Raising Money For Macmillan Cancer Support – World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

It is that time of year again for many of us in the UK, the time where we raise money for a wonderful cause. Macmillan’s worlds biggest coffee morning is an annual event that is designed to help raise awareness and funds for the research of cancer in the UK. In 2021, the event saw Macmillan raise over £11 million. The event has been a mainstay since 1990 demonstrating the history of the event and why a commercial catering establishment should strongly consider getting involved. One of the biggest misconceptions that people who learn about this event makes is that they believe that only Macmillan can host a worlds biggest coffee morning event, this isn’t the case as seen on Macmillan’s official website where it explicitly states that ‘A coffee morning can be whatever you want it to be… whatever suits you best’. So with that out of the way lets explore ways in which you can incorporate this annual event into your establishment. Creating A Theme Obviously, the theme of the event has already been distinguished (raising money for Macmillan cancer research) however this isn’t the only theme that needs to be agreed on. Decorative theme plays a crucial part in the happiness and engagement of guests, for the décor guests will respond best if the balance between cluttered and bare can be found. Customers will feel more at home and comfortable if they can relate or appreciate their surroundings. This should be an important factor in the decor decision made for this upcoming event. This doesn’t necessarily mean that changes have to be made in your establishment if you feel that the current patterns or theme is suitable for the occasion however we at Alliance Online would highly recommend any restauranteurs looking to participate in this to review the styles and colours that are currently implemented and evaluate whether changes will be needed. We would suggest using lighter tones such as pastel colours to convey a calming and upbeat environment as this is a coffee morning and a fundraising event. Decorative patterns can also be found in the tableware and dinnerware options of a restaurant or café. The napkins, cutlery and banqueting roll will often be something that is synonymous with an establishment, an example being the crockery at Weatherspoon’s, from the name alone anyone who has been to a Weatherspoon’s and some who haven’t will picture the distinctive crockery they use, this is an example of the impact of imagery. So, for the world’s biggest coffee morning on 30^th September we would strongly urge a catering establishment to peruse the Alliance Online website for potential offerings, we would recommend the Swantex Lunch napkins, colour is dependent on your preferences, but we believe that whites, creams or pinks would be ideal for this event. Cutlery, Crockery and Foods So what does a coffee morning actually entail? It is actually rather straightforward, the reason for this is because it is up to the discretion of the establishment running the event. Most coffee mornings will usually offer foods like cake or even meals, coffee is obviously a key aspect of a coffee morning with drinks being drunk throughout generally it will be coffee, tea, orange juice or other drinks you would deem suitable for the event. As briefly mentioned further up the importance of getting the crockery and cutlery right for any event is of paramount importance and should be thought out extensively as each aspect of a customers experience should fit like a puzzle into creating the best experience a guest can have overall. The crockery should reflect the mood and presentation of the event, for a happy and rewarding event like the Macmillan world’s biggest coffee morning an establishment should strongly consider using the Plain white porcelain range or the Churchill stonecast range (the colours can be dependent on the theme already established previously with the goal being a range that will contrast well with the atmosphere and environment. Games and More It can’t all just be drinking and eating though, as there are various games that are commonly associated with the worlds biggest coffee morning. Games such as find Colin the Caterpillar is a staple of any Macmillan coffee morning event. So to help with anyone planning on hosting their own worlds biggest coffee morning event we will detail some games that should be considered. Colin the Caterpillar game – The idea for this game is for the guests to find Colin somewhere in the establishment, the game is suitable for as many guests as you like and should be a mainstay of your event. The notion for this game is that there would be a suggested voluntary donation that is up to the owners discretion, but we and Macmillan would suggest £2 with the money going to Macmillan. Baking Competition – In spirit of the upcoming return of the Nations favourite baking tv show we look towards a baking competition that will allow for customers and guests to get involved with the proceedings. Same as the Colin the Caterpillar game, we would suggest that any number of people can enter and there should be a £2 suggested donation with the judges giving out a prize at the end for the winner. Colin the Caterpillar Quiz – A very basic and simple premise that has won peoples hearts for years now, how many sprinkles are on Colin the Caterpillars back? Once again anyone over the age of 16 can enter and any number of people can enter the competition. Prizes should be given out to the person that guesses the closest and we would suggest that there should be a suggested donation of £2 with all donations collected going to Macmillan. Coffee Morning Quiz – The coffee morning quiz provides entertainment and insight into the coffee morning experience. You can create your own quiz or use the template provided on the Macmillan Website that follows:

1. Which two colours form the alternate check pattern in the sponge of a Battenberg?

Pink and Yellow

2. What kind of oranges are used to make marmalade?

Seville Oranges

3. In which coffee would you find hot chocolate?

Mocha

4. Which three sauces make up Prawn Cocktail Sauce?

Mayonnaise, Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce

5. In which season do people traditionally drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes?

Autumn

6. Cheddar cheese originates from which British county?

Somerset

7. Which sponge or butter cake is named after a Portuguese wine?

Madeira Cake

8. Focaccia originates from which country?

Italy Here at Alliance Online we fully understand and appreciate the issues that many restauranteurs are currently facing with the rising living costs. We believe that the Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is an important event during the calendar year and should be hosted. If you are interested in providing a coffee morning event in your establishment, please refer to this Macmillan page where you can find more information.