Business students at the University of Sunderland have set a new fundraising record after transforming a modest £25 seed investment into more than £12,700 for a North East children’s charity. The achievement marks the highest total since the university launched its annual “Take £25 Challenge.”
First-year Business and Management students spent four weeks using the seed fund to generate as much income as possible for The Children’s Foundation, a regional charity that supports vulnerable young people. Working in 24 teams, the students raised £12,743.30 including Gift Aid, surpassing all previous years of the initiative.
The challenge encouraged students to apply business principles in real time, devising ventures that ranged from bake sales and raffles to food stands, lucky dips and small-scale games. The campaign ended with a celebration at the Reg Vardy Centre on the university’s St Peter’s Campus, where students, staff and charity representatives gathered to recognise the teams’ efforts.
Iraa Wimpenny, lecturer in Marketing and Business and lead organiser of the challenge, praised the participants’ creativity and commitment. “As their lecturer, I’m very proud of the amazing determination shown by our students,” she said. She added that the challenge helps students build commercial and leadership skills from the outset of their degree, giving them confidence and practical experience for future roles.
The standout performers were the team North East Giving, who secured more than £2,500 — the highest amount ever achieved by a single group since the challenge began. Team member Farhan Peeran described the project as “incredible,” saying the experience demonstrated the value of teamwork when tied to a community cause. “Raising just over £2,500 taught us how powerful teamwork and community engagement can be,” he said.
The Children’s Foundation, founded in 1990, provides mental-health programmes in schools, baby boxes for new parents and community allotments for local families. Chief executive Sean Soulsby said the students’ efforts were “nothing short of inspiring,” adding that “turning £25 into over £12,000 is an extraordinary achievement.”
Dr Yvonne Dixon-Todd, Head of the School of Business, Management and Tourism, said the challenge highlights the university’s focus on real-world learning. “It is brilliant to see our students really engaging in this entrepreneurial initiative,” she said. She noted that the project cultivates skills such as planning, marketing, financial management and communication, while supporting a significant local cause.
The university plans to continue the challenge in future years, building on its reputation as a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship for first-year students.