About Unique Fundraising
Unique Fundraising are a leading face-to-face fundraising agency that help charities create personalised and impactful donor experiences. Since 2010, their dedicated team of fundraising experts have been helping charitable organisations maximise their fundraising potential, and make a real difference.
Our Partnership with Unique
At VST Venues, our main purpose is to create the space for great work to happen. Working with F2F agencies like Unique Fundraising, whose purpose and mission align so closely with ours, allow us both to advance towards our shared goals. Together we’re connecting charities with the best possible fundraising venues, helping them reach the right people ethically, effectively and affordably.
To better highlight the work we’ve done together, we spoke with their Executive Finance Director, Vanessa Barlow. Learn more about our partnership, and just how we’ve helped Unique Fundraising below:
Tell us a little bit about Unique Fundraising and what first led you to choose VST Venues to support your venue booking needs?
“At Unique Fundraising, we pride ourselves on connecting passionate, professional face to face fundraisers with the causes that matter most. Working with the top charities in the UK. Our mission is to provide professional, reliable, ethical, and effective fundraising solutions that create real impact and that align with our values. When it came to securing high-quality venues and promotional spaces for our campaigns, we needed a partner who not only understood our goals but could also deliver results. That’s what led us to VST Venues. Their reputation for professionalism and their understanding of the fundraising landscape made them an ideal choice.”
Their Challenge
Before working with VST Venues, what challenges did your fundraising team(s) face when securing promotional spaces?
“Before working with VST Venues, our booking co-ordinators often faced a number of logistical hurdles when it came to booking venues, especially in supermarkets. We were spending valuable time managing bookings across multiple locations and dealing with inconsistent access and terms. It was clear that we needed a more streamlined, scalable solution to support our growing operations.”
Were there any specific goals you wanted to achieve by partnering with VST?
“One of our main goals in partnering with VST Venues was to increase the number of high-footfall locations, especially supermarkets and superstores available to our fundraisers, while reducing the administrative load on our internal team. We were also looking to build longer-term relationships with venues that aligned with our brand and values.”
Our Solution
How did VST Venues provide the solution to your challenge?
VST Venues stepped in and immediately brought structure, expertise, and consistency to our venue booking process. Their wide network of trusted venue partners meant we were quickly able to secure prime locations, supermarkets and superstores for our campaigns – often in areas that were previously difficult for us to access.
Are there any specific aspects of their service that stood out?
“What stood out most was their proactive communication and genuine understanding of our needs. They weren’t just filling space – they were strategically working with our booking co-ordinators to place our fundraisers where they’d be most successful. This collaborative approach ensured our teams were always positioned for maximum impact. Their booking system is also very efficient, easy to use, and their team is consistently responsive, solutions-focused, and a pleasure to work with.”
The Impact
How has your partnership with VST Venues evolved over time?
“Over time, our relationship with VST Venues has grown into a true partnership. They’ve become an integral part of our operations, and we now rely on them for a significant portion of our venue booking strategy.”
What results have you seen since partnering with VST Venues?
“Since partnering with VST Venues, we’ve seen a measurable increase in fundraiser productivity and campaign reach. Our booking co-ordinators, area managers and fundraisers are more confident knowing they’re set up for success at well-vetted venues.”
What role do you see VST Venues playing in your future plans?
“Looking ahead, we see VST Venues continuing to play a central role in our growth. As we expand into new regions and campaigns, we’re confident they’ll be there to support us every step of the way.”
Can you share a moment that made you feel confident in the partnership?
“One moment that really confirmed the strength of this partnership is during last-minute campaign demands and changes. VST Venues always go above and beyond to secure multiple high-quality locations in record time – allowing us to launch on schedule without compromising quality in these situations.”
Have you been able to achieve your desired goals since working together?
“Yes, we’ve absolutely achieved our goals since partnering with VST. One of our key objectives was to gain consistent access to high-quality, high-footfall venues across the country, and VST has delivered time and again. By working closely with our booking co-ordinators, they’ve streamlined our operations, reduced admin time, and placed our fundraisers in locations where they can thrive. This has led to improved fundraising performance and more efficient use of resources, allowing us to focus on delivering excellent campaigns for our charity partners.”
Testimonial
If you were to recommend VST Venues to someone, what would you say?
“If you’re looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and proactive partner to support your venue booking needs, I’d highly recommend VST Venues. They take the time to understand your goals, work collaboratively with your team, and consistently deliver high-quality locations that set your campaigns up for success. That said, their team is always just a phone call or email away, and they’ve been incredibly responsive.”
How you would describe your overall experience working with VST Venues
“Working with VST Venues has been a consistently positive and professional experience. They’ve become a trusted extension of our team – reliable, responsive, and genuinely committed to helping us succeed. Their support has made a real difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of our campaigns.”
Client feedback:
”"VST Venues has transformed the way we secure fundraising spaces. They understand our goals and consistently place our fundraisers in high-quality, high-footfall locations.
Working with them has streamlined our operations and given our team the confidence to focus on fundraising, knowing the venue logistics are in expert hands. They’re reliable, proactive in communication, and we couldn’t recommend them more highly."
Vanessa BarlowExecutive Finance Director (Unique Fundraising)
