We are inviting volunteers to help beat a local charity record for the number of car raffle tickets sold as part of our Princesshay Charity of the Year and Mercedes-Benz of Exeter 2016 partnership.
Each year, Princesshay shopping centre officially supports a different local charity and we have been selected as the coveted ‘2016 Charity of the Year’.
Princesshay’s support includes raising awareness through fundraising and a prestigious car raffle in the shopping centre. Mercedes-Benz of Exeter has generously donated a Mercedes-Benz A-Class car worth over £22,000 as the raffle prize which will be displayed in Princesshay alongside raffle tickets on sale. 100% of the proceeds from this prominent car raffle will raise thousands of pounds to support our students.
General Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Exeter, Richard Golsworthy said, “It’s our pleasure to support Exeter Deaf Academy and the phenomenal work that they do creating their vision and supporting Deaf people. With its dynamic styling and superb performance, the A-Class has generated huge interest in our showroom and we hope that it will do the same for Exeter Deaf Academy by boosting funds they so greatly deserve.”
Princesshay Operations Manager, Andrew Littlejohns agreed, “The Mercedes car raffle is a fantastic fundraising initiative and we’re very pleased to host this as part of our charity partnership with Exeter Deaf Academy this year. We really encourage people to come forward and volunteer to help sell raffle tickets in support of Exeter Deaf Academy.”
Exeter Deaf Academy is the only specialist day and residential Deaf education provider in the South West, and at 190 years old, we are also one of the city’s oldest charities. We run a school and college for students from throughout the UK, creating a bilingual environment that provides tailored education and care in both English and British Sign Language (BSL).
Deaf students learning in mainstream schools and colleges are also supported by us through an outreach service. However, we are not funded in the same way as state schools and are reliant on fundraising to help pay for much of our essential and innovative work.
Deaf Academy Fundraising Manager, Tori Vince said, “The brand new A-Class from Mercedes-Benz of Exeter is absolutely fantastic and a tremendous raffle prize. We’d love to break the local record for the number of raffle tickets sold as Princesshay’s 2016 Charity of the Year but we can’t do this without a team of volunteers. So we are inviting local people to support us by giving just 3 hours or whatever time they can spare on a Friday or Saturday to help sell raffle tickets. Why not volunteer with a friend, help support a great cause and become a local record-breaker?”
Our learners have also got behind the car raffle and are eager to see new local people volunteer. Students are pitching in to volunteer themselves and also feature as models on our posters and leaflets on display around the City to recruit volunteers.
One of the poster models, Year 9 pupil Alex, pictured left, joined Exeter Deaf Academy after his previous school placements broke down. Alex was struggling with engaging in education, but with tailored support, he now thrives at school, making great progress in his year group and elected as Head of the School Council by his fellow class-mates.
Alex said “Before coming to the Deaf Academy I didn’t like school, I had been to many different ones and I wasn’t learning or happy anymore. I have now been here two years and it’s great. I work really hard. I have also been elected Head of the Student Council where we discuss and campaign on issues important to our school and the Deaf community.”
No previous experience is needed to volunteer, just enthusiasm and confidence talking to the public. Full information and support will be provided. Volunteers must be 16 years and over or accompanied by an adult. To sign up visit: exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/volunteer
Email the Exeter Deaf Academy fundraising team at: fundraising@exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk or call 01392 267019.
