Say Yes Challenge
Lindsey Pendergast, Covent Garden London
As office manager of Covent Garden London, Lindsey was keen to become involved in our local Catch22 “Say Yes” Challenge as part of her job. Lindsey’s subsequent involvement personally exceeded her expectations.
The ‘Say Yes’ Challenge in Covent Garden, with pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School, was a social enterprise project where groups of 5 or 6 children set up their own businesses with the help of pairs of “Business Buddies” from the world of commerce, including Covent Garden London. The overall theme of the project was to come up with sound business ideas to counteract anti-social behaviour in urban areas.
While intending to act as a coordinator for the project, sitting on the steering committee, Lindsey became unexpectedly and deeply involved as a business buddy. At the launch of the Challenge, last minute business pressures meant that some business buddies were unable to fulfil their commitment. The launch event in September 2008 was the first opportunity for the children to meet their buddies and begin 8 weeks working together in preparation for the celebration event in January 2009. Without that preparation some pupils would have had difficulty in completing the programme. Step up Lindsey!
Although having one of the most demanding elements of the project to deal with already, Lindsey saw an opportunity to become even more involved and immediately volunteered to be a business buddy. She joined Terry Eccles of the London Transport Museum, teaming up to act as buddies. Over the next 8 weeks Lindsey and Terry worked with their group at the school to help create their business and develop the business plans and presentations, ready to go before the judging panel on 24 November.
After that, the team continued to refine its project, ready for 28 January 2009, the Celebration Event, to present their achievements not only to the judging panel, but to parents, teachers, visitors and their classmates. This was the culmination of a lot of teamwork in which the children learned how businesses work by undertaking research, distilling outstanding ideas into a product and all the while developing new skills. The team won the prizes for Best Showcase Stand and for Best Demonstration of Teamwork. Norman Lloyd, National Programme Manger for Catch22 had this to say:
“As National Programme Manager for Catch22 it’s my pleasure to have worked very closely with Lindsey to deliver the Junior Say Yes Challenge and she has provided the invaluable co-ordinating role for the project on behalf of Covent Garden London. She’s done this with distinction.
As a former headteacher, I recognise her tremendous skills and organisational abilities working with children to help to bring out the very best in them and help them achieve their full potential.”
This was not a one-way exercise. The enthusiasm and ideas that came from the children provided Lindsey with a rewarding insight into the imagination and creativity that comes from young people and the energy with which they can convert their ideas into reality. She discovered that she was able to make a difference in the local community, encouraged by Covent Garden London, to work during business hours on a project that enhanced its involvement with the local community.
