Students pick up Prize for Youth Centre Business Plan
A group of students from Sidcup have scooped the runner-up prize in a major business challenge.
The students from Christ the King Sixth Forms took part in the London Metropolitan University’s annual Big Idea Challenge for schools and colleges. The competition aims to raise entrepreneurial interest in teenagers across London, encouraging and supporting them to treat it as a career path.
At the awards ceremony, held at the Royal Institution, Ayodeji Adebiyi, Lucky Aragua, Joseph Kwaw, Aliy Salako, Kimarnie Bell and Daniel Komon succeeded with their idea called Enough Is Enough. This is a youth centre that focuses on careers advice and work experience to tackle the rising rates of knife crime throughout London, as well as engaging young people in sports and music. “Our goal is to make a youth club to get youth off the street, to prevent violent and knife-related crimes,” said Aily Salako. “The next step in taking our business forward is to look for investors, and also thinking of ways we can improve our idea. We also don’t have a website or a way for people to contact us, so that is a priority to take our idea to the next level.”
The Big Idea Challenge for schools and colleges runs alongside the London Metropolitan University’s annual Big Idea Challenge, which invites students, alumni and staff to enter their idea and win a shared prize pool of £30,000 to launch their winning idea. Previous winners have gone on to launch businesses which have created hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds profit.
Toby Kress, head of the Accelerator hub at London Met, which helps start-ups, said: “This year’s Big Idea Challenge was bigger and better than ever before. “I was seriously impressed with the ideas entered this year. At London Met, we have such a diverse community and the array of ideas produced really showed me that our students and staff really can make a difference.
“At Accelerator, we put our all into supporting the winning ideas, and I am excited to see how these ideas develop next.”
- Dwayne ST MARY'S Course: A Level History, Spanish, Maths
“I'm aiming to study Computer Science at the University of Sheffield. At CTK all students are equally as motivated to do well, it's a good environment to be in. Teachers really try their hardest to make sure that their students achieve what they are capable of and ensure you get the best grades possible.”
- Ella Mae ST MARY'S Grades achieved: A A B A Course: A Level Law Level Psychology A Level Sociology Extended Project
“What I enjoyed about CTK was meeting students from different backgrounds and sharing a desire to succeed. As an Advanced Graduate Programme student, I was given the motivation and confidence to work to the best of my ability. ”
- Samad ST MARY'S Course: A Level Media, English Literature and Language and French
“I have really enjoyed my course trips. Also, knowing that everyone else is starting Sixth Form at the same time as you, makes meeting new people and fitting in a lot easier and fun. My teachers have helped me overcome my fear of interacting during class discussions. They encouraged me to participate by giving presentations to the whole class, which boosted my confidence. Teachers will motivate you to achieve the best of your ability.”
- Oluwafoluhanmi ST MARY'S Course: A Level Biology, Chemistry and PE
“Although studying A Levels can be challenging, my teachers make my lessons enjoyable and easier to understand. The teachers at CTK are really friendly and are more than happy to help. I hope to go on to study Physiotherapy at University.”
- Alice ST MARY'S Grades achieved: D*D*D* Course: BTEC Sport and Exercise Science Level 3
“I'm going to St Mary's University, Twickenham to study Sport Science. My BTEC course was unique. The pastoral support at CTK was excellent and the extra support from teachers helped me stay on track. I would recommend CTK because of the support that staff give students”
Chislehurst Road
Sidcup
London DA14 6BE
stmarys@ctksfc.ac.uk
