Leeds students raise funds for Lord Mayor charity
Twelve University of Leeds students have attended a ceremony with Leeds’ Lord Mayor at Leeds Civic Hall, in recognition of a successful fundraising activity within their studies
Continuing a tradition of capstone projects within the School of Performance and Cultural Industries, the ceremony (which took place on Friday the 15th of May) follows an ambitious project by thirteen of the School’s students. The students worked in collaboration with the Lord Mayor, Dan Cohen, to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity. Lord Mayors within the city choose a Leeds-based charity to champion during their year in office; the charity of choice for Mayor Cohen’s term of office was Leeds Mencap, which provides support for children and young people with learning disabilities.
Following a broad overview from the Lord Mayor, the students began to devise ideas for the fundraising event – later christened Kindness for a Cause. Their brainstorming session led them to Valentine’s Day as a theme; the fundraising event would focus on love, while considering the idea outside of a purely romantic context.
The students pose with the cheque alongside Hughie Brown, representatives from Leeds Mencap, the Lord Mayor and his successor Stephen Holroyd
Establishing a clear theme for the event helped to guide the attractions appearing at it. Entertainment included crafting activities, a photo booth, a “secret admirer” postbox, and a raffle where attendees could win a range of prizes.
The event attractions were guided by the intended audience. The student organisers wished to aim the event at university students and Gen Z individuals, and offer a stimulating, novel experience. They also specifically wanted an event that didn’t revolve around alcohol consumption.
The final event was a significant financial success, raising £2,223 for Leeds Mencap. The Lord Mayor was very proud of the students’ efforts, and said:
“As someone who hails from private industry, I’ve witnessed a lot of business pitches. The pitch from the University of Leeds’ students was one of the best I’ve ever seen, with every student contributing.
“The execution of the final event was inspiring, and hit the concept out of the park. Everyone who attended had an amazing day, with a huge amount of money raised. I’m very proud of the student collaboration, and I’m honoured to have had this opportunity to work with them.”
The Kindness for a Cause event reflects a broader focus on Experiential Learning within the University. Experiential Learning seeks to diversify the activities that students participate in during their studies, moving them beyond conventional classroom environments. It can cover activities such as work placements, study abroad and event planning, helping to prepare students for life beyond higher education.
As an added bonus, the process proves something of a learning experience for the academics helping to organise it. Hughie Brown – Director of International for the School of Performance and Cultural Industries – said:
“Every year I learn something new about this learning process and the wonderful benefits it has for the students and our partners. Each iteration throws up its own challenges and every year the students rise to the challenge with help from our other stakeholders.
“The best part of this approach to teaching is watching the transformation of the students during their experience. They gain so much confidence and learn so much about professional practice that they would not get from any other teaching resource. This year they gained a sponsor, which last year's team did not have, and next year's project will pick up where these students left off and grow the project into new territory.”
For more information on Experiential Learning as a broader project, be sure to visit the Experiential Learning section of the Curriculum Redefined SharePoint.
