Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pupils get taste for business in charity cafe and sweet sale
ENTREPRENEURIAL pupils at a Broughty Ferry primary school have set up shop in aid of charity.
As part of the EPS Guildry Enterprise Project, two P6 classes at Eastern Primary were given £150 each to start their own businesses.
The children brainstormed ideas, with one class settling on a sweetie cone business and the other setting up a cafe.
Youngsters had to research ideas extensively, knowing where to source products from and creating a business plan.
They also designed their own logos, branding and marketing campaigns once they had decided on an idea.
This week, pupils sold more than 200 cones in fellow schools and prepared 140 others to sell at Castle Green to members of the public.
Each cone was sold for £1 and a JustGiving page was set up to gather donations.
More than £500 has been raised so far.
The 25-pupil class will gift their profits to Dundee and Angus Foodbank.
Members of the charity also delivered a talk to the children about their work.
Teacher Olivia Cliff told the Weekend Telegraph that the children had found the task “exciting”.
She said: “They have worked so well and their teamwork has been incredible.
“They have been weighing out specific amounts for the cones.
“It’s been amazing. They will be sad when it’s over.
“It has taught them lots of skills, like weighing, maths, money, design, communication. It has been a great opportunity.”
The other class, made up of 31 entrepreneurs and taught by Rebecca Dickson, started Cafe No 6, which sold baked goods donated by parents and family.
Their profits, which came from selling goods at schools in the area, will be given to children’s charity Dundee Bairns.
The cafe sold brownies, cakes, fudge, milkshakes, juice, tea and coffee. It is believed more than £1,000 has been raised.
Ms Dickson described the experience as “valuable”.
She said: “The children loved it and learned so much without realising the learning behind it.”
Iain Murray, a Guildry member who supported the project alongside Ivor Morton, said: “The Guildry are really delighted to be invited into schools to give children a passion for business, which we hope follows on to adult life.”
Ms Dickson added: “Ivor gave us weekly support and guided us through. He was fantastic – the children all loved him.”
Now in its 10th year, the primary school enterprise project, organised by the Guildry of Dundee in liaison with the education department of Dundee City Council, provides pupils in P6 and P7 classes with the capital to develop and deliver a business initiative to make as much money as possible for their chosen charity, guided by mentors from the Guildry.
The project has been running across 14 classes in nine primary schools across Dundee.
Lord Dean of Guild, Joe Morrow, said: “It is so brilliant to see the energy and enthusiasm shown by all the pupils involved as they work together and apply their learning.
“The children have a wide range of talents and the project encourages them to demonstrate their individual skills, fostered both at home and in school, whatever they may be.
“At the same time, they can see that their efforts benefit others in the community worse off than themselves.
“This is rewarding, fun and a win-win for everyone concerned.
“We look forward to seeing some great results from their efforts over the weeks ahead.”