RGU Events students aim to support local charities through difficult year

Robert Gordon University (RGU) students are embarking on a new Live Client Event Project in a bid to develop fundraising campaigns for local charities in Aberdeen city and shire to try and create a positive impact in these difficult times.

The Live Client Project, which is part of RGU’s Events Management degree taught at the School of Creative and Cultural Business, will involve students working with various local charities to create a campaign to raise funds and awareness.

This year there are seven groups of Events Management final year students working with seven different charities; AberNecessities; Befriend a Child; Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland; Dates-n-Mates Aberdeen; Inspire; Marie Curie; and Miscarriage Information Support Services.

Students have been working with their allocated a charity to design a fundraising campaign for the charity to implement between August and October. They have been tasked with designing an events-focused campaign that meets the needs of the charity and is responsive to the changing restrictions imposed by Covid-19 including online, hybrid and in-person event activity (if guidance allows). The module is being delivered fully online with the students meeting their charity clients every second week. They are also be assigned an academic mentor to help guide them through the process.

Dr Rachael Ironside, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader on the BA (Hons) Events Management course, said: “The current restrictions mean we cannot run events for these charities, however we are still challenging the students to work in groups with a charity client to develop a fundraising campaign which accounts for the current environment but also the charity’s objectives.

“This is a consultancy project with students working closely with their client to develop an innovative campaign that will raise funds and awareness for their charity. They are being tested on their ability to apply their knowledge and experience from the course to design responsive activities that can be delivered in accordance with changing guidelines.”

“The aim of the project is to provide the students with real life client experience and professional development, but also to continue our positive working relationship with charities and create a positive impact for the third sector in these times.”

The Live Client Event Project is an alternative to The Main Event which is a project that has raised over £130k for local charities.