Counting candy and cracking coconuts – just some of the fundraising fun at college

This was just one of the fun activities organised by health and social care students in their mission to raise funds for two charities last week.

Students on the Level 2 and the Level 3 NCFE CACHE Certificate in Health and Social Care course have been concentrating on a range of activities this week as part of their learning company and work placement initiatives and chose a local and a national charity to support.

Their national charity of choice is Mentell. This charity provides online and in-person circles of support for men aged 18+ to talk in a safe and confidential space, free from judgement. Local circles take place in-person at different venues across the country and online circles take place each Monday at 7pm.

Locally, the students have decided to support Forget-Me-Not Dementia Support Group in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. This small support group helps people with dementia, their carers and families through support meetings, friendship, activities and discussions. This group, which is run from Trinity Centre Point Trinity and St John’s Heritage Centre has plans to organise outings and therapies for its members.

Mentell provides circles for men aged 18+ to talk in a safe and confidential space, free from advice and judgement. Local circles take place in-person at different venues around the country. You can access Mentell's circles online, for free, every Monday at 7pm.

Activities organised by the two groups of students included a count the candy in a jar, naming a giant teddy bear, a prize raffle and the traditional coconut shy with a twist – turning coconuts into not so favourite celebrities’ heads!

Health and social care placement co-ordinator Janine Bramley said: “The students have worked so hard on this week’s activities, raising a total of £487.67 for the two charities.

“Not only have they boosted their marketing, accounts and fundraising skills for their curriculum area’s learning company, but this experience is valuable in counting towards their work placement units. Obviously it’s been incredibly difficult over the last 12 months to take part in actual work placement within the industry, but this experience is helping them to fulfil this aspect of their course in a different light.”

Both the Level 2 and Level 3 groups were challenged to see who could raise the most funds throughout the week to incentivise their hard work and the prize went to Level 2 group 3 for raising £41.48 with their count the sweets activity, and the Level 3 year 1 group 3 with the guess the name of the bear and count the sweet activity which raised £42.94 in cash and £85 via their Go Fund Me page.

You can still donate to the charities here at https://gofund.me/a37f7f62