City College students on charity fundraising blitz!

21 February 2008

In one week, students from City College have donated nearly £3,000 to charitable causes. Hospitality and Event Management foundation degree students at the College have raised £1,376 to the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent. The charity cares for children and young people with cancer through nurses, social workers, play therapists, research, financial support and holidays. The students organised a fundraising Burns Night dinner-dance at the Old Market in Hove and for the event, fifteen of them each took on various roles including Head Chef, Marketing, Finance/Budgeting, Events Manager and Charity Liaison. Student Isobel Roberts says:

'A CLIC Sargent nurse visited the College and gave us an insight into the work they do so we're really pleased with the amount of money that we've been able to contribute. It was more than we were expecting to raise so it's been a very successful endeavour.'

CLIC Sargent's Community Fundraising Manager Dan Powell says:

'It was a fantastic effort by the students. We've a nurse and a social worker who are based in Brighton so the money will go towards supporting vital services such as that.'

Also this week, students from the catering department donated £663 which they'd raised in a raffle to The Ark Foundation. The charity was set up for the purpose of educating the hospitality industry's students, employees and management about the dangers of alcohol dependency and other drug misuse. Jamie Oliver is the honorary vice-chairman of the charity and has described Ark seminars as being '? a vital part of our industry, a training tool as imperative as learning how to make pasta or braise a piece of lamb.' Students presented their cheque to Ark's consultant Ken Crosland who has first-hand experience of the dangers of alcohol and drugs through his time working in a number of New York's top restaurants and clubs and during his sales management career in media and entertainment. He has subsequently been in recovery for almost ten years. Ken says:

'This money is the lifeblood of the charity but even more important is the absolutely amazing commitment the students have put in to it, and the direction and support given by the staff at the College. I come to City College once a year to deliver the industry awareness seminar on alcohol and drugs. The College is amazingly supportive and the seminar is always well received by the students so to have this kind of support given in return is terrific.'

Meanwhile, another team of Hospitality and Event Management students spent twelve weeks organising a highly successful Fashion and Art Show to raise funds for local homeless charity, Off the Fence. The charity provides vital services to the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community. It works in the four areas of street homelessness, women at risk, education, and provides supported accommodation for vulnerable young people. Off The Fence staff are supported by an enthusiastic and committed group of more than fifty volunteers. In a presentation attended by Mayor of Brighton and Hove Carol Theobald, students handed over a cheque for £700 to Director of the charity, Paul Young. Paul says:

'The students laid on a fantastic evening which I really enjoyed and we really appreciate everything they've done. For a local charity, the difference this money can make is immense. After all the hard work and organisation the students have put into their fundraising, we'll be able to translate that into saving peoples lives on the streets.'

City College's Principal, Phil Frier, says:

"There has been quite a lot of bad press regarding young people in recent weeks and I think the superb charity fundraising efforts of City College students this week illustrates that this simply isn't a fair representation of the nation's youth. Here are people in the their teens and twenties who are committed not just to doing positive things in their own lives but who are also going out of their way to help others. City College is very proud of them."

For press enquiries, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk

About City College Brighton and Hove: Founded over 100 years ago, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international Centre of Excellence. Every year around 16,000 full and part time students, as well as many international and European students, choose City College as their education provider. Offering over 650 courses from basic level to pre-University level, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.

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City College students on charity fundraising blitz!

21 February 2008