 2009 Crisis Square Mile Run
raised £100:
• £100 could pay for a days training in our Skylight
Cafe, equipping someone with the skills to get
a full time job
• £100 could keep 20 homeless people healthy
by covering the costs of their prescriptions at
the Crisis Christmas medical centre
• £100 will pay for five hours of accredited tuition
for an entire class at our Crisis Skylight centre
• £100 would pay for a homeless person to sit their
Maths and English GCSEs
• £100 could pay for Christmas dinner for 33
guests at one of our Crisis Christmas centres
Raise £100 and change someone’s life forever.
Go further and raise over £100
If you individually raise over £100 you will be
entered into a prize draw to win some
fantastic prizes.
Get all your sponsorship in by the deadline of
31 July 2009 and you will receive a day pass for
your local Fitness First!
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Five steps to
fundraising success
Reaching that £100 needn’t be stressful. Be creative with your fundraising
and most of all, have fun with it.
1) Set up an online sponsorship page by visiting www.crisis.org.uk/raisemoney
and create your very own personalised sponsorship page. Once created you can
send the link via email to your friends, family, colleagues, clients, suppliers all
around the world. It’s even possible to link it to your Facebook and Bebo pages.
Gone are the days of chasing people for sponsorship money as all donations
come instantly to Crisis!
2) If you prefer doing things the more traditional way, we have enclosed a sponsorship
form for you to use. Don’t forget; put your most generous sponsor
at the top to encourage others to match it.
3) Organise a Sweepstake. Encourage people to predict your finishing time and
ask for a suggested donation of £1 a guess. You can download a sweepstake
kit from our website at www.crisis.org.uk/smr.
4) Ask your company or place of work to match your total sponsorship. Ask your
Human Resources, CSR or charities representative for more information.
5) Do the run in fancy dress. Letting your sponsors know that you intend to do
the run in a fabulous outfit should be worth an extra few quid!
Returning Sponsorship
Please don’t bring any sponsorship on the day of the run as we won’t be able to
store it securely. However, enclosed is a freepost envelope and a money return
form that you can use to send us your sponsorship (please make sure you use the
money return form).
For more ideas, spare sponsorship forms and advice on fundraising go to
www.crisis.org.uk/smr, or call the hotline on 020 7426 3825 or email [email protected]
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Get ready for race day
Not only will taking part in the Crisis Square Mile Run help homeless people
across the country, it will help you get fit too!
Our online partner Realbuzz has provided some training tips and training
plans designed specially for Crisis Square Mile Run participants.
To download the plan go to www.crisis.org.uk/smrsupport or call the team on
020 7426 3825 for a copy to be posted to you.
Realbuzz is an online runner’s community and is a great place to get training
advice and share tips and experience. Check it out at www.realbuzz.com.
Training
The Crisis Square Mile Run is just over 5km long (about 3.5 miles), an easily
achievable distance for any ability or fitness level. Here are some tips to make
sure you achieve what you want to on race day.
1) If you are new to running or haven’t exercised in a while make sure you take
a few weeks to get to the level of fitness you will need to complete the run.
Start slowly and set yourself achievable targets each week.
2) It’s important to rest in between training runs, make sure you don’t push
yourself too hard.
3) Feed your body correctly with a diet rich in carbohydrates.
4) Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and try to avoid alcohol the day before
the run.
5) Run at your own pace, you should be able to comfortably hold a
conversation while running.
6) Try and run the full distance one or two times before the run.
7) Make sure you warm up and down to avoid injury. Join the aerobic warm up
with Fitness First before the run to get your muscles ready.
Please note: these tips are only suggestions and are provided for guidance
only. If you have any doubts regarding your participation in the event we
recommend seeking medical advice from your doctor.
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The route
Starting at Paternoster Square you will run south
toward the Thames and turn right along the river to
cross at Blackfriars Bridge. Turning right, you will
take in the sights of the Southbank; The London
Eye, The Royal Festival Hall and The Oxo Tower.
Crossing the river north again at Blackfriars Bridge
you will run eastward along the Thames until you
reach Southwark Bridge where you will cross the
river for a third time. Turning right, you will run
past The Globe Theatre then cross the river for the
final time at the Millennium Footbridge - finishing
in spectaclar style on the north bank. The total
distance is just over 3.5 miles, or approximately
6 kilometres.
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Staggered start
In order to minimise any congestion a staggered start will be implemented.
You will be asked to arrange yourself at the start line into three clearly marked
areas that correspond to your predicted running speeds.
1) Fast runners - 8 minute mile or faster
2) Medium paced runners - 8 to 10 minute mile
3) Joggers and walkers - 10 minute plus per mile
This means serious runners will set off promptly at 7pm, with the medium
runners, joggers and walkers being set off at 6 to 10 minute intervals
thereafter.
Alternative route
Unfortunately, sometimes unforeseen circumstances can disrupt the route of
the run. We will do our best to avoid this but if we need to make a change to
the route we will inform all runners via email (if practical) beforehand and will
let everyone know via the public address system on the day.
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Useful information
What’s happening and when
5.30-6.45pm Check in
6.45pm Aerobic warm-up
7.00pm Crisis Square Mile Run Starts
7.15pm (onwards)
Finish at Peter’s Hill
Check in
Please check in as soon as you arrive at
Paternoster Square. Get there early to avoid
queues and please leave extra time for checking
in your baggage in our storage facility. Please
bring the enclosed registration card to the main
check in desk before starting the race.
After the race
After finishing the race head back to Paternoster
Square to collect your baggage and your Crisis
Square Mile Run goody bag. Meet up with friends,
fellow runners and colleagues and bask in post
race glory in one of the many cafes, bars and
restaurants around the square.
Where can I leave my bag?
There will be a baggage marquee just outside
Paternoster Square. For security reasons you will
not be able to leave any baggage in the marquee
unless it is clearly marked with your name and
runner number, with the enclosed Luggage Tag.
We will have spare tags on the day but if you have
lost your tag please arrive early. If your office is
close by and you can leave your baggage there
we suggest you do so to save yourself time
upon leaving.
Can friends just come along and run on the day?
If the event isn’t full there will be a small number of
places for late entrants. However these will go
very quickly, so to avoid disappointment please
get your friends to enter before the day if possible.
Entrants on the day should make their way to
the separate ‘New entry’ where registration will
cost £15.
What shall I wear?
Wear your Crisis Square Mile Run t-shirt which
you will receive on race day. Alternatively, stand
out in the crowd and come in fancy dress!
Will refreshment be provided?
Water is provided before and after the run, and
everyone taking part will be offered a banana at
the finish. Food and drink is also available for
purchase at the many outlets in Paternoster
Square.
What happens if I injure myself?
First Aiders will be on hand to help throughout the
run and in Paternoster Square. Should you need
assistance alert the nearest marshal or come to
the event information desk near the start line.
How can I celebrate after the run?
Make the most of the vouchers in your goody bag
by enjoying some food and drink in Paternoster
Square afterward.
Will the run still take place if it rains?
Most certainly. If it does rain please come
prepared in suitable clothing. If weather
conditions are such that it is deemed unsafe to
hold the event we reserve the right to cancel.
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St Paul’s
Paternoster
Square
Blackfriars
Temple
Blackfriars Bridge
Charing Cross
St Paul’s
Waterloo Bridge
Embankment
OXO Tower
Millennium
Footbridge
Mansion House
Southwark
Bridge
Tate Modern
The National Theatre
The Globe Theatre
Royal Festival Hall
Waterloo
The London Eye
Directions to the run
Paternoster Square is in the heart of the City of London in the shadow of
St Paul’s Cathedral.
Underground and rail links
The closest tube station is St Paul’s on the Central Line.
Take exit 2 out of the station and turn immediately left towards St Paul’s then
turn right into Paternoster Square.
Mansion House, Cannon Street and Blackfriars stations (on the District and
Circle Lines) are just a short walk away. Head for St Paul’s Cathedral with
Paternoster Square being just north of St Paul’s.
Parking
Please remember that the area will be subject to the London congestion
charge until 6pm and parking will be very limited. The nearest NCP car parks
are in London Hillgate House, Seacoal Lane/ Limeburger Lane, EC4M 7HY and
London Aldersgate, 158-170 Aldersgate Street, EC1A 4HR.
We recommend avoiding travelling by car if at all possible.
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Thank you
Please find enclosed:
Baggage tag
Money paying in form
Sponsorship form
Freepost return envelope
www.crisis.org.uk/smr