College students' boost to hospice

HOSPICE awareness . . . Oldham College students, from left, Morgan Benson, Jake Tolchard, Farheen Zubair, Lauren Charlesworth, Farhana Begum and Tanvir Islam (in the mascot costume) in Oldham town centre to raise awareness of Dr Kershaw's Hospice

FIRST-YEAR students stepped out to raise awareness about Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Royton.

The young people from Oldham College's business enterprise course took to the streets of Oldham town centre with informative leaflets and a collection bucket.

The group spoke with passers-by in a bid to raise awareness about the end-of-life care provided by the hospice as part of the students' project involving leadership and teamwork.

Mike Jackson-Leafield, from the college, said: "While the emphasis for the students was initially on engaging in practical skills for assessment, the opportunity to do this and support a local and worthwhile cause was a real motivating factor and is something that we try and encourage with our students when it comes to supporting the local community.

"The activities and events were deemed a success. Money and awareness was raised for the hospice not only among the locals in Oldham on the day but also among the students and their peers as they talked about the experience with others."

Students from the Financial and Professional Services faculty partnered with the hospice to hold a raffle stall and interactive activities like dressing up in clothes sold by the hospice's charity shop.

Student Tanvir Islam was one of several learners who dressed up as Dr Kershaw's mascot Hope the Bear and had photos taken with children.

The group promoted the charity shop to younger people, highlighting the goods available in shops across the borough.