Karnival

Karnival is part of the University of Nottingham’s Student Union and is responsible for all the fundraising that takes place across Nottingham University. Karnival, often called Karni, is the largest student-run Rag in the world raising £688,458 for charity in 2007.

History
Karnival was set up in roughly 1956 as a Rag organisation for students studying at the University of Nottingham. It was originally named Carnival, presumably as a large carnival was the main fundraising activity that it organised. The name changed to Karnival, with a K, for aesthetics and now a carnival is no longer run each year. Karnival is now the leading student-run RAG in the world hosting events throughout the year and the only University RAG to participate in all year long. Mary Marsh, director of the NSPCC is a former Karnival director.

Organisation
Executives
Karnival is run by 10 final year students who each have specific areas of concern in the running of the organisation. These are currently:

Director: Henry C. Blanchard

Treasurer: Joe Edwards

Kontact: Robin Southwood

Events: Jessica Brandon & Tori McCall

Rag Raid Co-ordinator: Gunal Youssouf

Publicity: Sam Wilkinson

Promotions: James Rowe

Reps Liaison: Lizzie Goldsbrough

Logistics: Jimmy Dalton

Karnival Teams
There are 21 Karnival teams- most represent and are responsible for a specific Hall of Residence or campus within the University, however due to the insular nature of their degrees, Nurses, Medics, Midwives and Physiotherapists also have individual teams. Each Karnival team is made up of at least 6 representatives. These reps are responsible for running all events, promoting club-nights at clubs such as Oceana and running Rag Raids (charitable street collections). Charity profits are maximised due to the highly competitive nature of the competition, with the winning team announced at the annual Snowflake ball.

Money raised
The Money raised each year by Karnival is an amalgamation of all of the team totals, the money raised by and the money received through . In 2007 Karnival’s overall total was £688,458, up from £667,200 in 2006.

Rag Raids
Rag Raids take place across the country where students dress up in fancy dress to collect money off passers-by in the street. Karnival takes on average 850 students rag raiding each weekend between October and January. Karnival is the only Rag to take part in Rag Raids through out the year, with most Rags having a Rag week. Rag Raids raise a large bulk of the money that Karnival gives to charity each year. In 2007 £285,000 was raised from Rag Raids alone.

Events
Karnival events are split into two: smaller events that are run by Karni Reps for their peers; and larger, University-wide events that are run by the Exec and 'kommittees' that raise a larger amounts of money. There are 5 of the latter currently, and are called The Big 5. These are: Mr & Miss Nottingham Competitions, 7-Legged Bar Crawl, 5 go Dating and The Snowflake Ball.
Karnival currently holds a number of world records, including the longest line of dancing drag queens.

Mr & Miss Nottingham
Each Karni Team picks a competitor to take part in a competition to crown the King and Queen of Nottingham University. Every competitor displays a talent and the crowd and judges decide who will be crowned.

7-Legged Bar Crawl
The 7-Legged Bar Crawl takes place in the autumn term at Nottingham University. Teams of 7 students are entered into a bar crawl around Nottingham, where 6 of them are tied together by their legs, the other member of the team acting as guide/ drink buyer. Last year 4,550 people took part, making it the provisional entry in the 2009 Guiness Book of World Records for the World's largest bar crawl.

5 go Dating
5 go Dating is a speed dating night where various teams of 5 boys and 5 girls spend a night in a bar speed dating the opposite teams. Over 1000 people take part.

The Snowflake Ball

The Snowflake Ball is the largest ball at The University of Nottingham and marks the end of the Karnival year. The ball is for all involved with Karnival. The Team Totals are read out as well as the overall Karnival Total with various cups and awards given out. The Karnival Cup is given to the team who raised the most money overall, and the Rag Raid Cup to the team who raised the most through Rag Raiding.

Charities

The money that Karnival raises goes to a wide range of deserving charities- local, national and international. Karnival has strong links with many charities including The Royal British Legion, being its largest single contributor, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Help the Aged.

Kontact

Kontact is Karnival’s face in the local community. Kontact specifically works with disadvantaged groups in Nottingham giving Karnival’s support to those who need it as well as working with schools and groups in Nottingham to help provide funding for days out.

Sponsorship

Karnival receives a large chunk of its money through corporate sponsorship. Karnival is currently sponsored by , Millenium Volunteers and Manor Villages accommodation.

Awards
Karnival has been singled out many times for its outstanding contribution to charity. Karnival has received:

*"Best Large RAG" & "Mr RAG (Dave Willey, Director '05)"
UK RAG Awards 2006
*”RAG of the Year”
Breast Cancer Campaign Awards 2007
*”Best Large RAG” * “Top Rag-Raiding University”
UK RAG Awards 2007

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