Sustainable Fundraising Medals for Sands UK

Fundraising events linked to baby loss need to be handled with care.

The people taking part may be remembering a baby, supporting somebody close to them, raising awareness or helping Sands continue its vital work.

That means the medal cannot feel loud, generic or overly commercial. It needs to recognise the effort while respecting the meaning behind it.

Examples of sustainable wooden medals produced for Sands UK fundraising challenges.

About Sands UK

Sands supports people affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

Its work includes bereavement support, campaigning, research and helping improve maternity care so fewer families experience this devastating loss.

Fundraising events play an important part in that work. They bring people together, create space for remembrance and raise money that helps Sands continue supporting families.

The Challenge

Sands runs and supports a wide range of fundraising activities.

These can include walks, runs, swimming challenges, squat challenges and personal distance events completed in memory of a baby.

The medals therefore needed to be flexible enough to work across different activities while still feeling connected to Sands.

• Respect the sensitive purpose behind each event.
• Work across several types of fundraising challenge.
• Keep Sands branding clear and consistent.
• Stay manageable within a charity budget.
• Offer a more sustainable alternative to imported metal medals.

Why Wooden Medals Worked

Wooden medals gave Sands a warm and understated format that could be adapted for different fundraising campaigns.

The material supported a more considered finish, while custom artwork and ribbon options allowed each challenge to retain its own identity.

• Wood created a softer alternative to polished metal.
• Different challenge names could be included in the artwork.
• Custom ribbons helped reinforce Sands branding.
• The medals remained lightweight for postal and virtual events.
• UK production gave greater control over changes and repeat orders.

Different designs allowed Sands to support a range of fundraising events while keeping a consistent charity identity.

Protecting More of the Fundraising Income

Charity event budgets need to be treated differently from commercial race budgets.

Every unnecessary cost reduces the amount available for the cause itself.

Our charity pricing helps organisations such as Sands provide a meaningful participant reward while keeping more of the fundraising income available for support, campaigning and research.

Making One Medal Format Work Across Several Events

One useful part of this partnership is the ability to adapt a core medal style across different challenges.

Sands can retain its main visual identity while changing details such as:

• The fundraising activity or challenge name.
• The event year or completion wording.
• The ribbon colour or printed ribbon artwork.
• The specific campaign message.
• Whether the medal is used at a live or virtual event.

This reduces the need to reinvent the full design every time, while still giving participants something relevant to the challenge they completed.

What Other Charity Organisers Can Learn

The Sands partnership offers a useful model for charities running several fundraising campaigns each year.

• Create a core medal style that can be adapted across campaigns.
• Use ribbon customisation to distinguish different events.
• Keep the design respectful when the cause is sensitive.
• Choose lightweight medals for postal and virtual challenges.
• Agree charity pricing early so the event budget remains clear.
• Use one trusted supplier to keep branding consistent.

Consistency makes repeat fundraising events easier to manage and helps supporters recognise the charity immediately.

Case Study Summary

A selection of medal designs used across Sands fundraising campaigns.

The Result

Sands has been able to use sustainable wooden medals across a varied programme of fundraising activities.

Each medal gives supporters recognition for the effort they have made, while the adaptable designs help Sands retain a clear and consistent identity.

Most importantly, the awards remain suitable for the sensitive and meaningful reason many participants choose to take part.

Support Sands

Sands provides support, information and a community for people affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

You can learn more about its work, access support or contribute to its fundraising through the official Sands website.

Planning a Charity Fundraising Event?

If your charity is organising a walk, run, swim, virtual challenge or remembrance event, we can help you create a medal that fits the cause, audience and available budget.

Tell us about the event and we will suggest a practical design approach, including options for custom medals, adaptable campaign designs and charity pricing.