Our christmas charity cards

This year we’re proud to be taking part in the Dragons Apprentice Challenge once again, now in its 13th year. The programme invites local Year 12 students to turn £100 of seed capital into £1,000 or more for charity. Lydia returns each year because she enjoys supporting young people, bouncing ideas around and watching that moment where they realise their own ideas can actually make money.

Lydia is the Dragon for a team from Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead, and this year’s team is called Radio Active. The students have been matched with Community Action Dacorum. CAD support Dacorum residents through direct services, adult training and community radio, all designed to improve quality of life and strengthen local connection.

All profits made by the team go directly to the charity they are supporting. The students are raising money by running a bingo night, organising in-school activities such as tuck shops, and recently hosting a stall at the Christmas fair.

With support from Lydia, the apprentices will identify opportunities, build business and communication skills, learn how to plan and organise projects, and work as a team to deliver their ideas. It’s often the practical side that makes things click. Once they put an idea into action, you can see their confidence grow.

The Dragons Apprentice Challenge pairs teams of Year 12 students with a local Dragon and a local charity. Over the course of the programme, apprentices come up with business ideas, run their own activities and raise as much as they can for their chosen cause. All profits go directly to the charity.

Find out more about the Dragons Apprentice Challenge here:
https://www.communityactiondacorum.org/community/schools/#dragons-apprentice

Residents and businesses based in Dacorum, Harpenden and Watford can support the team by attending events, donating, sharing updates and visiting stalls or activities in the community.