Creating a new sense of freedom for students at Chadsgrove College

An innovative ask surpasses Chadsgrove College’s fundraising target

What’s in a name? Well, for the acronym WAV, an online search found seven different meanings. But the WAV we’re referring to is a ‘wheelchair-accessible vehicle’ for Chadsgrove Educational Trust. Chadsgrove College, in Worcestershire, provides learning and development opportunities for young students aged 19 to 25 who have special educational needs (SEND) including physical disabilities and/or complex medical needs.

Students at the College voiced their desire to acquire a vehicle which could help transport them to and from their work experience placements, volunteering and other community activities. Orchard Fundraising were on hand to support this initiative, building on the College’s ethos of empowering students' voices to develop an innovative, super-successful funding request.

Thinking outside the box – consultation, collaboration and a change in fundraising direction

Orchard Fundraising was initially tasked with fundraising for a minibus as it can hold more students and is the usual mode of transport for students at school or college. However, Chadsgrove College proudly focuses on students' voices and actively seek their input into all decisions affecting their learning and development. This was the key to their success in securing funding and the right outcome for students.

Feedback from students regarding the proposed mode of transport was the pivotal point, changing the direction of fundraising from a minibus to a WAV.

The students felt that it was better to travel in WAV than a minibus on occasions when only a few students were going out at a time.   They cited concerns about the environment, specifically that it wasn’t efficient to go out in a big vehicle with just a few people and that there were few hybrid or electric minibuses on the market.   An electric WAV would be quieter to ride in, which is especially important for students with sensory impairments and autism. 

Students’ feedback along with other challenges (a special licence is required to drive a minibus and it can be difficult to park in busy locations), led to the decision to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle instead.

Creativity is the key to a compelling case for support

Based on our experience, we realised that some funders who usually fund minibuses might have reservations about funding a WAV. We developed a comprehensive prospects list and had initial conversations about the rationale for a WAV.  Based on these conversations and our expert knowledge, we developed a compelling case for support and tailored applications to selected funders. The target was £40,000.

Eureka – a batting average of 87%

The innovative request for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, backed by student engagement and the increased societal awareness of climate change and the environment, captured the interest of funders.

Orchard Fundraising applied to eight funders - seven of these were successful; that’s an 87% positive response rate.We exceeded our target of £40K, with a total of £45K raised.

Commenting on the success of the fundraising campaign, Hayley Jepson, College Business Manager at Chadsgrove College said: ‘We were delighted with the support provided by Orchard Fundraising and the fact that they helped us to exceed our fundraising target. Orchard Fundraising listened to the feedback from our students and compellingly captured the rationale for purchasing a WAV instead of a minibus. Quotes from our students really helped to personalise and strengthen our approach, bringing the fundraising applications to life. In turn, our applications caught the attention of the fantastic funders who kindly supported us due to our aligning core values .’

Visiting Worcester Sixways Stadium for a careers event

As hoped, the wheelchair accessible vehicle has brought a new sense of freedom to students, allowing them to easily access their local community.   Students say:

'I go out in the College vehicle regularly each week. I visit different social care provisions which helps me to independently choose where I would like to attend after I finish College. I can now comfortably travel in my wheelchair whilst being close to my friends at the same time and because it’s electric it’s a really quiet, relaxing drive too!'

'I really enjoy travelling in the new College vehicle, the seats are comfy and I get to sit near to my friends.  I love how we can just drive out in the local community with ease and comfort. I go to the shops each week and practice my maths and thinking skills when buying food for my practical cooking lessons.  The vehicles are really helping me become better prepared to live as independently as I possibly can when I leave College.'

Need fundraising support?

Orchard Fundraising provides fundraising consultancy and support services to charities, educational institutions and not-for-profits of all sizes. With decades of experience across all aspects of fundraising, our expert knowledge will bring your fundraising to life.

If you're looking for advice or practical support with your fundraising, get in touch with us at Orchard Fundraising on 07578 222704, send us a message or book a free discovery call now.