Initiative benefits local charities and helps students develop professional skills

Over 100 School of Management students are working hard to help local charities and not-for-profit organisations in an initiative sponsored by Bath-based FTSE 250 company, Rotork plc.

Under the Rotork Community Challenge, 14 local charities have set tasks which need to be completed by early December by student teams. The results of each project will be judged by business and management experts and the winners will receive a donation from Rotork for their charity at a presentation evening on 4 December on campus.

“The Rotork Community Challenge benefits local charities but also brings School of Management students together, fostering their teamworking, planning, leadership and project management skills, and encouraging them to feel part of the wider Bath community,” said Jo Parry, Student Experience Officer.

“This is a fantastic collaboration with the University of Bath, we’re proud to be involved,” added Julius Rich, Rotork’s Communications Director. Rotork is a global flow control and instrumentation company. It recently agreed a sponsorship package with the University of Bath Cycling Club for 2020.

The challenges include developing fundraising strategies, awareness raising campaigns, and delivering events for good causes. Students receive professional skills training throughout the challenge in areas such as working with charities, making presentations and managing events.

Last year’s winning team helped GIST Support UK, a charity that helps patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours, a rare type of cancer.

The 14 charities are: Bath City Farm, Bath BID (Business Improvement District), Curo Choice Ltd, Designability, Dorothy House, First Steps, Genesis Trust, Gist Support UK, Home Start Kennet, Jessie May, Love Weston Library, MHA Stratton House, Share and Repair, and The Woodworks Project.