Year 12 and 13 students at Abbey College Manchester recently put their entrepreneurial skills to the test by taking part in an innovative charity challenge, raising much-needed funds for a host of charitable organisations.
Each tutor group at the city centre-based school was tasked with developing a business plan to support a charity of their choice, starting with a modest £10 seed loan. The challenge encouraged creativity, with some groups producing engaging video content in a bid to compete for a coveted place in the college’s very own ‘Dragon’s Den’.
Five teams progressed to the final stage, presenting their ideas to a panel of judges and answering probing questions to secure additional funding to bring their projects to life. Brandon Wood’s tutor group impressed the panel the most, securing an extra £30 loan to kickstart their fundraising efforts.
The anticipated challenge inspired a flurry of fundraising activities across the college including FIFA competitions, chess tournaments and raffles. One tutor group even shaved off their tutor’s moustache and beard selling tickets to watch.
The overall winners were Nicky Cathery’s tutor group, who raised an impressive £797.59 for Shine, a charity providing specialist support, advice and community for everyone affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus across the UK. The group organised the highly anticipated Great Abbey Bake Off, with staff members and students paying to take part. The baked entries were judged by Paul and Alex, with Maddie claiming first place for her delicious cake. She was awarded a beautiful handmade trophy made by Mika, and all entries were then sold at a bake sale to raise further funds.
In total, a significant £1,257.08 was raised, with the college community supporting a range of charities including Shine, Manchester based homeless charity Mustard Tree, UNICEF, Alzheimer’s Society and Feed Manchester. Elliot Henchy’s tutor group finished in second place, followed by Brandon Wood’s group in third.
Nicky Cathery and her tutees were awarded the coveted prize for the most money raised, while Brandon Wood and his group were recognised as the best team players. Individual awards were also presented to Chi, Mika and Brandon Wood for their outstanding contribution.
Chris Randell, Principal at Abbey College Manchester commented: “The students have shown incredible creativity, teamwork and community spirit throughout this fundraising challenge. The fundraising activities are a fantastic example of how learning extends beyond the classroom here at Abbey College Manchester. Students have developed important skills such as problem-solving, entrepreneurial and financial planning, while working collaboratively to make a real difference for charities that matter to them.”
The college is hosting an A Level taster morning on Wednesday 4 February, to register please visit: https://www.abbeymanchester.co.uk/admissions/taster-morning/
Abbey College Manchester, part of the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges, is a thriving independent college in the heart of Manchester city centre, with a fast-growing and vibrant community of students aged 15-19.
With a teaching philosophy based on small classes and highly personalised learning in an academically rigorous but informal setting, the college focuses on the transition from school to university, working with students individually to achieve the academic standards and social skills required by their target and world-class universities. Abbey College Manchester also expertly prepares students for challenging courses such as medicine. The flexible programmes and personalised learning, combined with a strong academic ethos, offer a unique alternative to traditional schools.
There are 220 students at the college, comprising a mix of students from the local area and other countries. The college offers A-Level, GCSE, Combined Studies and International Foundation Programmes.
For more information on Abbey College visit www.abbeymanchester.co.uk, or call 0161 817 2700.
