Getting started

Upfayre already knows about every school in the UK, so you don't set one up from scratch: you find yours and claim it for your PTA. Then you ask one other person to join you on the committee, and you're ready to plan your first event.

Not a school PTA? Sports clubs, community groups and other fundraising organisations use Upfayre the same way. Where this guide says "PTA", read "club" or "group"; the menu uses your word too.

1. Create your account

Click Get started free at the top of our home page and fill in your name, email address and a password. You're signed in straight away. We'll email you a link to confirm your address. Do that within a week, and before you set up payments.

2. Find your school

Click Claim your school on your dashboard, or + Find or add a school or organisation at the bottom of the menu. Search by the school's name, town or postcode, and click your school when it appears.

Can't find it? Click Register a new one under the search box and tell us about it. We'll add it and let you know. That's also the way in for a club or group: Register a club, group or other organisation.

3. Claim it

On your school's page, click Claim this school, then Yes, that's me to confirm you're part of the PTA or fundraising committee.

If you're the first, you're on the committee straight away.

If somebody from your PTA got there first, you'll see their first names and an Ask the committee to add you button. Add a note so they know who you are. They'll get a request to add you, and we'll email you when they do.

4. Invite a co-chair

Events unlock once there are two people on your committee. It stops anyone taking over a school's page on their own, and it means there's always someone else who can pick things up.

Click People in the menu, then + Invite member. There are two ways to invite your co-chair:

• Send them a link. Share it by WhatsApp or text with the one person you'd like to run things with. When they open it and join, you'll get a request to confirm them. The link works once and lasts two weeks.
• Invite them by email. Type their address and tick Invite as committee member. They're on the committee as soon as they create their account.

5. Confirm them

When someone asks to join, you'll get a notification and a number on People in the menu. Open it and click Add to committee for your co-chair, or Add as member for anyone else who's helping.

That's it: with two of you on the committee, the + New event button appears at the top of the page and your school's Shop appears in the menu. Next, plan your first event.

Everyone else

Parents and helpers don't need to be on the committee to take part. Invite them as members from People, the same way. Committee members also get a single join link to share with a whole class or year group. Members can join events, take on tasks, sign up to rotas and join in the chat. Only the committee can create events, sell tickets and manage your PTA.

Your committee's own page is Manage PTA in the menu. It has your members, volunteers, documents, payments, settings and fundraising totals.