Whitworth Community High School wins Hospice challenge

The winning Youth Enterprise Challenge team from Whitworth Community High School

Whitworth High School’s efforts to raise money for Rossendale Hospice were rewarded when they won a district competition.

Although Whitworth Community High School is smaller than most of Rossendale’s high schools, it’s big heart was evident when the team won the Youth Enterprise Challenge by raising the most money - £1,882.62, from an initial £50 donation.

The presentation was at Alder Grange School, when three of Whitworth’s team members Jak Foreman, Chloe Calderbank and Elle Gregson-Howorth presented their school’s charitable activities to a packed audience.

The students didn’t know how well they had done until all schools taking part had finished their presentations.

Chloe, 15, said: “At first it was a bit daunting, to be presenting in front of so many people, but I was proud of our school and what we had done and so I felt really good representing the school.

“I enjoyed the fundraising and I also enjoyed presenting it at the end, it was something I would never put myself forward to do, but I have gained a lot of confidence.”

The students used a small amount of the donation to bake cakes and sell them in school, held collections at school events, organised and ran a raffle at the senior citizens’ Christmas party and bag packed in Morrisons.

Their most successful fundraiser was a Santa Run in Manchester, involving Elle, 14, Alex Lord, 15, and her mum Caroline, the school’s exams officer.

Elle said: “I personally raised £130 but we didn’t know until a few days before the presentation that we had been backed by many of the businesses in Whitworth who we had approached and we raised £890.”

Jak said: “I helped out with the bag pack and I put a lot of ideas forward to the team of things we could do and organise. I also helped to promote and advertise what we were doing.”

The team will now be invited to visit Rossendale Hospice, which is based upstairs at Rossendale Primary Health Care Centre in Rawtenstall.

Chloe said: “I am looking forward to visiting the hospice to see how it is run and speak to the staff and people who use the hospice.

“My grandmother was in Springhill Hospice, but I have never been to Rossendale Hospice. We will also be able to see how the money we raised will be spent.”