Students from a range of Bournemouth University Business School programmes, including Events Management, Sport Management, Sport Coaching, and Tourism and Hospitality, have raised more than £5,000 for charitable causes while engaging over 1,100 participants and attendees through a series of live events delivered as part of Events Management’s The Live Event unit.
Student teams battled it out in an array of fun events to raise money for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF). (Image: Granville PR)Working in partnership with a range of local and national charities, student teams planned, promoted, and delivered 17 live events, transforming classroom learning into meaningful community impact. The events showcased a wide variety of concepts, including charity quiz nights, sports tournaments, community celebrations, bingo events, murder mystery experiences, wellbeing initiatives, sustainable fashion events, and awareness campaigns.
Charity partners included Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF), Centrepoint, The Wave Project, MYTIME Young Carers, Willow, Two Little Birds, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, Bridge The Gap Football, and Saint Dunstan Orthodox Church, reflecting the breadth of organisations students supported throughout the semester.
Collectively, the events raised over £5,060 for charitable organisations while also increasing awareness of important social issues, encouraging community engagement, and bringing together students, staff, local organisations, and members of the wider public. Several events also incorporated themes of sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and cultural engagement, demonstrating the broader social value of student-led event initiatives.
The Live Event unit, a core part of the Events Management programme and available as an optional unit to students from several other courses, reflects Bournemouth University's commitment to experiential learning and community engagement. Through the module, students work directly with external organisations to design and deliver events that create genuine social impact while developing professional skills in event planning, stakeholder engagement, marketing, fundraising, leadership, teamwork, and operational delivery.
Dr Payam Ansari, Unit Leader and Programme Leader for Events Management, said: "The Live Event unit is one of the most rewarding parts of our teaching because it brings together students from different disciplines to apply their knowledge in real-world settings while making a genuine difference to local charities and communities. Seeing their creativity, professionalism, and commitment translate into more than £5,000 raised for charity and engaging over 1,100 participants and attendees is a fantastic achievement. We are incredibly proud of all of our students and grateful to our charity partners for their continued collaboration and support in making these projects possible."
The success of this year’s Live Event projects highlights the positive impact that can be achieved when education, community partnership, and social purpose come together, reinforcing Bournemouth University's commitment to producing graduates who create value both professionally and within the communities they serve.
