You may have seen GGG was recently announced that it has been chosen as the official charity partner of Glasgow University Charity Fashion Show. We asked the students at GUCFS to tell us a little bit more about the fashion show and everything they do.
What is GUCFS?
GUCFS is one of the biggest fundraising societies at the University of Glasgow. Our entirely student-run organisation chooses an annual charitable partner to support and works tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds and awareness, culminating in our fashion show.
What does GUCFS do?
GUCFS combines creativity and innovation to raise funds and awareness for our annual charitable partner. Our committee is divided into different teams, each providing a platform for students to gain professional skills and experience.
GUCFS fundraises in three main ways. Firstly, we hold many events throughout the year: bake sales, DJ nights, clothing popups and our ‘Jailbreak’ event. Jailbreak is a 2-day event in which small teams of students must get as far away from Glasgow as possible without spending any of their own money. This is an incredibly successful event, which last year saw students reaching as far as Lanzarote and Cyprus, raising a total of over £5000.
Secondly, each member of GUCFS creates their own individual fundraiser: in the past, this has been anything from marathons, to hairdressing and even skydives.
Thirdly, the annual show. The fashion show is our main fundraiser, in which our creative and production team recruit designers and entertainers to create an unforgettable experience for all those attending. In the past few years, this has been held at the SWG3 warehouse in Glasgow.
Who is involved in GUCFS?
The committee is made up of students from the University of Glasgow, but has included students from Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian Universities in the past. We have a hardworking and talented team, comprising positions in creative, finance, marketing, production and charity.
Soon, we will be recruiting brand ambassadors and models, positions open to all students with a passion for supporting local causes. Anyone can get involved with GUCFS through fundraising events and membership, just keep an eye on our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram!
Why did you pick GGG to be your charity of the year?
Glasgow’s Golden Generation presented itself as an ideal candidate for our 2020-21 charitable partner. GUCFS felt strongly that the work your charity does to help those who are isolated in their older years was essential and particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The locality of the charity is important to our society as it allows opportunities to witness first-hand the impact of Glasgow’s Golden Generation on the local community. The Befriending Service seemed a perfect way for GUCFS members to volunteer with the charity and to contribute in a way other than fundraising and promotion. The GUCFS team is excited for the year ahead.
What is GUCFS’ biggest achievement to date?
In 7 years, GUCFS has donated over £128,000 to their chosen charities. Last year. our campaign IN BLOOM raised a record-breaking £43,047.54 for Glasgow Women’s Aid. IN BLOOM was our most innovative and immersive project to date, being held in SWG3’s Galvanisers over two nights and attracting our largest audience yet.
What are you looking forward to most in the year ahead?
In the year ahead, GUCFS will be required to adapt to the new challenges brought by continued social distancing. We see this as an opportunity to innovate and have already begun to plan new and exciting ways to raise funds and awareness. This will ensure another year of financial success and community involvement, all in aid of Glasgow’s Golden Generation.
