How Events Management students raise thousands for local charities
As the dust settles on another academic year, we’re looking back to the recently graduated group of stage four Events Management students who raised over £5,500 for local causes through their live event projects.
Key to the BA (Hons) Events Management course in the School of Creative and Cultural Business is gaining first-hand experience of each aspect of managing an event, from planning through to execution, in order to prepare students for their future career in the sector.
During their degree, students are encouraged to build relationships with local businesses and suppliers to both enhance their planned event through using their expertise but also to reduce outgoing expenses with in-kind support. Moreover, working with genuine entities in the city add an additional element of expectation and jeopardy more akin to genuine work in the industry.
These fostered relationships provide the opportunity to raise as much money as possible for local charities, the end goal of so many planned events throughout the different stages of the course, work more sustainably, and produce a socially conscious outcome where each stakeholder benefits.
This year, four different groups of stage four students successfully organised:
- Rocking Horse Circus: a trip to the Circus with a rocking horse theme as appropriate for their children’s charity partner Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) which brought together families in an inclusive environment.
- AberFest: a community festival at city nightclub Tunnels which attracted renowned local music artists. Money was raised for AberNecessities which support disadvantaged families with awareness raised of their presence through this popular event which brought a young demographic.
- Super Trouper Bingo: created for Inspire, another family focused charity, this event was an ideal mix of fun and networking for users of the organisation.
- Mystery at the Masquerade: this premium black-tie ball was organised for The Archie Foundation as part of their ongoing capital appeal and attracted the right audience to raise a lot of money.
Each event was successful in their own right, attracting large and engaged audiences; raising awareness of their chosen charities; and providing students with crucial events experience.
What’s more, they raised a combined total of £5,611.
Katie Goldie, Lecturer on the Gold awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Events Management course, said: “We are immensely proud of our students and the positive impact they create through their live event projects, not only for their charities but the many organisations within the local community.
“These events provide a valuable professional experience which helps to cultivate their passion and skills within their vocational interest in the events industry.
“It is wonderful to see our students working so proactively and professionally with the local community after the past few years of turmoil in their education and event industry. Our students have designed some incredible events and raised the profile of some worthy and excellent causes.
“I have no doubt this graduating cohort are part of the next generation of successful event professionals!”
Team AberFest
Eve Davidson was part of the AberFest team and in July graduated with a First Class Honours. On her live event project, she said: “It was the highlight of the events course at RGU for me. It felt like the point in which I could use all the skills I had learnt over the four years at university together and put my learnings into practice.
“The project allowed me to work closely in a team and improve my communication and time management skills in a proactive way. I look forward to using my skills gained through AberFest in my future career in events management in both office and on-site situations!”
Her peer, Emma Davidson, was equally praising when speaking to RGU as part of the recent Graduation Stories series and hailed the course’s flexibility and industry experience as well as the learned personal skills.
Recent rankings, namely in the Complete University Guide, placed Robert Gordon University equal third in the UK for student satisfaction in Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies, of which Events Management is part of.
Cassie McGunnigle, a former student of the course and now Fundraising Manager at The Archie Foundation, emphasised the importance of gaining first-hand experience through her degree.
“Having the opportunity to develop a brand-new event gave us the opportunity to showcase our creativity. It felt like a duty to put our all into the event because we knew if there was a positive outcome, it would ultimately benefit a really important cause.
“The experience certainly contributed to me working in this job. I wasn’t aware of the opportunities that existed in the charity sector, so it opened my eyes to what could come next. To me, there is no better feeling than being a small part of making a big difference, whether that is through fundraising, implementing new events or meeting supporters of the charity.”
The tradition of fundraising for local charities through Events Management at RGU goes back many years now with well over £150k raised in total. An incredible number that will continue to rise.
BA (Hons) Events Management is one of many courses that is available to apply for through clearing this summer.
