This year, the Volunteering and Awards Team and the Information and Guidance (IAG) Team from Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) at the University delivered the second year of the Great AMBS Fundraiser. Open to first- and second-year AMBS students, the volunteering initiative paired groups of students with local charities, tasking them to use their business and enterprise skills to develop and deliver fundraising campaigns for their chosen organisations.

The project was a great success, with three student teams supporting three charities: Rekindle School, an education charity based in Hulme that supports young people who feel discouraged by the education system; Soul Sisters, a charity dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic abuse to live independent, fear-free lives; and The Outdoor Collaborative, which works with young people across Greater Manchester to build confidence, improve wellbeing, and develop practical skills through outdoor activities and creative digital projects.

The project began in February, with teams meeting and planning their campaigns. Students also took part in a Fundraising and Communications Masterclass delivered by the Students’ Union fundraising team, who provided support throughout the project. After presenting their ideas, the teams had seven weeks to raise money through activities including bake sales, LinkedIn headshots, and ‘Blind Date with a Book’ stalls. The fundraising was a fantastic success, with £870.22 raised across all three charities. The winning team, Team Soul Sisters, raised an impressive £456.22.

These funds will make a meaningful difference to each organisation. Rekindle School will use the money to support an educational trip or activity for the young people they work with; The Outdoor Collaborative plans to use the funding to repair and upgrade cameras, helping improve the quality of training sessions; and Soul Sisters will use the funds to run support group sessions for survivors, providing safe spaces to share experiences and receive support.