North Hertfordshire College is proud to announce the final fundraising total for our 2024/25 Charity of the Year. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our staff, students, and wider community, an amazing £18,238.40 has been raised for the Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT).
Fundraising at NHC is always a true cross-college effort, with activities taking place across departments and campuses throughout the year. Highlights included our ever-popular NET Christmas Fair, which raised over £1,000 through selling festive crafts, gingerbread men, mulled wine kits, and bric-a-brac, alongside an ESOL student cook-off showcasing cultural dishes from around the world.
Alongside these events, individuals and teams took on extraordinary personal challenges:
- Clare, NHC’s Catering technician, completed a Channel-length swim to raise funds.
- Donna B, Donna R, Kyla, Mark, and Leanne bravely took to the skies for a sponsored skydive.
- Aimie and Julie from our Access to HE team also continued their long-standing tradition of a charity sleep-out, spending the night outside the Stevenage campus – a challenge they have now taken on for an impressive eight consecutive years.
Throughout the year, further fundraising activities such as cake sales, ‘name the teddy’ competitions, donations at our staff conferences, and curriculum events also helped boost the total.
Reflecting on her skydive experience, Donna Ryan, one of our Hospitality & Catering tutors, said: “When I was first asked if I would take part in a skydive to raise money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, my immediate reaction was fear. The idea was terrifying. But after taking time to reflect, I realised it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Stepping out of that plane was one of the most frightening moments of my life, yet it quickly became one of the most exhilarating. Surrounded by an incredibly supportive group of friends, we faced the challenge together as a team. Knowing that the money we raised would help save lives made every second worthwhile — it’s an experience I will never forget.”
To celebrate the fundraising total, the College was delighted to welcome Jess Clarkson (Fundraising Coordinator for EHAAT) and clinician Dr Omar Hussain to lunch at our Meadows restaurant. During the visit, Dr Omar shared powerful insights into the charity’s work, explaining how their helicopter can complete a journey that would take 40 minutes by car in just 10 minutes by air.
The team also learned about EHAAT’s pioneering CPR initiatives, including a UK-first scheme offering live video guidance to bystanders during cardiac arrest emergencies. In addition, the CPR Smart programme is working to ensure every child in Essex and Hertfordshire leaves school knowing how to perform CPR.
The fundraising total for the 2024/25 academic year beat the College’s previous record, continuing NHC’s proud tradition of supporting a nominated charity each year. While the College is now fundraising for a new charity for the 2025/26 academic year, we are excited to continue our relationship with Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. Plans are already in place to take a group of students to visit the North Weald base, and to welcome the EHAAT team on-campus to deliver life-saving CPR training to our students in the future.
For more information about North Hertfordshire College’s Charity of the Year fundraising work, please visit our Charity of the Year page.