STUDENTS have raised nearly £13,000 for a charity as part of an entrepreneurial project.

The youngsters taking part in this year’s St Catherine’s Hospice Thrifty £50 Project, supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), have raised more than £12,800.

The Thrifty £50 Project, which ran from January until April this year, saw RBS’s South East Corporate and Community teams provide mentoring and business advice to five schools – Hazelwick School in Three Bridges, St Wilfrid’s in Southgate, Farlington School, Tanbridge House School and Millais School in Horsham. Teams were given £50 at the start of the project and set the challenge of raising £1,500 each for the charity, by holding events such as talent shows, fun runs, cake sales and non-school uniform days to name a few.

RBS has been involved with the St Catherine’s Hospice for several years, helping to raise more than £40,000 through school initiatives like the Thrifty £50 Project and offering specialist business insight and advice.

Gabi Field, community fundraiser at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “The enthusiasm, creativity and dedication of this year's teams has been inspirational and it has been so exciting seeing their fundraising ideas come to life. “With more than £6m to raise every year, it is so important that young people in our community feel motivated to support their local hospice.

“A huge thank you to all teams, their teachers and the RBS mentors and congratulations to everyone for taking part and raising such an incredible amount of money.”

The project concluded on April 29 with an awards evening at Cisswood House Hotel near Horsham, which kindly provided the venue for free.

Each team presented their plans, actions and outcomes to a panel of hospice and RBS judges.

Colin Crisp, corporate director at RBS, said: “All of the students who took part in this year's Thrifty £50 Project should be hugely proud of themselves for raising so much money.

“For five years we have been mentoring students in taking on business-focused fundraising challenges for St Catherine’s and it has always been incredibly worthwhile. We are really glad to be able to support our local community in this way, both through helping local students gain invaluable experience and by helping to raise money for a very important cause.”

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The winners for 2015 are:
Most Money Raised: Hazelwick School  
Best Presentation: Tanbridge House School
Best Planning: Hazelwick School  
Most Innovative Fundraising Idea: Millais School