Budding entrepreneurs from across Liverpool have put their Scouse-nous to good use, rising to the challenge of turning seed-funding into profit to support the vital work of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Primary and secondary schools across the city were invited to take part in the charity’s 50/50 Enterprise Competition, in which teams of pupils try to find ways to make a worthwhile return on an initial £50 of funding.
Five primary schools – Springwood Heath, Holy Cross, St Christopher’s, Mab Lane and St Cecilia’s Junior – took part, along with Redbridge High and Archbishop Blanch secondary schools.
The competition – the first of its kind in Liverpool – was supported by start-up funding and prizes supplied by sponsors the Mayor’s Hope Fund, Enterprise rent-a-car and McGinley Education.
Students devised a wide variety of schemes to make their money, including cake sales, a performance of Alice in Wonderland, a pyjama day, Christmas Fairs, raffles, a film and Bingo night, penalty shoot-outs, toy sales and the uniquely-themed Boogie Bounce.
Altogether, the city’s whizz-kids turned a very healthy profit of £1737.08 on an initial investment of £1,000.
The money will help Wavertree-based Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation support scientific research into ways to beat what is the UK’s biggest cancer killer.
Amy Clarke, the charity’s Community Fundraising Officer, is delighted with the outcome. She said: “The youngsters have done amazingly well. This is the first time we have run this competition, and the range of ideas and activities they have used to raise money has been amazing. They’ve shown huge commitment and imagination.”
The award for Best Team Work went to the ‘Sweets for Life’ team from Mab Lane Primary School, who impressed the judges with their planning, creativity and dedication. The ‘Roy’s Angels’ team from Archbishop Blanch school took the award for generating the Highest Income. The judges commended their imaginative marketing campaign and how well they liaised with senior leadership.
Cllr Nick Small, Assistant Mayor of Liverpool and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Education, Employment and Skills, praised the enterprise shown by the students.
He said: “This has been a huge success for all concerned. It shows what the young people of this city can achieve when they pool their ingenuity and their energy. We thank our co-sponsors, Enterprise rent-a-car and McGinley Education, for their generosity and investment. Their support may well inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to drive forward Liverpool’s economy in the near future.”