A Substack raffle charity fundraiser!
£1788 RAISED FOR PRACTICAL ACTION! 🎉 Annual subscriptions to 55 BESTSELLING NEWSLETTERS were won
Hi! This is Leyla from A Day Well Spent, a newsletter seeking pathways to more purposeful living.
Saturday 9th March update
I am truly overjoyed and humbled to share that the International Women’s Day Substack raffle fundraiser I’ve been running for two weeks, which ended at 23:55 on Friday 8th March, raised a total of £1788 for Practical Action.
Both Practical Action and I are completely overwhelmed by the generosity that has been shown.
To the 55 creatives who donated an annual subscription to their newsletter, which made this raffle possible in the first place — THANK YOU.
To every person who shared the raffle – on social media, in DMs, linked to it in their own Substack posts, mentioned it in passing – THANK YOU.
And to the 145+ people who bought tickets –
Matt A, Laura M, Lisa R, Lynn F, Trudi GW, William S, Jonny M, Emma C, Martin H, Gavin D, Aine OF, Candi M, BTien, Nadege K, Mex I, Simone D, Marilia B, Zach B, John K, Sophie R, Celia L, Tim E, Roseanne C, Cindy OD, Lynette C, Lauren P, Emma K, Alexandra G, Lucy C, Tugba A, Sally P, LJ F, Diana SB, Alicia N, Milli H, Soozi B, Sally E, Kelly G, Madeleine H, Caroline D, NB, Naomi S, Claire V, Bethany E, Dawud M, Hilary C, Bianca G, Katie S, Melanie DAB, Manasi K, Shim H, Ella B, Anjali N, Isabel M, Caroline A, Jennifer R, Ellen, Christina A, Rachel B, Sian, Tanyel K, Vanessa D, Judy W, Jennifer E, Michelle N, Marika W, Jane C, Helen K, Kathleen C, Angie, Colette M, Milly KR, Cynical V, Anne B, Julia K, Colette D, Ama U, Hannah M, Charleen W, Michael C, Jodie B, Kim W, Jeffrey S, Bo BO, Libby E, Mary A, Lousie S, Mel L, Rachel H, Sharon B, Farrah S, Helen B, Mikey R, Claire V, Sarah M, Veronica F, Ranji T, LJ G, Cecilia, Matthew L, Brittany S, Amy W, Nia T, Dorothea A, Rachel H, Truth J, Sarah T, Viviane M, Sue M, Jo T, Sheila D, Michelle F, Andrea H, Sarah G, Sarah, Rachel H, Emma P, Tasha G, Deepika V, Hanna H, Nishad S, Lauren W, Suzie T, Natascha M, Sophia, Sally G, Rosie, Eva M, Nicole W, Kate M, Rosie B, Sofia L, Kirsty AS, Kate L, Sandra LB, Karen C, Sorcha B, Paul D, Marilia B, Natasha F, Eliza S, Charlotte G, Lindsay J, Lauren P , Vivek M, Sam R, Rachel G
– THANK YOU a thousand times.
This really was a huge and joint team effort. The vast majority of purchases came from people already on the Substack network, which goes to show just how strong the community is here.
Important info for the winners!
The full list of winners can be seen on the raffle page (scroll down). Congratulations to you all! If you are not yet sure if you have won, please check your tickets.
IMPORTANT: In order for funds to be released to Practical Action as quickly as possible, all 55 winners must press the ‘Accept’ button on their winning tickets. If even one person doesn’t do this, we have to wait a whole 21 days before funds are released.
You do this by viewing your tickets here. Your winning tickets will be displayed in green and you need to click on them to accept and claim.
Winners do not need to take any further action in order to redeem their prize. However, they must have accepted their prizes as above before I do the next step below.
How prizes are redeemed
Winners will be provided with their Substack subscription via the email they used to buy their raffle tickets. Please do not send me an email, there is no need. I have the full list of winners and their email addresses already.
Over the next week, I will personally be contacting each newsletter author to provide them with the email address of their winner, to be added to their database as a complimentary annual subscriber. The winners will then receive a Welcome email in their inbox and hey presto, prize redeemed.
If you happen to already be a monthly paying subscriber to the newsletter you have won, your subscription will be changed to a complimentary annual. And if you happen to already be an annual paying subscriber to the newsletter you have won, you will be granted a complimentary year once the current one runs out.
A few words from Practical Action
This is what they wanted to share with you all after hearing the final total fundraised for their vital work:
“We can't put into words how blown away we are by all the support. We want you to know how thankful we are for spreading the message and learning about what Practical Action does.
Every share and every ticket bought is helping us to work with people to develop innovative and practical ways to be safer when climate events like floods happen, to keep making a living, keep growing nutritious food and to live safely, even as climate change impacts are becoming more intense. A heartfelt thank you, and happy International Women’s Day!”
— the entire Practical Action team
And a final note of thanks from me for all your patience. I have shouted about and shared the raffle a lot over the past two weeks. Apologies if it ever felt spammy. I promise I won’t mention the word raffle again for many, many months.
Thank you all again. You guys are the best.
📢 I’m running a Substack raffle charity fundraiser!
I am the proud ambassador for the incredible development charity Practical Action who build sustainable lives and livelihoods with people on the frontlines of poverty and climate change.
Most of their extremely important and global work is done through women and so to celebrate International Women's Day on Friday 8th March — and raise money for their vital work — I’m running an online raffle that will last for just two weeks.
📢 The prizes
Annual subscriptions to 55 of the biggest and brightest bestselling newsletters on Substack!
The topics of these newsletters are hugely diverse including: food and drink, culture, writing, gardening, comedy, creativity, history, travel, careers, wellbeing, science, parenthood, poetry, social commentary, art, books and lots more.1
Take a look at the full list further down.
📢 What we are asking from you
We want this raffle to raise as much money as possible for Practical Action.
So we’re calling on every single one of you reading this to do either, or ideally both, of the following:
1. 💥 BUY TICKETS 💥
As many as you are able to. There is so much incredible writing to be discovered from the list of newsletter prizes. You will be raising funds for an important cause and showing your support for women. Your name will also be listed on the raffle! And you will have our gratitude forever.
Don’t miss: the early bird ticket bundles for the first few days only — buy tickets, get some free = increased chances of winning!
Global entry and all proceeds go to Practical Action.
2. 💥 SHARE THIS POST 💥
On WhatsApp / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Notes / LinkedIn, slide into DMs, forward the email to friends and family, link to it in your own articles, cross-post it, share the infographics - send it far and wide, help it go around the world!
If you’d like a Substack Note to re-share, you can re-share this one.
📢 What Practical Action do
They believe that where there’s action, there’s hope.
That's why they work with communities to find solutions that work for them, from climate-smart agriculture to renewable energy. And because women are often the hardest hit by poverty and climate change, they focus on working with them so they can lead the way.
Together they are proving that innovation and cooperation can conquer any challenge. You can take a look at some of their projects.
Here are 7 reasons why Practical Action focus on gender equality:
If you’d like some further reading, here’s an in-depth report on their gender work.
📢 What Practical Action say
They are so stoked about this whole thing.
Here’s a lovely message from CEO Sarah Roberts:
📢 My relationship with Practical Action
I was first introduced to Practical Action when in 2021, one of their colourful leaflets fell out of an issue of Permaculture Magazine (which I have a subscription to — best magazine ever).
I had never heard of them before. And I had also never previously resonated so strongly with the ethos or work of a charity. I knew I had to help them get their word out. So I sent them an email and the rest is history. Here’s me explaining this story.
I have since fundraised for them by summiting Mount Kilimanjaro and hosting three different supper clubs with some of my favourite chefs (one, two and three). I have also hosted panel discussions at festivals, talked about them on live radio, and more.
Practical Action empower whole communities to lift themselves out of poverty and everyone should know about the incredible work they do.
📢 The Substack subscription raffle prizes
To the prizes! Annual subscriptions to the following 55 bestselling (meaning they have an orange tick) newsletters will be won.
Collectively, these writers have hundreds of thousands of subscribers and the retail price for these subscriptions is in the thousands!
- by - a newsletter seeking pathways to more purposeful living. Words about self-empowerment, slow and sustainable living and personal fulfilment and growth. By BBC presenter, writer and journalist Leyla Kazim.
- by - easy but elevated recipes, carefully curated recommendations and writing on food and travel, eating out, interiors, coastal living.
- by - recipes, stories and unsolicited advice from alison roman
- by - social commentary and essays from career to mental wellbeing, capturing the general WTF of life and topical news, by award-winning author, former HuffPost Exec editor and lifter of heavy weights, Poorna Bell.
- by - essays, art and inspiration from an American writer in Paris
- by - A place to be human, together
- by - The internet’s most intimate, illuminating interviews with today’s greatest writers — get an in-depth look into the craft of writing and what it means to be a heart-centred human in a hard world.
- by - Absurd, honest comedy delivered twice a weekish through the vulnerable personal essays of Alex Dobrenko: tv actor+wrtier to some, father to one, and friend to all.
- by - The adventures, insights and travel tops of a gay digital nomad couple exploring the world. A “Substack Featured” Newsletter! Also seen on CBS Sunday Morning and CNN.com
- with - New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers writes about unlearning societal conditioning, living authentically, and how to actually change your life.
- by - Journey to the faraway.
- by - top recipe, restaurant and wine tips to help you eat and drink better more cheaply and more joyfully.
- by - a newsletter about seeing more, feeling more and asking better questions. Curiosity makes everything better - but can it be *learned*? Let's find out.
- by - a cultural confessional, a kvetch sesh and a manifesto on the relationship between aesthetics, economies and individuals.
- by - a curated mix of images and ideas
- by - A community of curious and creative readers. Slow book groups reading Leo Tolstoy and Hilary Mantel. Fiction by Simon Haisell.
- by - self-promotion challenge based on the 52 PR Tips prompt cards | Personal essays on everything from midlife relocation and agency owner to part-time solopreneurship and creative living.
- by - Live drawing sessions for everyone. Helping artists come out of their shells and connect through drawing together. Workshops, art advice and feedback from a kind, supportive community.
- by - writer in London working in a tiny indie London bookshop + latest news from my book - Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes
- by - I write about hearth and home, baking and cooking, walks and biking, my garden and chickens, and a simple life in the Pacific Northwest. I'm also a James Beard nominated author, culinary teacher, and speaker.
- by - writer, mother and creative. Kat River is a thriving symposium for the Mothers, The Makers and the Mystics. Designed to be an honest exploration of the dance between Motherhood, Creativity and self inquiry into optimism.
- by - Taking the Recipe Development process from behind the scenes directly to you. Part toolkit, part love letter to food, this is a deep dive into dessert and pastries
- by - Stories and recipes from my kitchen in Tuscany | Seasonal, uncomplicated, nourishing, vegetable-forward food by Tuscan food writer and cookbook author
- by - This is heart work.
- by - sharing stories from her seaside village in SW France, trips to the market, weekly recipes and updates on her house renovation.
- by - Beautiful rooms and expert interior design advice from the best-selling author and founder of the award-winning blog madaboutthehouse.com
- by - food from plot to plate: writing a book live on Substack, by multi-award winning author and photographer of Otter Farm, once of River Cottage
- by - Three verticals: Memoir Monday: A collaboration among Granta, Guernica, Narratively, The Rumpus, Orion Magazine, The Walrus, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, Oldster Magazine; First Person Singular original essays; The Lit Lab interviews + craft essays
- by - I give you permission to live your best life and advice on exactly how to do it, drawn from my internationally bestselling series of sweary self-help books. Paid subscribers get a weekly dose of NFG realness direct to their inboxes. Boop.
- by - Substack Featured and Bestselling Newsletter! Join renegade historian Dr. Annette Laing on her witty history mystery tour.
- by - Exploring what it means to travel through time in a human body, at every phase of life.
- by - deepening your practice of poetry, writing and wonder.
- by - notes on the delicious things in life
- by - Stories for people who enjoy humor with a side of humanity and a dash of insight.
- by - searching for magic and meaning — notes from my writing desk and beyond. A space for seekers of everyday beauty.
- by - a space to help you stay creative on Substack! Twice monthly space holding (co-working, workshops, chat, teaching), posts, threads, podcasts and ALL the tools to help enhance your journey to growth in a joyful sustainable way!
- by - The Insider’s Guide to Success on Substack — get subscribers, earn an income, produce your best work and build the career you want. Join a community of 9000+ Substack writers helping each other succeed.
- by - New writing from the award-winning author, psychologist and mythologist. A gathering place for hags, lovers of myth, fairy tales and archetypal psychology, and all those seeking the enchanted life.
- by - helping create a sustainable path forward for authors to build businesses that allow them to thrive and lives that light them up inside.
- by - a newsletter and community for wild minds, winterers and enchantment-seekers with internationally bestselling author Katherine May.
- by - Step into our salad laboratory. We got your leafy greens, your grains, your veg and protein. Plus: salady guests, salady books and recipes, recipes, recipes.
- by - I’m a garden designer, sharing all the gardening lessons I’ve learned along the way. Including: how to design your garden, gardening how-to tips, visits to inspirational gardens and flower shows, plant advice, all within a VERY friendly community.
- by - The Hyphen is an independent newsletter for curious readers from Sunday Times Bestselling author Emma Gannon. On books, work, wellbeing & creativity. "One of Britain’s most prominent Substack writers" —The Times
- by - The Mule is the newsletter of bestselling non-fiction author Milli Hill. It’s a vigorous hybrid of motherhood, feminism, the female body, sex and gender, writing, publishing and life.
- by - Reflections on motherhood, creative ambition, cultural re=conditioning and surrender. Sometimes sassy, sometimes tender, the mess is intentional and the through-line is uplift.
- by - Parker Molloy’s award-winning exploration of what the past and present says about the future of media and culture.
- by - Women don’t vanish over 40. Who knew?! Amplifying and celebrating the voices of women in midlife and beyond by the former editor of Red, Cosmopolitan and Just 17.
- by - From Alonement author and podcaster Francesca Specter, an online publication examining the hidden rules and stories that shape our lives.
- by - Secretly drawn art of the world, delivered to your inbox.
- by - the no BS guide to the products worth owning, the relationships worth having and the healing worth doing… from the Sunday Times bestselling author of ‘Why Did You Stay? A Memoir About Self-Worth’.
- by - A smart new corner of the internet to talk fashion, feelings and creativity with the former editor-in-chief of ELLE & Cosmopolitan. Plus join my invite-only community. We're nice...I promise.
- by - An expert-backed exploration of the many truths of motherhood — from two journalists and maternal health advocates.
- by - Stories, anecdotes, wise proverbs and foolish thoughts, literary musings, insights and conversations centred around my personal, unpublished notebooks.
- by - a coven for collective liberation. Live a more connected, aligned, magical and purposeful life whilst also making a difference in the world.
- by - for people who do language
Global entry and all proceeds go to Practical Action.
📢 Raffle details
Tickets: £3
Entry: global
Raffle ends: 23:55 GMT Fri 8th March
90% of ticket sales goes directly to Practical Action (10% charge by the raffle hosting platform)
Raffall (the platform the raffle is hosted on) is a trusted third party platform I have used for fundraising before
Winners are automatically and randomly selected by the platform
Once the raffle ends on 8th March, Raffall will send an email to all participants to advise that the draw has taken place and as a reminder to check the status of tickets — each participant is responsible for checking their own tickets
Draw notification emails are sent from security-noreply@raffall.com which can sometimes end up in spam, so please keep a look out for it
📢 Details for winners
IMPORTANT: In order for funds to be released to Practical Action as quickly as possible, all 55 winners must mark their prize as accepted. If even one person doesn’t do this, we have to wait a whole 21 days before funds are released
Winners will be provided with their Substack subscription via the email they use to buy their raffle tickets
If a winner already happens to be a paying subscriber to the newsletter they win, their subscription will be changed to a complimentary annual
I will personally be contacting each newsletter author to provide them with the email address of their winner, to be added to their database as a complimentary annual subscriber. The winners will then receive a Welcome email in their inbox and hey presto, prize redeemed.
Thank you to all involved in getting this set-up, for the Practical Action team for creating the amazing graphics and for everyone who shares this post and more importantly, buys tickets.
You are all wonderful and both Practical Action and I are forever grateful.
Now let’s raise a whole load of money.
Hello, new here?
I’m Leyla, a BBC presenter, writer and journalist. You can usually find me on the TV and radio (and Instagram) but A Day Well Spent is where I share my view on the world. This is a newsletter for people seeking pathways to purposeful living and the common threads are self-empowerment, personal fulfilment and growth and ways of slow and sustainable living.
If you crave these things too, this could be the place for you. It would be my pleasure to welcome you into the fold.
A huge and everlasting thank you to all the generous writers and creatives who donated a subscription to this cause.
U are one of this people that let me without words, because I don’t think I could find a proper word to describe ur humanity, empathy and kindness. And even know I don’t now if this are right words to use.
What a great list – honoured to be part of it and to support this wonderful cause.