Led by Miss Odedra and joined by WUSPA and Stephen Currid of the Cardinal Hume Centre, the Assembly focused on how funds raised at the Christmas Fair and through other Enterprise activities are now being put to use. Support has included festive trips and activities for young residents of the Cardinal Hume Centre, contributions to the Bursary Fund, and support for Action Against Malaria.

Taken together, the initiatives highlighted at the Assembly offered a clear picture of how enterprise, generosity and pupil leadership continue to shape school life.

Below, three Year 7 Enterprise Ambassadors reflect on their experiences so far this year, in their own words.

Niam:
As a new boy joining this year, I first learned about Enterprise when I was looking for a role – a place to find purpose, where everyone helps everyone and the wider world. That was when my friend showed me Enterprise. I remember filling out the sheet with all my wacky ideas and being so surprised to hear my name selected for the team, and I have enjoyed it so much since then.

Visiting places such as the Cardinal Hume Centre has helped me learn about some of the challenges certain teenagers face that we do not hear about very often. Whether it is an abusive background or living on the streets, the Cardinal Hume Centre is an extraordinary place that gives some teenagers chances they might never otherwise have had.

Finally came the best part of my Enterprise career so far: the Christmas Fair. I was running a 3D printing stall with Vihaan S, and seeing family after family coming in to support charity was just a lovely experience. There was food, laughter and fun. In the end, we raised around £32,000 to be shared among our chosen charities.

Vihaan:

One of my favourite experiences was the Christmas Fair, where I helped run the 3D printing stall. It was amazing to be involved in raising money for charity while learning about Enterprise, teamwork and customer interaction. I developed confidence in communicating with others, managing money and working collaboratively to ensure the stall ran smoothly.

I was also privileged to visit and support the Cardinal Hume Centre. This experience helped me better understand the importance of community support and giving back to those in need.

Overall, these experiences have helped me improve my teamwork, communication, leadership and organisational skills. They have also shown me how enjoyable and meaningful it can be to support charitable causes.

Otto:

I have thoroughly enjoyed being an Enterprise Representative this year. From the Christmas Fair to the cancer research church service, I feel great knowing that I am making a difference to people in need.

I ran a stall at the Christmas Fair called the WUS Chocolate Factory, where, winner or not, everyone was happy. I also loved being included in the Children in Need assembly, where the funny jokes and fantastic costumes excellently entertained the whole school.

I think it is a wonderful position of responsibility and would highly recommend it to other pupils.