Students arrange charity events

Students on the College's BTEC National Travel and Tourism course have been raising money for good causes as well as learning more about staging events, by arranging two major fundraising activities.

One group of second year students gave a presentation on their chosen charity, Cancer Research, which staff and students were invited to attend. They also held a raffle, with prizes including lunch for two at the Malmaison and a £20 Bullring voucher.

The second event was in aid of the British Heart Foundation, where another group of students staged a raffle to help raise funds, with a stay at a four star hotel, a mobile phone and an MP3 player among the prizes. There were also cakes for sale, a signed Birmingham City programme for auction and a guess the number of sweets in the jar competition.

All these prizes were secured by the students themselves, through making direct contact with head offices of different organisations, and students also made all the necessary arrangements with the charities.

Both activities contributed to the students' studies by teaching them more about organising and promoting events and activities. Overall, around £650 was raised by the two groups.

Lecturer Julie Hambleton said: "It's been a fantastic experience for the students concerned, and it's given them something they can tell future employers about at interviews.

"Prospective employers often ask about examples of where you have worked independently or as part of a team and this involved both, as all the students had their own roles but they also had to work together.

"They have all done really well and have promoted the College in a good light, as well as raising money for some really good causes."

The students involved will graduate from the BTEC course this summer, but several of them have already applied to stay on at the College for BA (Hons) and the FdA programmes.