Tag: Enterprise Challenge

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Young fundraisers turn bright ideas into big impact for hospice care

Young people across Tameside and Glossop have turned creativity and teamwork into vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice as part of an innovative initiative.

The Hospice’s Enterprise Challenge, taking place for the second successive year, encourages pupils to develop business skills by forming teams and using £25 of seed funding to create and run their own fundraising projects.

Activities included hot chocolate pop-up stalls, film fundraisers, darts tournaments, sweet cone sales and even a Christmas Fair.

The achievements of participating schools and colleges were recognised at a special awards ceremony held on Thursday 12th March at St Thomas More RC College in Denton.

The event brought together more than 100 attendees, including pupils, teachers, sponsors and distinguished guests.

Taking part this year were pupils from All Saints Catholic College; Ashlea House School; Ashton Sixth Form College; Corrie Primary School; Fairfield High School for Girls; Laurus Ryecroft; Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School; St Andrew’s CE Junior School; Samuel Laycock School; St Damian’s RC Science College; St Thomas More RC College, and Tameside College.

Hosted by local business leader and entrepreneur Tom Armstrong, the event was attended by the Civic Mayor of Tameside Councillor Shibley Alam, and her Consort Mohammed Khairul Alam.

Awards were presented by the Civic Mayor alongside main sponsors Energy & Carbon Reduction Solutions; Emma Alexander and Dean Kleban from Tameside Council; Hospice patron Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester; Hospice trustees Timothy Jackson, Chris Hinds, Stephen Giblin and Phill Brown MBE; and Business Innovation Advisor Pam Mistry.

Alongside main sponsors Energy & Carbon Reduction Solutions, the initiative was also kindly sponsored by Ashton United in the Community, Bennett Staff, Brother UK, Brother International, Casey Group, Denton & Audenshaw Rotary Club, Droylsden Glass, Foams 4 Sports Ltd, Inology IT, Millson Group, and Pilgrim’s.

St Thomas More RC College was named overall winner after pupils organised activities including a carol concert and a sponsored run.

Tameside College and All Saints Catholic College received the Most Creative Fundraising Idea Award, Corrie Primary School was awarded the Team Excellence Award, and St Andrew’s CE Junior School received both the Community and Inspire Award and the Sponsor’s Choice Award.

St Damian’s RC Science College picked up the Innovative Action Award, with Class 8JTS also securing the Top Branding Award. Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School received the Positive Impact Award, Fairfield High School for Girls was honoured with the Opportunity Award, and Ashlea House School was recognised with the Outstanding Achievement Award.

The ceremony also featured an inspiring speech from Niamh O’Hare, a Business Administration Apprentice at Tameside Council, who shared insights from her own journey, while Carl Shaw, Assistant Principal at Tameside College, provided valuable guidance on future education pathways available to students.

Tara Farren, Community and Events Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We are incredibly proud of every single pupil who took part in this year’s Enterprise Challenge.

“The creativity, enthusiasm and teamwork they have shown has been truly inspiring, and to raise over £14,000 is a fantastic achievement.

“Not only have they helped to fund one-and-a-half days of care for our patients and their families, they’ve also gained valuable skills and confidence that will benefit them in the future. We are so grateful to the schools, teachers and sponsors who have supported this year’s initiative.”

All funds raised will go towards providing compassionate, specialist care for patients from Tameside and Glossop with any life-limiting illness, and those closest to them.

Following this year’s success, the Hospice’s Enterprise Challenge will return for the 2026/27 academic year. Teachers, youth leaders and businesses interested in taking part or supporting the initiative can express their interest by visiting: https://willowwood.org.uk/echal-2026-27/

See more photos from the awards ceremony on our Facebook page here

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Willow Wood Enterprise Challenge raises over £12k

Willow Wood’s inaugural Enterprise Challenge initiative has helped to raise over £12,000 for the Hospice.

The Enterprise Challenge awards ceremony, which was held on Thursday 13th March at Clarendon Sixth Form College, celebrated the achievements of the local secondary schools that helped generate vital funds for the Hospice.

The schools who took part were All Saints Catholic College, Ashlea House School, St Thomas More RC College, Fairfield High School for Girls and St Damian’s RC Science College.

Hosted by Tameside Radio’s drivetime host Cameron Kennedy, the event had over 100 people in attendance, including the Civic Mayor of Tameside Councillor Betty Affleck and her Consort Declan Fitzpatrick.

The ten awards were presented by event sponsors, local business mentors, and Hospice patrons and trustees.

During their campaigns, pupils formed their own teams, each receiving £25 seed money to kickstart their fundraisers. They managed to grow their seed money into a larger sum, as well as utilising their creativity and entrepreneurial talents. Some of the pupils’ ideas included a car wash, selling loom bands, putting on a cinema, and holding a disco.

The overall winners were the Faith in Action team at St Thomas More RC Science College, who fully embraced the challenge and managed their seed money and reinvestment to raise a fantastic amount by building a relationship with their mentors and promoting some healthy competition between schools.

Paul, who was the Faith in Action team’s student leader, said on stage: “As a team, we planned two concerts, numerous sweet treat stalls and a sponsored run. We are extremely proud of raising over £1,200 to support the amazing work of Willow Wood Hospice. We want to thank all of Willow Wood and our sponsors Denton and Audenshaw Rotary, as well as Miss Hague and Mr Smith for supporting us.”

The main sponsors were Energy and Carbon Reduction Solutions Limited and the Union of Catholic Mothers in Stalybridge (St Peter’s and St Raphael’s Church) sponsored the awards evening.

Team sponsors and mentors were Inology IT, Denton and Audenshaw Rotary Club, Droylsden Glass, and Viking Office.

The awards and their winners were as follows:

  • Pioneer Fundraising Award – Ashlea House School
  • Innovation Award – St Damian’s RC Science College
  • Creative Arts Award – All Saints Catholic College (Year 11)
  • Market Insight Award – Fairfield High School for Girls
  • Sponsors Choice Award – All Saints Catholic College (Year 7)
  • Digital Impact Award – Ashlea House School
  • Strategic Investment Award – St Thomas More RC College (Faith in Action)
  • Social Enterprise Award – St Damian’s RC Science College
  • Endurance & Dedication Award – All Saints Catholic College (10W)
  • Overall Enterprise Challenge Award – St Thomas More (Faith in Action)

The guest speakers were Assistant Principal of Tameside College, Carl Shaw, and founder of Create & Craft Workshops, Cait Senior, who both gave inspiring speeches targeted to the young people in the audience.

St Damian’s RC Science College choir delivered an outstanding performance both before the ceremony and during the interval.

All of the schools and their pupils were celebrated for their incredible contributions to helping raise money for the Hospice.

Speaking about the event and how it went, Lucy Ta’ati, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “I think it went really well, and it just shows when people come together – the participants, the staff at the schools, our lovely sponsors, trustees and patrons, and of course our fabulous host Cameron Kennedy – we can really make something special.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their support – including Clarendon Sixth Form, Bhavna Parmar and Pam Mistry from The Innovation Hub at Tameside College, and Tesco Glossop and Tesco Stalybridge for donating refreshments.”

Community togetherness and support is of vital importance, and is a significant factor for raising awareness of the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne.

On this topic, Lucy added: “I think it’s massively important, and not just from a fundraising point of view. People out there need to know what services are available to them. It’s good for people to know that we’re there, we’re present in the community and people who are fundraising for us as well.

“It’s good for them to know that they are appreciated because without our third-party fundraisers and people helping us and supporting our events in the community, we wouldn’t be able to continue providing those services.”

Any teachers or leaders interested in their secondary school or youth group taking part in this year’s Enterprise Challenge can express their interest by visiting www.willowwood.org.uk/events/enterprise-challenge