16 TRIPS AND VISITS ENVISION 2016 Envision – Pitching Challenge At Handsworth Grammar School we encourage our Sixth Form students to try and give something back to the community by volunteering their time and skills for the benefit of others. One of the programmes we have on offer is called Envision Community Apprentice. This is an exclusive programme involving Sixth Form students from selected schools in Birmingham, London and Bristol only. The students work together with local volunteers, schools, businesses and charities to provide a practical learning experience. Here is one group’s experience . . . The Film Challenge The first official challenge we were required to do as part of the 10-month programme was to create a short film to communicate the issues that mattered to us. This challenge required us to shoot the video in a single take in under two minutes. The Pitching Challenge In November we met with over 200 students at KPMG’s Birmingham offices. The aim of the first challenge was for us to share our plans for tackling pressing social issues and to bid for up to £100. This challenge required us to prepare a project plan and pitch it to a panel of judges made up of senior representatives from local companies and government, including David Ward, Managing Partner at Marks and Clerk, along with employees from KPMG. We had two teams participating in this challenge: Team Odyssey who aimed their project at young people suffering from depression; and The Comma Project whose aim was to raise awareness about the shockingly high suicide rate amongst young men. All twenty teams -from ten schools in total - were split into four groups to conduct their presentations. Team Odyssey pitched first and even though it was quite nerve-racking, we did quite well and managed to answer all questions that came our way from the judges.Team Odyssey received the full £100 they needed, whilst The Comma Project managed a total of £95. The judges also gave us feedback for improving our project as well as our pitch. Overall the evening was quite interesting and useful, as we gained some vital public speaking skills along with feedback to improve. This was an amazing experience which students who join the Sixth Form should definitely consider taking part in. Mohammed Zoheb Mobeen and Muhammad Nazakat Team Odyssey DofE Expedition Congratulations to the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award groups who completed their expedition this weekend walking through the Lickey Hills and Clent Hills. Everyone made it back safely and passed the expedition section of the DofE Award. They all worked incredibly hard carrying 2 days’ worth of provisions, clothes, tents and cooking equipment in large and heavy rucksacks, using map and compass to navigate and arrive at checkpoints on time. The organising team were impressed with everyone’s determination from coping with the downpours of rain to eating the meals that the students cooked! Well done to: Ruhan Ahmed, Harjot Dosanjh, Usmon Razaq, Hassan Raziq, Uzayr Usmani. Ibrahim Choudhury, Ibrahim Gulzar, Suhaib Hamad, Ibrahim Kabir, Ismaeel Mir, Rajveer Poonian. Bilal Akram, Amaan Dad, Hamid Kazi, Nasim Miah Reproduced with the permission of Ordnance Survey