Events Management Students bring virtual events to life to raise money for local charities

19th March 2021

Events management students from Sheffield Hallam’s Business School's event are set to raise thousands of pounds for local charities through a series of virtual events including a murder mystery, a dog show and cook-along demonstrations.

This year’s events, which got underway on Monday 8^th March with an event to celebrate International Women’s Day, will also include a vintage clothes show, gin tasting and holographic music bingo. 

For the last ten years, final year students on a range of events management courses at Sheffield Hallam University have completed their degrees with showcase fundraising events to support local charities, raising over £220,000 so far. 

For 2021, all proceeds from the events are being donated to Cavendish Cancer Care, Roundabout, the Sheffield Museums Trust and Food Works, with a goal of reaching £25,000.  

Module leader Jane Tattersall said: "The events are the highlight of the academic year for us and it is always a brilliant opportunity for our students to showcase the professional skills and knowledge that they have developed throughout their degree.  

“This year they have all upskilled and responded rapidly to learn more about producing professional virtual events and the teaching team are super proud and excited by what the students are doing, which reflects the ambitions and career aspirations of our students. It’s a true example of doing good, whilst doing well.” 

In addition to the live virtual events produced by events management and events management arts and entertainment students, those taking the experiential marketing course are running five-week social media campaigns. These campaigns include video podcasts, food surplus hacks, and a self-care Sunday well-being and nutrition online event to support non-profit Sheffield food surplus re-distribution organisation Food Works. 

The postgraduate International events and conference management students are also fundraising for Roundabout to help provide support services for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or vulnerably housed. 

Professor Eileen McAuliffe, Dean of Sheffield Business School, said: "I’m proud to see the creativity and imagination our students have shown in coming up with these virtual fundraising events during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This shows how, despite the challenges, our students are still able to engage in real life learning experiences whilst studying at Sheffield Hallam University. 

“Not only are the students applying what they've learnt in their academic studies to real life situations, they are raising money for a host of good causes and contributing in a positive way to the local community, something that is especially important at the moment.” 

Jonny Cole, Head of Fundraising at Cavendish Cancer Care, said: “For over ten years Cavendish Cancer Care has been working in partnership with the final year events management students at Sheffield Hallam University. For a local independent charity like ours that receives very little statutory funding and relies on the support and donations of the local community these relationships are vital.  

“The students have raised more than £40,000 and each year they push themselves even further to champion and support the work Cavendish does with local cancer patients and their families.” 

To learn more about this year's fundraising events please visit www.hallamcharityevents.org.uk.