These expeditions and challenges aren't possible without the support of companies, organisations and individuals.
To the right you can see the logos of all of the companies who have supported us. Click the logo to see more of a description, and as the expedition goes on we daresay they might be some relevant photos on each page, too!
We don't expect anything for free and we work hard to ensure that all the support we receive is made worthwhile. Carrying out unique expeditions is our bread and butter, but if we didn't honour our sponsorship agreements we couldn't make what we do sustainable.
Here's what we can do in return for your support:
- Branding and details of sponsorship on www.thegreatbigpaddle.com
- A promise that we will strive to gain local and national media coverage, in addition to taking advantage of Internat networking resources
- Product placement and individual product mini-films in project documentaries and online video diaries (to be placed on www.thegreatbigpaddle.com and other forum sites, including YouTube, Vimeo and National Geographic Adventure)
- Tags and links to your website product pages (if relevant) in all videos featuring your sponsored product that feature on our YouTube channel
- Regular mentions in project blog, Facebook and twitter feeds
- Thanks in project newsletters
- Press releases connecting the expedition to your Cotswold store in local and trade press
- Logos on paddling transport (kayaks, paddles, canoes, stand up boards) and support vehicles
- Personal visits to talk to staff/ provision of water-bound activity for staff team-building courses
- For sponsors with retail outlets, we can produce a short documentary (with emphasis on product placement) for in-store screenings
- Thanks and credits in any books and documentaries resulting from the project
So why should you help?
There are a number of reasons. Firstly, for social philanthropy, if you want to call it that. Expeditions like ours are wonderful for self-fulfilment (there will always be a little selfishness here) but we're passionate about the areas through which we travel and want to share that. We also have a charity project that we've committed to for the long haul, and our journeys will raise money for the implementation of all manner of solar and water projects in the developing world through the AV Foundation. Your support means we can get on with the important stuff.
Also - and successes of our past expeditions and projects lend proof to this - by achieving our own goals we help others to achieve theirs. Pehaps through inspiration, often through advice, but mainly because if we can do it then others realise that they can do it too. Your help and support lets us do what we do best, and this means getting more people on the water and paddling further ourselves (which serves to attract more focus to the project).
Logistics - What We Need
Apart from the 'philanthropy', how can you benefit?
We're not interested in just jumping into our kayak(s) and paddling gently off into the distance. If we were this website wouldn't exist. Quite simply, we want to make some noise about what we're doing and why. We want to show that these things are possible. We want to educate anyone who will listen about the world we live in and travel through. We want to encourage people to think positively, to pass on their knowledge and experience, to be happy.
Your support helps us to concentrate on getting the word out, cracking media coverage and promoting The Great Big Paddle instead of spending our time earning magic beans to pay for stuff. And the more noise we make, the more we can do to thank you for your support. Towards the top of this page you may have already read about the type of things we can do for anyone who supports us - it was at the top of the page because it's important to us to make what we do sustainable and professional. We also like new ideas, so if you have any thoughts about what you'd like in return for your support of our activites just let us know. The details matter to us, and despite the occasional tongue-in-cheek line on this website we hope you understand that we mean business. Take a look at Dave's website to see what kind of media atttention he's scuttled together for previous endeavours, and have a look at his biggest project to date, BoardFree. Just visit the sponsors page - these types of companies don't get involved with any old gig... If you think you could help, please get in touch, it would be very nice to hear from you.
We have regular promotional leaflets and merchandise which we distribute to thousands of people each month. Below are current options for this class of sponsorship. Contact press@thegreatbigpaddle.com
- A5 postcard leaflets x £10,000 = £250
We estimate a total of £50,000 is required to enact the entire Great Big Paddle Project, including the expeditions, filming and community work alongside the journeys. We welcome new ideas, and if you would like to support us but would prefer to discuss a unique route for your sponsorship we'd be more than happy to discuss this with you. If you're intruiged by The Great Big Paddle but not yet sold on our worth for corporate sponsorship, please drop Dave an email or give him a call on 07872 986084. Cash Donations
We welcome cash donations, but equally as important are product sponsorship packages. Advertise on this website
Support the Great Big Paddle through simple advertising. We receive between 200 and 1000 visitors to the site each day at present, and expect this to rise to regular hits between 4000 and 100,000 as the project journeys begin in later summer 2009. £250pm - Primary advertising banner (150w x 400h pixel click-through) placement on <70% of website pages, including top-two placement on homepage rotation banner.
£100pm - Primary advertising banner (150w x 400h pixel click-through) placement on <50% of website pages, including top-three placement on homepage rotation banner.
£0 - Exchange website links (click here) Full details of sponsor packages available on request. We are flexible and open to suggestions from potential sponsors. We have the right to decline sponsorship requests that we deem not relevant or suitable for the merits or morals of The Great Big Paddle. |
