This year’s YEP Awards highlighted the ideas, energy and community spirit of young people making a real local impact.
The earlier you start, the sooner you learn what works – and this year’s Youth Enterprise Project (YEP) students have proven exactly that. Raising an incredible £16,000 for St Catherine’s Hospice, young people from across the region demonstrated that when it comes to business, creativity and compassion, age really is just a number.
What is the St Catherine’s Youth Enterprise Project?
The St Catherine’s Youth Enterprise Project (YEP) is a hands-on programme designed for secondary school students in Years 7–11, combining real-world business experience with fundraising. The project aims to give young people the opportunity to build entrepreneurial skills while supporting their local hospice.
Running annually, the project begins with school engagement before the summer holidays, with participating schools committing in the autumn term. By January, teams officially launch their campaigns, embarking on a 10–12 week journey that challenges them to turn a small investment into something much bigger.
Each team is given £50 in seed funding and tasked with raising a target of £1,500 or more, all within school grounds. Whether during lunch breaks, after school or at special events, every fundraising activity must take place on site – encouraging creativity, resourcefulness and of course, plenty of teamwork.
Turning ideas into impact
What makes YEP particularly powerful is the freedom it gives students. With minimal restrictions beyond location, teams develop their own ideas, manage budgets and execute campaigns – often mirroring the challenges of real businesses. This year’s students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, organising a wide variety of imaginative and engaging activities, including:
- Cake sales and bake-offs that drew queues of hungry classmates and staff
- Penalty shoot-out competitions, turning playgrounds into mini football arenas
- ‘Splat the teacher’ fundraising events, where students paid for the chance to throw pies at brave teachers
- Handmade product sales, such as crafts, accessories and personalised items
- Raffles and prize draws, often supported by donations from local businesses
Students were also encouraged to connect with the wider community. While monetary donations from businesses are not permitted, teams can request non-financial support, such as raffle prizes, using official letters provided by the hospice. The events brought schools together, building student confidence and created lasting memories in the process.
A night to celebrate: YEP Awards 2026
After months of planning, selling, presenting and problem-solving, students gathered for the St Catherine’s YEP Awards 2026 – an evening that celebrated both achievements and personal growth. The event brought together students, teachers, mentors, judges and families, showcasing the incredible work completed across all participating schools. Each team presented their journey, explaining their ideas, challenges and successes, giving judges insight into both their financial results and their learning experience. One standout moment came from The Gatwick School, whose creative and interactive presentation won a major award. But beyond the trophies and totals, the evening highlighted the personal connection many students felt to the cause.
Of course, no awards night would be complete without a bit of friendly rivalry – and this year’s students did not disappoint. While every team surpassed expectations (and then some), judges had the tricky task of recognising standout achievements across a range of categories that went far beyond simply raising money.
The Gatwick School proved particularly hard to ignore, walking away with both Best Presentation – thanks to their lively, interactive delivery – and Most Innovative Idea, which included everything from a Mad Hatter-inspired potion station to ambitious events like primary school sleepovers. Meanwhile, Reigate School impressed judges with their resilience, picking up both Overcoming Adversity and the Sustainability Award, showing that even when plans wobble, determination (and a bit of creative thinking) can keep things firmly on track.
Hazelwick School demonstrated real marketing flair, winning Best Marketing Strategy, as well as Pound Per Pupil with an impressive £4.20 per student – and, just to top things off, they also secured the award for Highest Total Funds Raised. Not bad for a few weeks’ work involving pies and penalties.
Speaking of teamwork, Warden Park earned well-deserved recognition for Outstanding Teamwork and Collaboration, proving that a strong team spirit can be just as valuable as an excellent sales pitch. And in a lovely nod to individual effort, Lola-Sky Buick from The Gatwick School was awarded the Future Fundraiser Award, highlighting her passion to keep making a difference long into the future.
Skills for the future
While the £16,000 raised is a remarkable achievement, the true impact of YEP lies in the skills students gain along the way. Participants experience first-hand what it takes to run a small enterprise. They learn to:
- Manage budgets and track profit and loss
- Market products and events effectively
- Work as part of a team and resolve challenges
- Communicate ideas clearly through presentations
- Think creatively and adapt when things don’t go to plan
For many, it is their first real introduction to entrepreneurship. The programme also provides valuable experience for future education and career opportunities. Former participant Mia Ogden, who returned as a judge this year, credits YEP with helping her secure university offers.
Changing the narrative
One of the most powerful outcomes of YEP is how it challenges common misconceptions about younger generations. Mentors from People’s Partnership, this year’s corporate partner, worked closely with students throughout the programme – offering encouragement, guidance and insight.
“You hear a lot about kids not caring… I don’t think that’s a fair reflection. These young people are enthusiastic and really want to make a difference.”
Joanna, Mentor, People’s Partnership
For mentors, the experience is equally rewarding.
“I was a cheerleader… it was just the right level to give what I could and still have a really fun experience.”
Joanna, Mentor
The programme brought to the fore what can happen when young people are given responsibility, trust and a clear goal.
A deeper understanding of community
At the heart of the Youth Enterprise Project is its connection to St Catherine’s Hospice, a vital local charity providing end-of-life care and support to patients and families. Through their fundraising efforts, students gain a deeper understanding of the hospice’s wore, as well as the importance of community support.
“I’ve learnt that St Catherine’s Hospice doesn’t get a lot of funding from the government… giving back makes me feel so much happier.”
Student Participant
Many students spoke about the emotional impact of supporting a cause that touches so many lives, recognising the importance of ensuring dignity and care at the end of life.
“I think it’s really important to have a good end of your life… hospices do a really good job of ensuring that.”
Student Participant
Making it all possible
This year’s programme was supported by People’s Partnership. Corporate partnerships play a vital role in the continued success of YEP, providing mentoring, judging and support. While partnerships may evolve year to year, the need for local business involvement remains, offering opportunities for organisations to connect with the next generation while supporting a valued community charity.
As judge Angela Staral summed up: “If four schools can do this, what if every school in the whole country did this?’’
Get involved
Following another highly successful year, St Catherine’s Hospice is inviting more schools to join the Youth Enterprise Project for the next cycle. Whether you are an educator, school leader or community partner, there’s never been a better time to get involved in a programme that combines education, enterprise and empathy.
Register your interest
To take part in the next Youth Enterprise Project, email: fundraising@stch.org.uk or visit the St Catherine’s Hospice website to complete the online expression of interest form.
