High school students raise over £2,000 for hospice

A whole school glow dodgeball event was one of several fundraising activities which helped students raise more than £2,000 for Rossendale Hospice.

Twelve Year 10 members on the Youth Enterprise team from Whitworth Community High School came up with a series of imaginative ideas to make sure that every member of the school - students, teachers and support staff - helped to raise funds.

Sarah Fallon, 14, said: “We went to an evening at Alder Grange School to get an introduction to the challenge and then we came up with ideas. We had a lot of meetings after school to organise the events.

“We came up with the idea of having a teacher dress up day and the teachers loved it.”

At break and lunchtime, several teachers agreed to swap outfits and photo booths were set up so students could get a photo of themselves with their teacher in disguise.

Among the characters were the Mario Brothers, The Cat in the Hat, Badger, a pirate, a witch and even Vincent van Gogh – with missing ear.

Glow dodgeball was organised on the last day of term before Christmas and proved hugely popular.

Lucie Fitzpatrick, 14, said: “We charged £2 if students booked a place in advance, and £3 if they booked last minute; we raised around £900 that day and spent ages counting the money.”

Sarah also went door-to-door asking her neighbours if they wanted to contribute and the team used the £50 donation to buy raffle prizes for a fundraiser at the Christmas Concert and sweets for a bake sale.

At the bake sale the students received lots of donations. Lucie said: “As each year group came in they were swarming around the stall.

“Someone made an amazing chocolate cake and we also had home-made reindeer gingerbread biscuits. The sale raised another £400.”

Isla Baron, 14, said: “I enjoyed getting everybody involved in raising money for Rossendale Hospice because it is a good cause and a good local charity.

“Through taking part, I have learned leadership and teamwork skills and it has boosted my confidence.”

Isla, along with Hannah Henshaw, delivered talks in other year assemblies, so that all the students knew about the fundraising and how they could get involved.

The Youth Enterprise team split into different sub groups to organise all of the activities and Isla said these were determined based on the students’ own strengths and abilities.

Sarah said taking part had helped her with ideas for raising the £2,200 she needs to for a Guide cultural trip to South Korea.

All of the students will deliver part of the final presentation at Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall, on Tuesday 28 January.

Although Lucie is a little nervous of the presentation in front of up to 100 people, she said: “This process has taught me some independence as we broke off into different groups to organise events.”