A Dragons’ Den-style competition saw young people pitching to win support for their social enterprise ideas.
Redbridge students impressed with their creativity and passion at the Social Enterprise Schools Dragons’ Den event, hosted by the Social Enterprise Academy at City Gates Church in collaboration with Redbridge Connexions.
Six schools took part, presenting ideas to a panel of industry professionals, including Smita Solanki from Careers Hub East and Adrian Anthony and Ned Mitham from SAP. Concepts ranged from a “Bottle Buddy” lanyard to reward-based litter collection schemes and community flower-making workshops.
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Cllr Lloyd Duddridge, cabinet member for children, young people and education, said: "Our young people continue to impress with their creativity, confidence and commitment to improving their communities. The ideas presented today were thoughtful, ambitious and rooted in real-world issues that matter to them.
"I’m incredibly proud of every student who took part, and grateful to the Social Enterprise Academy for providing such a powerful platform for their talent to shine."
Ilford County High School’s "Fast Aid" project won the top prize and £100. The runner-up, Ursuline Academy’s "Bloom Scrolling," received £75.
A series of £50 awards were also presented in categories such as sustainability, teamwork, strategy, research, and branding.
Teams participating came from Little Heath School, Redbridge Home Tuition, Caterham High School, Ursuline Academy Ilford, Ilford County High School, and Oaks Park High School.
Will Crossley, Young People Development Lead (England & Wales) at the Social Enterprise Academy, said: "The standard of pitches and the level of detail in the young people’s planning was hugely impressive. Their passion for tackling the issues they see around them, and their determination to create meaningful solutions, really shone through."
The Social Enterprise Academy supports the development of sustainable social businesses through learning and development programmes.
Since September 2022, it has engaged more than 1,000 students across ten boroughs in England and Wales.
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