Whizz-kids borrow TV idea to boost charity

Students who used their business brains to make money for charity are (from the left) Andrew Hilldrup, Camille Chappell, Vicki Skelton and Steven Szoltysek

Four Chadderton business brains turned to making profits for charity when they tackled a work experience stint at a leading Internet company.

The A-level business studies students from North Chadderton School spent three days at Zen Internet’s head office in Sandbrook Park, Rochdale, researching, organising and promoting a D-day charity event.

For the past three years, Zen has taken a group of Business Studies students from North Chadderton Sixth Form on work experience.

This year the 17-year-old students — Steven Szoltysek, Camille Chappell, Vicki Skelton, and Andrew Hilldrup — were inspired by Mary Portas’s credit crunch series on BBC2, “Mary Queen of Charity Shops”. They organised a charity D-day which was held at Zen’s headquarters

Employees were asked to donate one quality item to Help the Aged for its charity shops, to improve the quality of items on sale and sell them at a better price. Donations included everything from a signed Oldham Athletic photograph to an inflatable rubber dingy and oars.

Caroline Taylor, human resources and training manager, said: “The students did an excellent job. This event was a great chance for colleagues to make a positive contribution to the local community, with all proceed going to Help the Aged.”