Young people from the Together Trust recently pitched their ideas on how to improve the charity’s facilities in a Dragons’ Den style event.
The event saw contestants who are supported by the charity pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, in the hope of winning £30,000 of voluntary income to help fund their project.
The Together Trust supports over 2,300 children, adults and families with a range of learning difficulties, physical disabilities or complex needs in the North West each year, offering special education, residential care, community services and fostering.
The five dragons, who were made up of representatives from across the Together Trust services, listened to the pitches before deciding on where the money should go.
While there were nerves on the day, many of the young people were excited for the opportunity to share their ideas.
Watch a film of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85v78wxa4s
Aaron and Elliot from Inscape House School – a specialist school for young people with autism – talked about their pitch before going in front of the panel.
Aaron said, “We will be getting our points and views across to basically say how we could improve our schools and what we could do in the long run.”
Elliot added, “I’m feeling nervous but it’s very exciting. We are pitching for a sports hall – we are looking for the full £30,000, we hope we can get it.”
The three successful pitches won a portion of the prize money, with the £27,000 majority going towards a sports facility and youth club space to be used by all services.
Two other ideas which won £1,500 each included a common room area at Bridge College – the Together Trust’s further education college in Openshaw for 16 to 25 year olds with complex needs – and outdoor equipment at the charity’s Ashcroft School in Cheadle for Duke of Edinburgh pursuits.
Lorraine Wheeler, Fundraising Manager at the Together Trust, said, “I was incredibly proud today to be part of The Together Trust. It was a real opportunity to see what our young people are capable of, and I was so impressed by their enthusiasm, their commitment, their presentation and their stories. They really were fantastic!”
All of the projects received a percentage of the total money needed to implement their ideas with the Together Trust’s fundraising team’s aim to scope out each idea and raise further funding to complete each project.
The Together Trust is a charitable organisation which has been providing care, special education and community support for young people and adults in the North West region since it was established in 1870. Today, the charity helps more than 2,300 people and their families each year, who are experiencing emotional, behavioural or social difficulties, physical and learning disabilities or autistic spectrum conditions.