Beckfoot School Shortlisted for Fundraising Campaign of the Year Award

A huge congratulations to long-term First Give partner Beckfoot School, who have been shortlisted for Fundraising Campaign of the Year at the IDPE Development Awards. Their nomination recognises the incredible social action led by their students during last year’s First Give programme. Earlier in 2024, our Programme Manager for Yorkshire, Amy Calvert, met with Headteacher Simon Wade and Assistant Headteacher Aieshah Ickringill to hear more about their experience. You can read some excerpts from their conversation below.

Students secured cans of soup from Heinz to donate to Bradford Soup Run

Why Beckfoot partners with First Give

Simon: “When we decided to partner with First Give, we were really looking for something that would catch the imagination of our students… First Give gave us the opportunity to broaden the horizons of our youngsters, not only in terms of local charities, but what’s happening on a national and global scale too.”

“It ties in beautifully with the curriculum drivers that we have… oracy, being future ready, how to make a difference in your community, how to communicate with people.”

“Through the programme, our students have the opportunity to meet with local charities… because they’ve met them, their affinity for that charity grows.”

Simon Wade – Headteacher

Aieshah: “As a school, we are committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for every student to have their moment to shine… The First Give platform enables some of our students, especially those who wouldn’t necessarily put themselves forward, to do so.”

Aieshah Ickringill- Assistant Headteacher

The impact of their First Give Final

Simon: “One of our students who participated this year is Albert. Albert doesn’t communicate. He comes to school, and he’s got a set of needs that are unique to Albert. At our First Give final, he delivered four lines to a hall of over 300 people, and the local MP. I don’t think there was anybody in that room, who didn’t know Albert’s situation, who wasn’t shocked by this. It would be so easy for him to not want to be involved with this, but the programme sparked something in him. He wanted to do this, which is so far out of his comfort zone.

Aieshah: “There was a buzz in school the week of our First Give Final… It feeds into the overall culture of the school.”

Why they are a long-term First Give partner school

Simon: “It’s not a fad, it’s not about ticking a box, this is something that is about genuine co-construction and is about developing the values that will make a difference in young people’s lives. This has meaning, the programme has meaning, and that’s why we do it year on year. Young people will amaze you if you give them the opportunity to do so.”

Aieshah: “It’s so successful because the students lead on it. It wasn’t being done to them. Young people want opportunities to be self-deterministic, and the programme provides ways in which they can do that.”

Beckfoot students featured in the Telegraph & Argus

We’re so proud to see Beckfoot’s students and staff receiving this well-deserved recognition. Their passion for social action was clear at every stage of the programme. Their work even made it into the Telegraph & Argus- You can read the article here to see the impact they’ve made: Beckfoot School pupils raise funds for Bradford Soup Run | Bradford Telegraph and Argus

Wishing Beckfoot the very best of luck at Friday’s awards. We’ll be cheering you on!