Why are Macmillan Coffee Mornings Such Successful Charity Events?

Here, you can find out why the Macmillan cancer support charity’s iconic Coffee Mornings are such successful charity events.

One of the most successful charity events in Great Britain is the Macmillan Coffee Morning, but why is it so successful? There are several reasons why the events tend to raise so much money, and a lot of this is down to how well-organised the coffee mornings are and how fun they can be. 

The Macmillan Coffee Morning is often regarded as being a mass participation event, and it is a great way to get people of all ages and from various backgrounds to come together in the name of the same great cause. That is to raise money for cancer research, campaign for better cancer awareness, provide cancer care, and other essential cancer services provided by Macmillan Cancer Support – one of Great Britain’s biggest charities.

What is Macmillan Cancer Support?

Macmillan Cancer Support is a UK-based charitable organisation that was founded back in 1911. Its primary focus is to provide a variety of specialist healthcare services to people who suffer from cancer. They raise money to pay for the services they provide via charity events, and one of their most popular charity events that many of you may already be familiar with by now is the Macmillan Coffee Morning. 

What goes on at a Macmillan Coffee Morning?

A lot goes on at mass participation events, such as the Macmillan Coffee Morning, and it’s not just drinking coffee. It’s a special fundraising event attended by anywhere from as few as ten people up to 100 people or more, and it usually falls on September 30th each year. However, it can be held any day of the year and as many times per year as possible. 

There are no strict rules to what goes on at a Macmillan Coffee Morning, but what usually occurs is people drinking tea, coffee, and soft drinks (or even Prosecco at some events), as well as nibbling on things like biscuits, cakes, sandwiches, and other snacks, and the people who attend these events are generally those who have been directly affected by cancer in some way. Others that attend are just people who wish to help out in any way they can, either by donating money or helping to organise the event and raise money for the Macmillan charity. 

As well as gathering around to have a chat and drink tea or coffee, quite often, raffles are held at these events. People also get to play certain games, and quizzes are often held. There are no set rules to what you must do when hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning, which is what makes them so fun and usually successful, with lots of money being raised for a good cause. 

Top tips for organising your very own Macmillan Coffee Morning

For those of you who are keen to organise your very own Macmillan Coffee Morning in the local area where you live but aren’t sure how to go about organising such an event, then you may want to read these useful tips before you get started. To ensure your event goes by without a hitch, remember to consider the following:

  • Set a time and date that will work for most people, and don’t forget that it can be morning, afternoon, or evening
  • Where would be best to host your Macmillan Coffee Morning? It can be down at the local community service, perhaps down at the church, or another similar place that’s good for hosting these types of events
  • Get help if you need it. It always helps to have other people organising the event with you so that you’re not left with the burden of doing everything on your own
  • Remember to organise raffle tickets and get the prizes that you will need for your raffle
  • Think about the different types of games you may like to have available for the people who show up
  • Don’t forget to arrange for your official Macmillan Cancer Support boxes for your donors so they can donate their money
  • Always update the people who attended your event with information about how the day went, and let them know exactly how much everyone raised

Hopefully, your Macmillan Coffee Morning will be one to remember. If it is, then you may want to make it a regular event, such as once per week or once per month. Just remember to have fun and try not to let the organising of the event cause you too much anxiety, which is why you should perhaps ask for help to ensure the day goes smoothly. 

Anabel Cooper

Anabel is a graduate of King’s College London and upon graduating, she set out on a journey to inspire and empower women through her words. Besides working as a digital marketing expert, Anabel is a freelance copywriter.