May 2024

In May, First Give Director, Isaac Jones, and Buffini Chao Foundation trustee Sue Gutierrez were lucky enough to sit on the judging panel for the Final of the Co-operative Academy of Stoke–on–Trent’s 2024 First Give programme. The school has been a First Give partner for 2 years now and serves a diverse community.

Ten groups, representing the ten forms from Year 8, stood up in front of a room full of their parents, carers, peers and teachers to explain their projects. 

At every Final, First Give donate a grant of £1,000 to the charity chosen by the group who deliver the best presentation and complete the most creative and impactful social action. After a tough deliberation the panel of judges decided that the winning class were the group who supported Stoke on Trent Foodbank. They had impressed in a number of ways. First of all their passion and their commitment to their chosen charity was evident. It was clear that the whole class were involved and had engaged with the social action project.

Sue Gutierrez reflected on the social action that Year 8 had completed’; “What has been amazing at this Final is hearing about the wide range of social action: from the ever-popular bake sale to an art installation, charity football match, litter–picking and even a podcast!  The creativity of ideas and the impact that students had through their work were impressive.”