Whitworth High students win Youth Enterprise Challenge

Whitworth Community High School’s winning Youth Enterprise team with Deputy Headteacher Philip Donoghue

Students from Whitworth Community High School raised a terrific total for Rossendale Hospice to scoop the Youth Enterprise Challenge crown.

The Years 9 and 10 team organised a collection of events that when combined added up to £1,737.40.

This was the highest total of all participating schools and the second time the school has raised the most money in the three years that the fundraiser has been held.

The team of 10 bag packed, collected while the school’s play was performed and organised a Christmas hat and jumper day.

They arranged a party for pensioners with a free raffle, held a round £1-coin amnesty and asked people to collect spare change.

The final fundraiser was a rearranged Santa Dash around Hollingwortth Lake, Littleborough, which also raised money for Springhill Hospice.

Two students Liam O’Connor and Leoni Whitehead completed the course as did Head of Science, Tristan Kent. As the runners arrived back carols were played, despite the event being held in January.

Liam said: “The race should have taken place in December, but the paths were very icy and that made it too dangerous to be held.

“Around 600 runners took part and Mr Kent was first to complete the course while I came sixth.

“We launched a JustGiving page and used it to raise money around £160 for Springhill Hospice, because we have had family who have been in the hospice and £70 for Rossendale Hospice.”

Leoni said: “I had never run that sort of distance before, but I came in about 16th.”
The students also bag packed at Morrisons, while the school band played festive songs to the shoppers.

Jessica Fitzpatrick Smith said: “Doing the bag packing boosted my confidence because I was speaking to people that I didn’t know. They were very generous, and we raised a lot of money.”

As the school was being inspected by Ofsted at the time of the presentation evening at Alder Grange School, the students were unfortunately not able to attend and deliver their presentation.

In the first year of the competition Whitworth raised the most money and then in the second year the team won the award for the best community initiative.

The team was led by Deputy Headteacher Philip Donoghue.

He said: “They held a variety of small fundraisers, which all added up to a superb total.

Some of the more unusual donations were an old 1p coin, a one Euro coin and 10 Mexican pesos.”

Clare Richards, Head of Fundraising at Rossendale Hospice praised the students for their ‘enthusiasm, creativity and effort’, she said: “The challenge is now in its third year, and once again we have been overwhelmed by the effort, commitment and imagination shown by the pupils taking part.

“Through teamwork, practical skills and a lot of hard work they have raised an incredible amount of money and awareness for Rossendale Hospice and we can not thank them enough for that.”