Published on 23 February 2022
Talented first year Business students at the University of Sunderland have used their entrepreneurial skills to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
The annual Take 25 Challenge with The Children's Foundation is an opportunity for students to apply and develop their business and entrepreneurial skills to raise as much money as they can for the Children's Foundation, Newcastle in just four weeks.
Sponsored by Enterprise Car Rentals, students work in teams of three to four. Starting with £25 they fundraise as much as possible by applying their key skills and business acumen.
This has been a record-breaking year for Take 25. In just four weeks, the students on the module raised almost £7,500 with three teams surpassing £1,000.
Teams did a variety of fundraising activities and events, including raffles, sponsored runs and walks, and sponsored activities, including sponsored litter picking.
Professor Lawrence Bellamy, Academic Dean at the Faculty of Business, Law & Tourism at the University of Sunderland, said: "‘This year has been exceptional for the Take 25 Challenge.
"Sunderland Business School first year students have exceeded all previous records for The Children’s Foundation. This is a testament to their teamworking, innovation and entrepreneurialism, all part of their business programme skills development. They had to plan, project manage and review their activities, also gaining further skills and showing their fantastic potential for any organisation they will join in the future.
"Great students, great team, great result!"
Susan Jones, Fundraising Manager The Children's Foundation added: "It is a record-breaking year when 17 teams have raised almost £7,500 and three teams have broken the £1,000 barrier. The focused, planned and determined approach the teams showed was commendable and their resilience in the face of challenge, remarkable. That they all individually set themselves personal development objectives as well demonstrates these are young people to watch.
"The Challenge could not work without sponsorship, and Enterprise Rentals have shown their recognition of the talent at Sunderland University by committing to the challenge and being the sole sponsors for 2021. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support."
Laura James, Talent Attraction at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who sponsored Take 25 2021, said: "As a partner of the University of Sunderland we were delighted to be introduced to support their charity collaboration with The Children's Foundation this year. Through this link we were not only able to financially support a fantastic north-east charity but also enable business students an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills through the Take 25 Challenge.
"Each student who participated this year should feel immense pride at their achievement and the money they have raised. We're looking forward to developing this relationship further in 2022."