BEd charity week 2011

In March 2011, we held our third annual BEd community and charity week. The successful charity fundraising week was organised by our BEd current stage one and two students. This year we are proud to have raised £4,659.79 for our chosen charity Barnardo's. Over the past three years we have raised over £13,000, and our donation was the largest of any other degree programme nationwide last year.

What activities we planned for the event

Students planned and then took part in many exciting events throughout the charity week. These included:

a sponsored 24 hour bowl,
sponsored walks,
bag packing at local supermarkets: Morrisons and Sainsburys
a games day.
fun pub quiz,
band night
and the Barnardo's Benefit organised by our stage two committee, including live music and performances from the universities Cheerleading and Dance teams.

Many of our students also got involved in money collecting activities. Some students even braved Derby city centre on a busy Friday morning collecting for Barnardo's in fancy dress!

Our annual charity week enables our students to work collaboratively and cooperatively to raise awareness and funds for a worthwhile charity. You can learn a great deal from the different events and presentations throughout the week:

What our students say

Helen, who is a current student in stage two said:
"...the talks by Barnardo's really brought home and expressed how some children are living within the UK. These talks really put into perspective what we were raising money for...The examples given from the Local [Barnardo's Family] Services proves what a little amount we give can create a big difference in people's lives."

Rebecca, who is a current student in stage two:
Rebecca found some of the case studies shocking and the presentations increased her knowledge of the causes of poverty and the potential impact on children's lives. On a professional level Rebecca said: "It has increased my understanding of how to recognise children who may be living in poverty and how to begin to help them as well as who to contact for advice, support and intervention."

One of our committee members explored the wider impact on the transferable professional skills such as the need to be organised:
"I waste no time now in getting things out of the way that I understand need doing sooner rather than later." She has also stated that she has developed her resilience when facing some difficulties and that she also "...feel[s] happier knowing I have helped out and look back and feel proud to have done it, and proud that I have it in me."