爆料王

Students on a range of degrees within the University鈥檚 hospitality and tourism department created a super series of charity fundraisers to give them first-hand experience of building live events 鈥� raising almost 拢2,000 in the process.聽聽

Working in groups of six, undergraduates studying the second-year Live Events Creation and Development Module produced events for StreetGames for its Bring it on Brum! campaign and the Queen Elizabeth United Hospitals Birmingham Charity's 75th聽Anniversary of the NHS and Fisher House initiatives, the first time many of them had put the skills they were learning to the test in real-life settings.

They organised 鈥楻azz on Tuesday鈥�, a raffle and jazz concept at the Night Owl in Digbeth, in aid of Street Games, 鈥楽aints and Singers鈥�, a karaoke evening at the Actress and Bishop in Ludgate Hill, and 鈥楥irque Diablo鈥�, a circus-themed evening of simple, fun games at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham, also in aid of Queen Elizabeth United Hospitals Birmingham Charity鈥檚 75th Anniversary of the NHS celebrations.

While 'Y2K Rewind',聽an evening of noughties nostalgia,聽unfortunately, had to be cancelled, the students persevered and raised funds for the聽10th anniversary of Fisher House UK, a 鈥榟ome away from home鈥� for UK military personnel and families, by聽holding two vintage clothing sales at the University鈥檚 McIntyre House, bringing the fundraising grand total to 拢1,828.

Leila Edwards, a senior events management lecturer at the University, said the module tasked students with planning, implementing and evaluating a live event project to raise funds and awareness for a charity, all designed to mirror the event lifecycle.

鈥淭he project gave students the opportunity to gain first-hand, practical event experience which, for many, was the very first time they have organised an event,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ach group has an event co-ordinator, finance manager, health and safety manager, operations and HR manager, marketing manager and venue manager, key roles involved in event planning, giving them valuable experience for their careers.鈥�

Supported by a project tutor, the Level 5 students on the BA (Hons) and FdA Events Management were joined for the first time by students on the International Hospitality and Business Management and Hospitality with Tourism Management degrees, bringing more diversity, collaboration and creativity to the projects.聽

They follow in the footsteps of alumni and former events management student Laura Power, who organised a live event for the Queen Elizabeth United Hospitals Birmingham Charity when she studied the module herself, and went on to become the charity鈥檚 fundraising assistant on completion of her degree. Eleven years on, she is now the charity鈥檚 senior fundraising manager.聽