A GROUP of enterprising school children have raised money for their local food bank by setting up a business selling handmade jewellery.
Year five students from Park Street Primary School in Wombwell entered the Tycoon Enterprise Competition, established by the charitable foundation set up by entrepreneur and television star Peter Jones.
As part of the scheme, the group have the chance to head to Buckingham Palace to exhibit their business start-up ‘Little Treasures’.
The group set up and managed the business which has seen them sell handmade jewellery and home accessories - all made from recycled materials - at a number of local schools and businesses.
The children decided to donate their profits - to the tune of £200 - to the local Salvation Army food bank.
Teacher Lilian Fitchett said: “I’m so proud of them, they’ve grown in confidence so much. Some children who were very quiet were actually serving customers, it was lovely to see.
“They decided what they wanted to do, and how to do it, and we just oversaw them. They wanted to create sustainable products because they all care about the environment.”
The Tycoon Enterprise Competition was created in 2011 by the Peter Jones Foundation - set up by entrepreneur and ‘dragon’ on BBC show Dragons’ Den, Peter Jones.
As part of the competition the team were granted a £15 investment to cover start-up costs, which they had to repay once they broke even, and Lilian said staff left the students to use the money how they saw fit.
“It’s one of the most successful things we’ve done here at Park Street,” Lilian said. “Especially for the wider community.”
