# Review of ‘Knickers Model’s Own’

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/06/27/review-knickers-models/
- Published: 2016-06-27T16:55:53+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The remarkable one-year fundraising campaign ‘Knickers Model’s Own’ by Caroline
Jones has been commemorated in book form by Cancer Research UK.**

 

Ms Jones dressed in different clothes every day for one year, buying them all from
her local Cancer Research UK or other charity shops. She set up a JustGiving page,
and was suddenly covered in local and national press.

## Advertisement

 

Here are some thoughts on how she and Cancer Research UK have made the most of this
book to encourage further fundraising and donations.

 

## 1. A one-person campaign

 

Jones’ campaign was one person’s idea, not that of a charity. These are the kinds
of supporters that charities should work hard to inspire, discover and support.

 

![Cover image by Rankin](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/05/rsz_cover_26-
2.jpg)

Cover image by Rankin

 

## 2. Cause to the front

 

The campaign might have focused on creative, affordable, even frugal fashion, but
the book reminds us throughout of the personal story behind the campaign, and the
cause. Caroline Jones was given a CRUK researcher’s lab coat – and has now embraced
that as everyday clothing – with a little personalisation.

 

 [⌊Jones was given a CRUK researcher's lab coat⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6878.jpg)

 

## 3. Ask

 

The book is of course highly visual, capturing Jones’ daily photos of her find and
creation. But she also includes direct asks to invite people to keep the giving 
going.

 

 [⌊Charity shops thrive because of the kindness and generosity of donors.⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6876.jpg)

 

 

 

## 4. Fundraising need not be hard

 

Much of what Jones achieved was done simply by shopping at her local Cancer Research
UK shop in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

 

Her idea took off and got national attention, but at heart it was a simple, local
initiative. That’s worth reminding other supporters of: you don’t have to go on 
an overseas challenge to raise funds for your favourite charity.

 

 [⌊95 per cent of my finds were discovered at my local Harpenden Cancer Research UK shop⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6875.jpg)

 

 

 

## 5. Cause to the front (ii)

 

 [⌊Many of Jones' daily fashion photos⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6874.jpg)

 

Many of Jones’ daily fashion photos, which she shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,
feature CRUK venues and the logo. And in this image it included that all important
call-to-action: “donate”.

 

 

 

## 6. Inspire others

 

 [⌊Here Jones reminds us that they often stock a remarkable range of items⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6877.jpg)

 

Some charity shop chains are often sophisticated trading operations, with skilled
managers and expert volunteers. Here Jones reminds us that they often stock a remarkable
range of items, in her case, a remarkable range of fashion labels and designers.

 

 

 

## 7. Got to have a hashtag

 

 [⌊a hashtag makes it easy for supporters to spot your activity and share your campaign⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6870.jpg)

 

If your campaign is primarily online, even if it’s just a one-person campaign, a
hashtag makes it easy for supporters – and the beneficiary charity – to spot your
activity and share it.

 

 

 

## 8. Let others say how good you are

 

 [⌊Award to Caroline Jones of a UK Point of Light from the Prime Minister⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6867.jpg)

 

Some self-belief and confidence is essential, but sharing what other people say 
about you is usually much more powerful and effective. That is certainly the case
if the Prime Minister recognises you for your voluntary fundraising with an award
of a Point of Light!

 

 

 

## 9. Cause to the front (iii)

 

 [⌊Volunteering is far from bottom of the list⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6866.jpg)

 

There are so many ways to give. Volunteering is far from bottom of the list.

 

 

 

## 10. Give PR support

 

 [⌊Cancer Research UK's PR team spotted the popularity of Jones' campaign early on⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6863.jpg)

 

Cancer Research UK’s PR team spotted the popularity of Jones’ campaign early on,
so were able to bring their skills and media contacts to bear to advise her and 
help amplify her campaign even further.

 

 

## 11. Fundraise, and fundraise again

 

 [⌊Jones and CRUK decided to recycle her fundraising by donating the clothes again for a special charity sale⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6872.jpg)

 

Having bought and enjoyed the garments, Jones and CRUK decided to recycle her fundraising
by donating the clothes again for a special charity sale.

 

 

 

## 12. Explain how it is done

 

 [⌊Jones attempts to explain how to demystify the process of how she managed to achieve a one-person fundraising success.⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6871.jpg)

 

Jones attempts to explain how charity shops and to demystify the process of how 
she managed to achieve a one-person fundraising success.

 

 

 

## 13. Sell your story

 

 [⌊All of the profits are going to Cancer Research UK⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6855.jpg)

 

Of course, the story of Caroline Jones’ success is itself being sold, with all of
the profits going to Cancer Research UK.

 

 

 

## 14. Storytelling and inspiration

 

 [⌊Dedicated to Jones’ mother Mary⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6856.jpg)

 

While this is a book about one person’s successful fundraising campaign, it is really
the story of another woman – Jones’ mother Mary. The whole fundraising campaign 
and indeed this book are the product of Jones’ love for her mother and her grief
at her death from cancer.

 

 

 

## 15. There’s more than one way to ask

 

 [⌊Just in case you'd missed the fact that this book is about fundraising⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6857.jpg)

 

Just in case you’d missed the fact that this book is about fundraising, on its contents
page is an insert from Cancer Research UK encourage readers to shop and fundraise
via its eBay shop.

 

 

 

## 16. Celebrities help reach wider audiences

 

 [⌊Plenty of fashion industry workers and celebrities were inspired by Caroline Jones' fundraising campaign⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6858.jpg)

 

Plenty of fashion industry workers and celebrities were inspired by Caroline Jones’
fundraising campaign. Some donated their skills and others contributed to the book
to tell her story.

 

 

 

## 17. Results

 

 [⌊Fundraising is about raising funds⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6859.jpg)

 

Fundraising is about raising funds. Caroline Jones raised the profile of CRUK, but
she also raised over £50,000 with her simple but striking fundraising idea.

 

 

 

## 18. How to do it

 

 [⌊The power of Knickers Model's Own is its simplicity⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6860.jpg)

 

The power of Knickers Model’s Own is its simplicity. Jones published on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram. But it is the quality of her idea, and the story behind it
that helped her stand out.

 

 

 

## 19. Know your audience

 

 [⌊The book was visual, frugal, and relevant and indeed inspiring to many people⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6861-1.jpg)

 

The book is about a successful fundraising campaign and the story behind it. But
it’s also a book about fashion – that’s what helped Jones’ campaign stand out. It
was visual, frugal, and relevant and indeed inspiring to many people.

 

So the book is packed with Jones’ fashion tips and insights.

 

 

 

Not surprisingly, some of these tips include visiting your local Cancer Research
UK shop!

 

 [⌊ Some of the tips include visiting your local Cancer Research UK shop⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6864.jpg)

 

## 20. Cause to the front (iv)

 

 [⌊Jones took many opportunities to link her daily fashion find with the cause she was supporting⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6865.jpg)

 

As you read through the book you realise just how many opportunities Jones took 
to link her daily fashion find with the cause she was supporting.

 

## 21. And more

 

 [⌊ the best kind of fundraising  is the kind that lives on and generates more.⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/06/img_6873.jpg)

 

Knickers Model’s Own has given Caroline Jones many new opportunities including further
involvement with Cancer Research UK. That’s the best kind of fundraising – the kind
that lives on and generates more.

 * **[Slimming World raises £2.1 million with 2016 Clothes Throw](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/07/20/slimming-world-raises-2-1m-2016-clothes-throw/)**(
   20 July 2016)
 * **[TK Maxx raises £25.5 million for Cancer Research UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/09/01/tk-maxx-raises-25-5m-cancer-research-uk/)**(
   1 September 2016)
 * **[ScottishPower film celebrates £10 million raised for Cancer Research UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/04/scottishpower-film-celebrates-10m-raised-cancer-research-uk/)**(
   4 November 2016)

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