JCI UK are proud to announce that our first National community campaign for 2020 is the much loved ‘Pound A Day’ challenge. 

The challenge was first run in 2013 and since then has taken place annually at the start of the year and after a short break in 2019, we’re so pleased to bring the campaign back in 2020 to show #ThePowerOfUS. 

Last year, it was announced that there are more foodbanks in the UK than McDonalds and in the last 5 years, the use of food banks has increased by 73%. This fact shows that more and more people and families in the UK are living in food poverty. 

This year we have decided to support The Trussell Trust – a national charity supporting a network of 1,200 food banks across the UK. Find out more about the charity and their vital work here.

Pound a Day stems from the first two of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and as a UN affiliated organisation, this is really key to everything we do. 

Sustainable Development Goal 1:

• End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Sustainable Development Goal 2:

• Seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms by 2030 and to achieve food security.

Despite progress, more than 815 million people worldwide still suffer from hunger. More than 14 million people in Britain live in households below the poverty line, with over half regularly going a whole day without eating, according to estimates of hunger in the UK.

JCI UK would like to help raise not only funds but awareness. By taking part in our Pound a Day challenge you will be empowering us to tackle this increasing issue head on.

Whether you’re taking part for the first time or need a refresher from a previous year, below are the rules for the Pound a Day Challenge!

• Your £7 weekly budget has to include both food and drink.
• You donate the difference between your £7 budget and your normal food and drink spend and donate it through the Just Giving page .
• You can use basic seasonings of salt and pepper from your cupboard. However, you cannot use additional spices such as chilli and garlic unless you buy them from your budget.
• You can use oil for cooking purposes, but only in small quantities. It cannot be used in large amounts for things such as salad dressings unless you purchase it specifically for such dishes.
• You cannot use sauces or condiments such as mayonnaise or ketchup unless you purchase them from your £7 budget.
• You can buy items that come in large quantities, such as tea bags, split it and exclude the percentage of money for the amount taken out. However, you must declare this before the event and make sure you are not tempted to cheat and dip into the part that is from outside your budget!

Ways to get involved

• Undertake the full challenge using the rules above.  We encourage this one the most as part of the challenge is understanding what it is like to live on such a small budget, as many people in the UK do.
• If you do not feel able to commit to the full challenge, consider giving up a luxury items, such as alcohol or your daily coffee and donate what you would have spent.
• Sponsor other members taking part.

Registering for the Challenge

Register by making your donation (cost of your normal weekly shop minus £7) to the Just Giving page. 

Let us know what you’re doing

We are big fans of active social networking so, whether funny or serious, get posting!

We want to see your shopping list, recipe ideas and meal photos. We also want to know how you’re doing throughout the event; is it easy? Are you struggling? Use #JCIUKPoundADay to share ideas and to keep each other motivated.

Participants are taking on a mighty challenge by doing this event and personally making valuable contributions to charity. So spread the word about what you’re doing. Share the Just Giving link and get friends, family and colleagues to give up something small and donate the money in support of what you’re doing. If they don’t want to give something up then they can just make a donation as sponsorship.

Read more about £1 A Day 2018 here – https://www.jciuk.org.uk/team-uk-we-did-it-again-pound-a-day-success/