twestival local - Tweet.Meet.Give. - March 24, 2011

Twestivals are real community events. You may start out with just a good idea and a small team of organisers but it soon grows. By the time the day has arrived people you’ve never even heard of are tweeting and promoting for you or getting in touch with offers to help out and provide raffle prizes.

On the night even more people turn up. Some you know, some you recognise from their avatars and some seem to spring out of nowhere just because they’re local and they liked the sound of your event.

For the Cheltenham Twestival team, unpopularity and the thought of letting down our charity, Grow, were our biggest fears. Luckily, Cheltenham is a very supportive town and we needn’t have worried! Around 140 people turned up to listen to the music and play at the casino tables organised by the Cheltenham Twestival team and Grow.

We got local bands to perform including Saskia Says, who had a set streamed live across the globe thanks to the expertise of another local company, Firehoop. We found local sponsors for a banner; a local designer to create posters and flyers; local businesses donated raffle prizes; and our venue kindly offered 2-4-1 on beer and cocktails as well as half price food to keep the crowds happy.

It all seems rather appropriate that our local charity Grow aims to build a sense of community in the young people they help by providing mentoring and vocational training for the unemployed. The event could only have been successful with community involvement and this we managed to achieve on a grand scale.

Following a donation this morning, we’ve reached a total of £1000 raised through a combination of event and raffle ticket sales and donations. There are still calls on Twitter for people who enjoyed the night to donate more and these have been answered long after the special offers and raffle prizes diminished.

Now we’ve set the precedent, next year can only be bigger and better!

Many thanks to everyone who helped including: Jonathan Pollinger, Kym Swire and the Grow team, Chris Roberts, Adrian Malpass, Rachel Pictor Roberts, Elliott Richmond, John V Denley, Karl Newman and the bar staff at D’Fly, raffle organiser Wendy Lavender, raffle ticket seller Amy Brunsdon, doorman Simon Shirley-Rollison, doorwoman Lucy Parkinson, croupiers Will and Dan, Saskia Says, Tetrazine, Steve Jemmott, Firehoop, glosjobs.co.uk, all the businesses who donated prizes and anyone who turned up and put their hand in their pocket for Grow!

Start at 7.30pm upstairs in D'Fly - tickets will be on sale on the door but please buy your ticket in advance (select Get Tickets button above right) if you can to avoid queuing. 

Then!...

• 2 fab bands - Saskia Says (pop) 8pm,11pm and Tetrazene 9.45pm (jazz funk) plus singer Steve Jemmott 8.30pm (covers)
• Amazing raffle - over 25 prizes worth over £3500
• Casino tables - roulette and blackjack
• Drinks deals - 2-4-1 on cocktails and beer
• Food deal - 50% off food which will be served upstairs
• Live streaming of the Global event with Cheltenham LIVE at 11pm.
• Plus checkin on Facebook or Foursquare for a chance to win dinner for 2 at D'fly!
• Plus you can win a bottle of whisky by winning most chips at the casino!

Here is the list of prizes that you could win by buying a £2 ticket in the raffle. The draw will be held at Cheltenham Twestival at 11pm on 24 March in D'Fly. All proceeds from the raffle, ticket sales and other fund raising goes to local charity Grow.

E-commerce business appraisal worth £1500 - e-tailwebstoresClutch Bag - Foundation

• Shoe Cleaning Materials - Adcock Shoes
• All in one Baby Outfit - Pretty Special
• Wild Fig Grape Soap - Maison Chaplais
• Calligraphy Pens - Dodwells
• 30 minute golf lesson - Golf Professional, Oli Leett
• Baby Shoes - Bath Road Shoes
• Bottle of Ruinart Champagne - Storemova
• Dine with Wine Voucher for two - Brasserie Blanc
• 1 Month peak family racquets membership worth £180.00 - Esporta
• Pamper day for two in Tranquility Spa worth £100 - Esporta
• Two Club Tickets and Car Park Label for Cheltenham races 13 or 14 April - Cheltenham Racecourse
• Interior Design Consultation worth £100 - Beltaine Designs 
• One Hour Garden Design Consultation value £100 - Capability
• Exclusive Outdoor Family Shoot plus 16 x 20 Canvas - Blooming Photography
• Free function Hire worth £50 for a party - Brown Jug
• Sunday Lunch for two worth £25 - Brown Jug
• 2 course dinner and psychic show Ticket for Friday 1 April - Brown Jug
• Steak dinner for one - Brown Jug
• Training course voucher worth £80 - The Brand Button
• Twitter Masterclass - Intranet Future 13th April worth £57
• johnwillfixit.com - 4 hours of fixing time
• Annual subscription to Cotswold Life - Cotswold Life
• 25% off any Service or product over the value of £30.00 - In-visioin hairdressers
• Pole Dancing Class (usual value £10) - Zigs Exercise
• Pilates Class (usual value £9) - Zigs Exercise 
• Personal Training Session (usual value £35) - Zigs Exercise
• PowerPlate Session (usual value £20) - Zigs Exercise

The only way you can win the above prizes is to BUY TICKETS for Cheltenham Twestival.

You can also win dinner for two at D'Fly by checking in to Cheltenham Twestival on Foursquare or Facebook.

Plus you can win a bottle of whisky by winning most chips at the casino!

Welcome to the Cheltenham Twestival blog where you can find out all the information you need to participate in this great event. You can volunteer to help out with organising, help publicise the event, attend Cheltenham Twestival but whatever you do we need you to DONATE. Details of our JustGiving Page will be available very soon.

100% of all monies raised with go to Grow, a Cheltenham charity whose mission is to improve the lives of people in Cheltenham who are disadvantaged or excluded from society. Grow aims to:

• to provide vocational training to young people not in training or employment
• to provide mentors to our beneficiaries
• to provide a vibrant and thriving environment
• to build confidence and a sense of worth

We are working hard on putting together the Cheltenham Twestival party which will take place on 24 March at DFly, Bar and Restaurant. The event will include live music from Saskia Gregory, casino tables, a raffle and 2-4-1 on all cocktails.

.BUY TICKETS HERE