Frequently asked questions

Your Account and Other Questions

Do I have to register to make a donation?

You do not have to register to make a donation.

Can I register without a photo?

Yes. If you do not wish to provide a photo an image of the Inspire a Star logo will appear on your profile page.

Can I register without a video?

Yes. You do not need to provide a video for your profile page to be approved.

What happens if I have forgotten my login name or password?

If you have forgotten your login name or password please click on the Login tab at the top of the page and click on forgotten login name or password. We will re-send a link to the e mail account that you used when you registered on the site.

Are you on Facebook or Twitter?

Yes – we are on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook  – we have two accounts “Inspire A Star” and “Inspire a Star Australia”.

Twitter – we have two accounts –  @Inspireastar and @InspireaStarAus

How can I contact you?

You can contact us by e mail at info@inspireastar.com.au or by completing the box  found under the tab below “Contact Us”.

What should I do if I see an offensive photo or message on the site?

Please go to the “Contact Us” tab at the bottom of the page and let us know where the offensive photograph or text appears and the time and date you have seen it.

Sponsoring a Star

How do I make a donation?

Once you have found the Star you are looking for, click on the donate button on the right of the screen.  From this page you can fill in your information and donate the amount you wish to.

How do I find the Star I am looking for?

There is a search box at the top of the website that allows you to search for a Star by their name, location or sport. Should you need to make an advanced search you can do so on the Sponsor a Star page.

How do I make an anonymous donation?

When you are making a donation there is a tick box that will allow you to make your donation anonymously.

Can I leave a message for the person?

Yes you are able to leave a message for the Star when you make your donation.

Can I change or remove the message I have left?

You are not able to change, amend or remove any message that you have left when making your donation.

If I make a donation can I share this on my Facebook page?

When you make a donation you will be asked if you would like to share this on your Facebook page.

What happens if I sponsor a Star and they do not reach their target?

If the Star does not reach their target and the campaign is set-up as a flexible campaign,  the funds raised less the Inspire a Star administration fee of 5% and the Stripe transaction costs will be transferred to their or their parent or guardian’s bank account. They will be asked to spend the funds raised on their specified sport and let donors know how they were spent. For example if they have asked for a week at a tennis academy but only raise half of the funds they may use the funds to have individual coaching lessons or a number of group lessons.

How do I know the Star is who they say they are?

In the majority of cases you are likely to know or be a friend of someone who knows the Star being sponsored. If you do not then it may be wise to check whether the person has links to their social media sites which mention what they are hoping to do or if they are a highly rated athlete check their rating on their sports governing website. We undertake random checks but are not able to guarantee that the individual is who they say they are or that they will use the donation for their stated purpose.

If I am based in a different country to the Star can I still make a gift?

If you are based in a different country you are able to support a start by using your credit or debit card.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Inspire a Star is not a registered charity so for individuals we do not believe donations are deductible. Companies should seek their own tax  advice as to ascertain whether donations will qualify as promotional expenditure.

Are there any additional charges for me when I make a donation?

When you make your donation there are no additional charges for you. The platform fee and finance charges we incur are taken from the amount raised. The fees are under the section “Help – Becoming s Star – are there any other fees?”

Becoming a Star

How do I get going?

You should collate information about the price of your coaching or equipment, where you will do your coaching and the start date. You should also make sure you have a photo of yourself playing or ready to play your selected sport. Once you have these details please click on Become a Star at the top of the web page.

Who can create a profile and become a Star?

If you are 18 or under or still in full-time education you can register your profile on the site. If you are under 16 you need your parent or guardian to enter their details at the end of the create your profile page.

What currencies can I raise money in?

Rising stars can raise funds in Great British Pounds £ Sterling on this platform.  Rising stars in Australia can raise funds in Australian $ on our sister platform www.inspireastar.com.au. If you are looking to raise money in another currency, please send us an e mail and let us know. We will be offering stars in other countries the opportunity to join soon.

Will you check the information that I provide?

For Stars requesting less than £1,000 we verify the information provided for a sample of the population. For Stars requesting more than £1,000  we undertake more detailed checks.

Is there a limit to how much money I can request?

If you are a beginner or new to a sport we would not normally expect you to be asking to raise more than £1,000. If you are already excelling at your chosen sport and are competing at a high level you may need to raise more money for fees for academies, international travel and equipment of higher specification. Where requests are made for  more than  £1,000 further verification checks will be carried out before a profile is released to the live site.

How do I edit my page?

To edit your page you must login to the site. You should then click on the tab “Edit my page”. You are able to edit your page before the page is published live on the site.

How do I extend my page?

To extend your page deadline you must login to the site. Once you are logged in you should click “Edit my deadline”. You are not able to extend your deadline beyond 60 days.

How much does it cost to register?

It is completely FREE to register your profile on the Inspire a Star website. If you do not raise any money you pay nothing.

Are there any other fees?

If you raise money on the website Inspire a Star charges an administration fee of 5% of the amount raised for the use of the platform. In addition our payment provider Stripe charges a fee for the processing of transactions. Stripe charge a fee in the UK of 1.4% plus 20p a transaction for domestic card payments. For non-European  cards the Stripe fee is 2.9%.  Please refer to the Terms & Conditions. If you do not raise any money you will not be charged for using the Inspire a Star platform.

When can I share my page on Facebook?

Once you have received your Profile link you can share your page on Facebook.

How do I increase my fundraising?

Sometimes it can help with increasing the amount of your funds raised if you send updates to the people who have supported you thanking them and keeping them updated with your progress. It is best to send  a few updates during your campaign to reach out to your  your friends, contacts and followers. Do not bombard them with messages as this may discourage them from supporting you in the future. You are able to send updates from your profile dashboard.

When do I receive the funds raised?

Inspire a Star will transfer your share of the funds  raised (i.e. after the Inspire a Star 5% fee and the Stripe finance charges) within 7 days of the end of the campaign deadline. Sometimes bank transfers happen instantaneously and sometimes they take a few days.

What happens if I do not reach my fund raising target in time?

If you do not reach your target before your deadline is reached and your campaign is an “all or nothing” campaign you will receive nothing. If you do not reach your fundraising target and you have a “flexible” campaign, you will still receive your share of the funds raised (that is after the Inspire a Star 5% fee and the Stripe finance charges).

How do I send a thank you message?

You can send a thank you message by logging on to the site and sending a note from your dashboard. It is an important step in the process to thank the people that have supported you.

When can I register another page on the site?

You can register another page on the site the day after your previous page has reached the “Close date”.

Can a team register on the site?

Yes a team can register on the site. One member of the team should complete the profile on behalf of the whole team. You should select Team under the heading Page Type on the Create your Profile page. Team members can be listed in the “Your story or sporting dreams” box on the profile page. Please include a photo of the whole team or most of the members. All team members can share the link with their Facebook friends.