Find out what's new in our world!
- News
- Money management
- Training expedition – seen by our challengers
- Teddies for tragedies
- Check list of some things you must remember
- Challenger events 2009
- World Challenge's own fundraising
As most of you probably know, World Challenge has a Facebook page for you to exchange ideas, comment about your preparation for the expedition and meet other Challengers who have been on expedition with us before, loved it and would love to share some of their experiences with you.
Almost 2,000 Challengers have joined our page, so I you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for?
In addition to this and to help you with your fundraising, we have also created a Facebook fundraising support group. Our dedicated fundraising support advisers are available to help you with your fundraising and will be constantly updating the site with ideas and much more!
Your expedition and the credit crunch
We know that you must be getting a bit worried about the credit crunch and how you will be able to raise your funds towards your expedition. We know that it seems like it’s going to be more and more difficult but please don’t worry.
The many different ways our Challengers have been raising funds in the past will still be profitable for the future Challengers, even during difficult economic times. Activities like car-washing, baby-sitting, bag-packing and dog-walking will always be needed and people will be willing to pay your for it.
Also, don’t forget that World Challenge organises many fundraising events every year. You can sign in from now (you just need to download the application form) and start collecting your sponsorship promises.
However, if you feel like you need some extra support for your fundraising, our fundraising support team is here to help so please send us an email at moneymanagement@world-challenge.co.uk or give us a call on +44 (0)208 728 7235.
Congratulations to Parmiters School who sent this amazing pictures from their expedition to Bolivia!
And here are pictures of our finalists:
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 Jacob Buckles-Price Sir Christopher Hatton School Project Namibia |
This summer, for the first time in our history, Alan and Lindsay, a father and his daughter led overseas expeditions with World Challenge. Alan Melrose has been leading World Challenge expeditions since 1999. His first expedition was to Tanzania and this year he led two expeditions (not at the same time!): one to Morocco and one to Chile. Lindsay McManamon (nee Melrose) assistant led her first expedition with us in 2007 when she went to Sri Lanka and led this summer to Uganda.
Lindsay feels this is a natural progression for her. Originally from Scotland she got used to be up the hills all the time with her dad. She told us all the family holidays always involved hills and trekking and everyone loved it!
Lindsay used to listen to her dad’s stories when he came home from his expeditions and dreamt about travelling herself. After acquiring her Mountain Leader award, she worked as a part-time leader when she was at Uni and went travelling for a year when she finished her studies. Since then she’s been working at her dad’s business (surprisingly this is an outdoor company!) and leading for World Challenge.
Before going on her first expedition Lindsay told us she was really nervous but once she was in country everything went really well. This year, all the Challengers who went on expedition with Lindsay were really happy with her and 90% of them said she was an excellent leader.
Lindsay has a passion for leading and we hope her and her father will keep on leading for us for many many years!
1. Loads of ideas from our Challengers Luke, aged 13, is going on expedition to Malawi in the summer 2009 and had a fantastic fundraising idea: he raised £1,400/€1,760 busking in Petersfield, playing and singing his own songs. Please make sure you have the relevant authorisation to busk before doing it!
2. Two Challengers from Bushey Meads School organised a ‘Back to the 80s’ night from 7pm to 1am. They created their own poster to advertise the party and their families and friends came to the event. They will be travelling to Thailand and Laos in the summer of 2009 and managed to raised £1,800/€2,250. See the pictures below.
3. Another fantastic fundraising idea comes from William who cycled around the capital ring! Isn’t it amazing? It took him 16 hours to complete this challenge and he raised all the money for his expedition! Please find below some pictures of his incredible journey.
Record from our Australian teams
Twenty Carey Grammar students (one of our Australian schools) are travelling to Borneo in November 2008 with World Challenge. They were passionate about making a more significant contribution during their trip by creating some sort of fundraiser which their whole school could participate in. The funds raised were to be utilised towards helping Borneo people with their schooling needs, water problems and health issues.
After considering a number of options, they resolved that everybody loves to be the best at something so why not attempt a Guinness World Record. Initially ideas included the World Record of the largest human hug (which unfortunately required 20,000 people), and other bizarre challenges such as the largest Irish dance (involving 10,034 people) however in the end it was resolved that they would attempt the World Record for The Largest Human Wheelbarrow Race.
Ben McMahon, a year 10 student at Carey Grammar, was the instigator and leader for the Guinness World Record attempt. The race was scheduled for the 9th of September 2008. The task was daunting in that there were numerous aspects to address from the initial contact with Guinness World Records to the actual logistics of the event. They had to go through numerous e-mails, phone calls and other organisation aspects to make sure that this massive event went to plan.
On the day of the event 1044 students and teachers paired-up to race 50 metres to claim the Guinness World Record. This smashed the previous record by 344 people!
Along with this, though the distribution of sponsor forms, sponsorship from local businesses as well as selling 250 pies on the day, they raised over $5,000 (approx. £2,000/€2,500) for their project in Borneo. Not only this but they were rewarded with media coverage in local newspapers, the Age Newspaper, internet broadcasts, a 3AW radio station interview and news reports of Channel 9 and SBS news.
Ben McMahon stated after the race: “…Finishing that race was so meaningful to me. All those hours and late nights flashed though my mind during that 30 second race and hey, it may have been absolute mayhem, but now we’re in the Guinness Book of World Records!” Carey Grammar are extremely happy with their efforts. Importantly, it brought together the whole school with people having fun but at the same time making a difference!
Find out more at http://wheelbarrow.glennan.com/large
Getting ready for Christmas holidays
This Christmas holidays get motivated with your fundraising activities and try something a bit different to raise those extra pennies. We have thought of 3 top fundraising tips to make the most of your holiday break, taking you another step closer to your expedition of a life time.
Top fundraising tips!
Make your own Christmas cards
Help inject something special into this year’s Christmas by making your own cards. Not only will this save you money, but you can also sell them to your friends. We all love to send cards during the holiday season, so make everyone else’s life a bit easier and you can pocket that extra bit of cash too.
School dance
Before you go off to celebrate the festival period with your family, why not help create a special evening for you and your friends with a Christmas disco. By organising the event and selling tickets in advance, this could be a great fundraiser for everyone to enjoy. This type of event is best organised in a group with the help of your friends and teachers.
Bake sale
Spruce up everyone’s Christmas dinner by holding a bake sale with a difference. Join forces with any friends/family who have a talent in the kitchen and bake some delicious desserts. Why not think of original dishes as well as Christmas cake – chocolate biscuits cut out in Christmas tree shapes or snowman Rice Crispy cakes?
Training expedition – seen by our Challengers
Described by Laura and Claire from Homewood School
Part 1 written by Laura Haynes (Yr 13)
On the 28th of March at 6am, the World Challenge team left school to head off for their training weekend in Buxton. Ten and a half hours later we arrived, collected equipment and walked to our campsite for the night. By the time we got there the rain was pouring down, the wind was howling, and it was dark; but our spirits remained high and we set up camp and cooked a ‘lovely’ dinner of slightly undercooked pasta and sauce, cleared up and went to bed in our slightly damp/ puddly tents!
The next morning we awoke to find the rain had stopped, so we got up, cooked some porridge for breakfast and started walking carrying everything in our rucksacks. The rain soon started and the wind followed. We walked up hills, down hills, then up steeper hills, then down even steeper hills all day; everyone got very muddy (some more so than others) wet and tired but we sung to keep our spirits up and we made it!
Our accommodation on the Saturday night must have been the bleakest campsite in England: it was on top of a hill, with the wind howling over it, with no running water, and just one portaloo, with about 60 campers… (not nice!). We put up the tents, then spent the evening eating and playing games before having an early night!
On Sunday the sun came out, and we packed up camp, cleaned up our equipment and then walked back to the centre where we had a much needed shower!
The weekend was brilliant fun, despite the awful weather; we bonded as a team, learnt some new songs to sing, and had a great time!
Part 2 written by Claire Hoyland (Yr13)
Everyone awoke on the Sunday morning to be greeted by the sun. We were the first team at the campsite to pack our tents and begin to make our way back down to the centre. But before we could all enjoy a long awaited shower the World Challenge leaders had a few surprises! Firstly we were shown how to use the make shift stretcher (Mr Crumbie kindly volunteered to be carried by members of the team) next we had a full kit inspection which resulted in the team hurriedly re-washing a few items. After passing inspection everybody finally hurried to the showers. After everybody had showered the group reformed to reflect on the weekend. Everyone had a great time despite the dismal weather. The World Challenge leaders were impressed with our teamwork and positive attitude. The final surprise of the weekend was the team asking Zoë (a World Challenge leader) to accompany us in South Africa. We were all delighted she agreed!!
Although the weekend challenged the team physically and mentally the positive team spirit, teamwork and determination of the team made sure everyone, not only completed the weekend but also enjoyed it!
Teddies for Tragedies is not a registered charity, it has no central organisation, no rules, regulations, or subscription fees. It is just a knitting (and crochet) pattern. Last year, a World Challenge team from Baxter College, Kidderminster, who went on expedition to Zambia and Botswana in July, contacted Teddies for Tragedies and took some teddies to their project. They were a great success! Since then a few other teams have contacted the organisation and taken teddies to lots of different destinations.
Why not contact Teddies for Tragedies and take some to your project? Teddies aren't big, each measuring approx.10"/26cm high x 4"/10cm wide, & weighs about 2oz/50gm, & comes with its own drawstring "sleeping bag". They are very soft & can be folded & crammed into small spaces. The bag can be packed flat, or rolled round more fragile items & used as padding. There is no cost for the Challengers and the myriad of knitters are in the business of giving smiles.
For more information, please go to their website, or contact Tricia Smith at info@teddiesfortragedies.org.uk or call +44 (0)16977 47547.
Going away in 2009 to a long haul destination? Here’s a check list of some things you must remember
For Challengers
- Coming soon (some of you have already done it!). Ask your School Leader for more details:
- Planning meeting
- Training expedition
- Just before Christmas, we will be publishing two important documents on the expedition members’ website :
- Itinerary
- Expedition handbook
For School Leaders
- Sign up for the Expedition Preparation Conference
For all of you
- If you know of a student of your school who wants to join your expedition team, let them know it’s not too late and ask them to contact us for an application pack
- Please check your personal details are correct on the expedition members’ website (on the Personal profile tab, under who’s who)
- If you have a medical condition and you haven’t told us about it yet, please do so as soon as possible, simply to ensure you’re fully covered on our insurance.
- Please check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after you return to your home country.
- As a reminder, personal kit and personal money are not covered by our insurance so make sure you get a personal insurance for this. Ask your parents to see if your home insurance will cover this.
The runs and abseils organised by World Challenge are fun and a great way to raise funds towards your expedition.
Challenger runs
- Staffordshire - Beaudesert Park, Cannock, Sunday, 26th April 2009
- Surrey - Alice Holt, Farnham, Sunday, 10th May 2009
All you need to take care of is your own transport to and from the event. We will send you a handy sponsors pack to help you raise the money and a training schedule to make sure you are fully prepared.
It costs only £15 (€22) and this includes the use of the venue, medical support and refreshments. Certificates and medals are awarded at the end of the event.
Challenger abseils
Abseil costs £17 (€25)
- Dublin – Sunday, 1st March 2009
- Halifax – Saturday, 7th March 2009
- Buxton – Sunday, 8th March 2009
- Middlesbrough (1) – Sunday, 15th March 2009
- Plymouth – Saturday, 21st March 2009
- Scotland – Saturday, 18th April 2009
- Middlesbrough (2) – Sunday, 19th April 2009
- Belfast (venue/date TBC)
Please click here for the Challenger event flyer
Please click here for the application form
Good luck with your fundraising!
Here at World Challenge we’re doing our own fundraising…
Ella is the niece of a member of staff. She’s 5 years old and has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. The Chemotherapy she received has not been successful so her only chance of survival is surgery. For further information please visit www.ellabunn.org.
From October until Christmas, World Challenge has been, and will be, organising many small events to raise funds to help the family.
Here are few initiatives we’ve had:
- Sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts on Fridays using the fundraising vouchers
- Allow staff to wear jeans on Friday if they pay a small contribution
- Sell pizzas once a week and making a small margin
- Name the bear contest
- Sex and the City night : a small fee to see the movie and have one free cosmopolitan (all members of staff are old enough to drink!)
- 8 members of staff will be climbing the 33ft wall 88 times (each!) at the Climb in Amersham which is the equivalent of Everest. The team are aiming to raise over £1000.
