Budding young entrepreneurs faced local businesspeople to pitch fundraising ideas for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) at a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event.
Students from Kingswood School, Bath - who are members of the CHSW) Young Ambassadors programme - put their fundraising ideas for the charity to a panel of local business leaders.
A team of 11 year 12 students from the school applied to join the programme, launched by CHSW’s Charlton Farm Hospice, and have undergone interviews, feedback and training from the charity over the last few months.
The fundraising ideas – which included a silent auction, craft event and a games day – were pitched to the panel which included Lizzie Heffer, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Thrings, Joshua Hale, Director at Bath Unlimited, Simon Jones, Chartered Financial Planner, Unividual and Alex Whiting, Managing Director, MiTEQ.
The Young Ambassadors Programme was launched 2 years ago, initially based at Hayesfield School, before moving to Kingswood School this academic year.
CHSW area fundraiser for Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Heidi Roberts said: “Myself and one of my volunteers, Julie Leyshon have been so impressed with how the Young Ambassadors have developed since their interviews and how they have grown in confidence having supported a ‘Networking & Art’ event in aid of CHSW at the school.
“The programme has received great praise from schools and we hope to roll it out further in the Bath area in the next academic year”.
As part of their involvement with the programme, The Young Ambassadors will also work to raise awareness of the charity across the Bath area and fundraise.
Kingswood School director of partnerships and community engagement Garrod Musto said: I am so pleased that Kingswood has developed this partnership with CHSW.
“As John Wesley’s founding school, we are committed at the school to follow in his footsteps and I think he would wholeheartedly support initiatives such as this.
“Visiting the hospice and speaking to the families who are supported by CHSW helped both staff and students at the school see just how special the charity really is.
“This was clearly evident when watching the recent Dragon’s Den style presentations.
“An initial group of nervous students, became inspired, committed young ambassadors who through their experiences at the hospice were empowered to create some amazing, innovative ways to support the charity in the coming months.
I am really proud of how the students have really challenged themselves and explored how they can make a difference for the young people and families CHSW support.
“I sense this is the start of something really special, and I can’t wait to see what Kingswood and CHSW can achieve together next year.”
Children's Hospice South West has been caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions for over 30 years, providing children's hospice and professional family support services.
The charity provides care and support to families living in the South West, who have children with life-limiting conditions including specialist palliative and hospice care for the whole family, a sibling support service for brothers and sisters, emergency support, end of life care and a bereavement service. To find out more about fundraising for CHSW please visit www.chsw.org.uk/getinvolved.