Hft, the learning disability charity, has become only one of seven peak charity partners of Choose a Challenge, the adventure travel company, to reach a new audience of student fundraisers.

The new partnership, which currently operates in three universities – Hull, London School of Economics and Bristol – is an opportunity for Hft to promote its work to students while at the same time giving them the chance to take on life-changing challenges.

Alice Devereux, Community Fundraising Officer (East Region) from Hft said:

“There are so many unsung heroes within Hft and we’re looking forward to growing students’ understanding of what we do but also encouraging fundraising efforts for such a wonderful cause.”

In a first for Choose a Challenge, Mike Cox, Senior Campus Account Manager, and Ryan Lavelle, Business Development Manager, recently visited one of Hft’s services in Barnet, where they met people with complex needs supported by the charity.

Alice said:

“As a charity, it is important for us to put the people we support at the centre of everything we do. That is why it was so significant for us to invite Choose a Challenge to visit two of our London-based services and to meet some of the people we are fortunate to support.

“Having had a successful first year of partnership with Choose a Challenge, we were eager to show the team first-hand the impact that the money raised through our student engagement will have on the lives of learning disabled adults.”

The visit was hugely beneficial for Mike and Ryan, who were there on the day, but also to the wider team who’ve been told all about the extraordinary work Hft is doing to support people with wide-ranging needs.

Mike said:

“Our team was really moved by the complex range of needs that Hft provides support for. We saw first-hand how Hft empowers people with learning disabilities to live with more independence through to the end of live care that the nursing team was providing with such compassion.

“Although our student sales team had a good idea of what services Hft provides, the scale and range of support was made much clearer by visiting the service in person.

“When we’re speaking to students on campus, it’s incredibly helpful to have seen first-hand what their fundraising from participating in charity challenges contributes to. Anything we can do to better educate people on the mission and values of Hft and to bring to life how valuable their fundraising can be only served to help us find supporters from our student community.

“Following the visit, we’re collectively even more motivated to support Hft in identifying fundraisers and supporters from within the student community.”

Alice concluded: 

“Collaboration is a vital part of working in the charity sector and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Choose a Challenge and supporting more students to take on once-in-a-lifetime experiences whilst raising vital funds for the people we support.”

In a related move, Hft has also been chosen as one of Bangor University’s challenge partners and students will be undertaking a fundraising trip to Machu Picchu in Peru towards the end of the next academic year.

If any corporations wish to discuss partnership opportunities, or if students or corporations would like to take part in a life-changing adventure, please contact: alice.devereux@hft.org.uk.