Students celebrate winning £3,000 for Sutton Mencap (From Sutton Guardian)

Students celebrate winning £3,000 for Sutton Mencap

12:19pm Saturday 19th May 2012 in News

Students at a school in Wimbledon are celebrating winning £3,000 for Sutton Mencap.

The year 8 pupils from Ursuline High School, saw off the competition in the final of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, which took place at the school on April 11.

The project, run by the Institute of Philanthropy, taught students the true meaning of philanthropy- seeing a problem that needs solving in the community, identifying a solution and putting it into practice.

Each form group investigated the need in their community, before choosing a charity they thought was best able to improve people's lives.

Students then met with their chosen charity and talked to staff and those benefiting from charity activities, before working in teams to prepare a presentation on why their charity was the most worthy of support and would make the greatest difference if granted £3,000.

Chosen charities included The Women’s Aid Hostel, Alzheimer’s Society; the Wimbledon Guild; Regenerate Rise; Sutton Mencap; Merton Carers and Trinity Hospice.

They had to give presentations to an audience and judging panel which included the Mayor of Merton Gilly Lewis-Lavender.

Tracey Hickey, community fundraiser at Sutton Mencap said: "The team's presentation was amazing, their empathy, creativity and passion for our cause was inspiration, not to mention their dance moves.

"The grant will enable approximately 80 adults with a learning disability to meet up with friends, learn new skills and have fun, so on behalf of everyone at Sutton Mencap we would like to say a big thank you."