Schools encouraged to enter the ‘Dragon’s Lair’ and breathe some fire into the new academic year!

Schools in Wrexham are being encouraged to take on the dragons and sign up for a challenging and inspirational charity programme.

Organised by Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices, in conjunction with leaders from the business world, the highly successful Dragons’ Lair encourages pupils to create a business idea, pitch it to the Dragons for feedback, market and eventually sell their product for profit at a school event such as Christmas fair.

The initiative fulfils the Enterprise and Employability criteria of the Welsh Baccalaureate and sitting along the four principles of the Welsh Curriculum, the helps to develop ambitious and capable learners by challenging pupils in a fun and engaging way as well as encouraging social responsibility

Having so far raised £130,000 for the charity and involved hundreds of students across schools in North Wales, the scheme has the backing of the local business and education communities, including Net World Sports, JCB, Principality Building Society, Platts Agriculture and Proximo Group taking part.

As part of the programme Hope House Tŷ Gobaith supports schools with a £10 investment per team and will supply all the resources needed by schools, starting with a special launch assembly to motivate the participants.

After the culmination of the program there will also be another ceremony to present certificates.

Nadia McKane, Sales and Marketing Director from Platts Agriculture Limited and a volunteer Dragon said: “Together with other members of the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, I was very impressed with the ambitious and imaginative young people – the future of our businesses and organisations!

“What a great initiative.”

James Harper, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Principality, said of the scheme: “It’s absolutely wonderful.

“I had the pleasure visiting St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High school and I have never seen pitches of such high quality from the pupils.”

All monies raised go towards funding the respite, care, therapeutic and counselling work for seriously ill local children and their families that Hope House Tŷ Gobaith provide at their two sites in Conwy and Oswestry.

It costs £7.5million per year to run both sites with only a small portion coming from government funding.

The program is open to all secondary schools in Wales and Fundraising Team Leader for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith, Catrin Dowdeswell, said: “This is one of our favourite initiatives as it creates solid links between our schools, local companies and ultimately local families.

“It’s so valuable when our community comes together in this way to help create quality moments for children with life limiting conditions.

“Over the past few years we have been privileged to see young people demonstrate a variety of new skills and many are very proud of the impact they have had.

“Our Dragons love the opportunity to share their life skills and give something back to the business leaders of tomorrow.”

To get your school involved and inspire its pupils, visit this link to register or phone (01492) 596581.