PTA Podcast
Hello fellow PTA volunteers! I thought I would start a podcast to chat about the trials and tribulations of being a PTA Chair. Fundraising for schools is hard, and I want to try and give an honest view of how I am finding my role as a volunteer. Come and join in the conversation, hear what I have been up to in my PTA, and let me know how you are getting on.
Episodes
43 episodes
Ep 44 - The Weather!
In this episode, I talk about the dreaded subject of the weather and how weather-anxiety is a real thing if you are part of a PTA volunteer team! I acknowledge that we have no control over the weather so focus on things PTAs can control. I talk...
Ep 43 - 100% profit stalls
In this episode, I share some ideas about stalls you could use as part of an event which generate 100% profit for your PTA. I have grouped them into 3 loose categories - donation stalls, existing equipment stalls and home-made stalls. I have a ...
Ep 42 - Secondhand Book Sales
In this episode, I talk about why secondhand books sales are a great addition to your PTA funding, whether you have them as a standalone event or as a stall at a larger event. I have a few creative ideas for you about how to lay out your displa...
Ep 41 - Quiz Nights
In this episode, I share my experience of attending two quizzes each run by a different PTA. I talk through how the evenings were organised and highlight the similarities and difference between the two events. Then, I chat through some top tips...
Ep 40 - WBD chat and PTA Book Club is GO!
I'm talking to you from my car this episode as a shout out to other parents who have to wait for their child to finish a club! This episode is a catch-up about my World Book Day plus the announcement that our PTA Podcast virtual Book Club has n...
Ep 39 - Treasure Hunts
In this episode, I share my experience (and love!) for Treasure Hunts! I have created a number of different treasure hunts or scavenger hunts over the years, and I think they are a versatile and exciting activity to add into your fundraising ca...
Ep 38 - All about the numbers
In this short episode, I share a marketing idea with you - a different way that you can send out messages to parents. Instead of sending out more blocks of text, try and entice your parents to make small changes to support your PTA by focussing...
Ep 37 - Welcome to 2026!
Welcome to 2026! This episode is quick catch-up from me - I give you a brief update on my PTA activities from December and my plans going forward. I also pull out my highlights from the recent issue of the School Fundraising Magazine which has ...
Ep 36 - PTA Book Club introduction
Welcome to the PTA Podcast Book Club! This is just a little episode to introduce you to some PTA books that I will be talking about on my podcast. I have found some books which mention PTAs as part of their plot and I thought it would be fun to...
Ep 35 - A chat about grants with FundEd
Would you like to explore making grant applications a bit more? Or try reaching out to local businesses? Then this is the episode for you!In this episode, I chat to Richard Manville, the managing director of Community Inspired. His socia...
Ep 34 - A Christmas pep talk
This episode is split into two sections - some self-care tips for those of you feeling a bit overwhelmed with your Christmas fundraising, and then a little pep talk to remind yourself how great you are and how much your volunteering means to th...
Ep 32 - Cake sales Part 1
I think a cake sale is one of the foundations of fundraising - a very simple, straightforward event which keeps the money ticking in to your PTA. In this episode, I share my experiences of cake sales over the years I have been organising them. ...
Ep 31 - How to organise a Progressive Supper
Have you heard about a Progressive Supper before? This is a brilliant evening event which is perfect for the winter or spring months, and combines fundraising with a way of strengthening your parent community at school. In this episode, I chat ...
Ep 30 - PTA Podcast Playlist
Welcome back to a new school year!In this episode, we have a little catch up about summer holidays and what my PTA is working on at the moment. A new edition of the School Fundraising magazine has just come out, packed full of ideas and ...
Ep 29 - PTA Podcast Summer Fête Game!
Please note, I can't reply to texts, but I can to emails - hello@ptapodcast.comIn this episode, I give you a little catch-up on recent events with me, and announce that my son Patrick and I have ...
Ep 28 - Summer/Winter Fair Survival Guide!
Please note, I can't reply to texts, but I can to emails - hello@ptapodcast.comIn this episode, I share my tips on how to get through the organisation of a big event like a summer or winter fête....
Ep 27 - A chat with PTA+
Please note, I can't reply to texts, but I can to emails - hello@ptapodcast.comIn this episode, I chat to Carol Rogerson about the PTA+ website which is a unique resource for all things related t...
Ep 26 - Improving your event planning
Thank you for your message! Please note, if you text me I cannot reply directly to you, but I can if you use my email address below.In this episode, we have a look at the concept of marginal gains - a way of making tiny changes to variou...
Ep 25 - Our BIG library fundraising project
Thank you for your message! Please note, if you text me I cannot reply directly to you, but I can if you use my email address below.In this episode, I give you all the details about my proudest and biggest achievement when I was Chair of...
Ep 24 - Communicating with parents
Thank you for your message! Please note, if you text me I cannot reply directly to you, but I can if you use my email address below.In this episode, I reply to Evie who texted me and asked about Instagram. That made me think about the di...
Ep 23 - A chat with Superkind about online sponsorship
In this episode, I chat to Keren Mitchell about his website called Superkind (https://superkind.org/) which PTAs can use to gather sponsorship money and really put the children at the heart of fundraising. I...
Ep 22 - My Chair's Handover
In this episode, I share my experience of doing a handover to the next PTA Chair. It was all very straightforward in the end, as most of it is electronic now! Are you doing a handover, or will you have one coming up in the future? Have you had ...
Ep 21 - What happened at my AGM and EGM
In this episode, I update you on what happened as I tried to step down as Chair of my PTA. As you know from Episode 19, I was dreading my AGM with no one wanting to step up to the role. So this is my story about what happened and how it went. I...
Ep 20 - Festive Giftwrapping fundraiser
In this episode, I chat to my friend Eve about her gift-wrapping business and an idea about a festive fundraiser with a difference. Why not give a gift-wrapping evening a try to get parents together for a social occasion? We talk through how th...