Foundation Learning students from Stratford-upon-Avon College were delighted to welcome Guide Dogs to the campus recently as they learnt about the work the charity do and what they can do to help.
Students then hosted events to raise vital funds for the charity which included creating and selling limited edition T-shirts and running a cake sale, all of which they planned and delivered themselves.
The College’s Foundation Learning courses allow students to build on essential skills in vocational areas supported by functional skills in GCSE Maths and English with a keen focus on building learners’ confidence.
The project began by volunteer Maria Mealey introducing the charity and the dogs to the students and explaining how the charity worked. The students then heard from Julian Watkins, the Treasurer for the Stratford-upon-Avon and North Cotswolds fundraising group about how they as a charity raise funds and top tips on how to run events.
Students then hosted events in the College reception selling T-shirs and cakes with the help of their furry friends.
Pictured above: The Guide Dog team visiting the students in their lesson to share how the charity works and gives tips on how to fundraise, plus pictures of the fundraising equipment and limited edition T-shirts
Additional Needs Tutor, John Earls, was pleased to welcome the charity and detailed the learning opportunities it had for students: “The project helped students understand how to build and run a project that had clearly defined targets. The students had to firstly identify a charity that would benefit from our help and had to specify the reasons the charity was a worthwhile cause. They then had to create a product that they could sell to raise funds. They all worked as a group on a number of ideas with the winning one being the T-shirts. Then they had to co-ordinate roles and responsibilities to get the T-Shirts printed and to organise the event. They did a fantastic job!”
The events raised almost £100 for the charity – a pawsome result!
Some final pictures of our furry friends!
