Action

Stand-up at The Leadmill: Rachael raises vital funds with comedy challenge!

Our Northern Programme Manager, Rachael, has courageously performed a stand-up comedy fundraiser in Sheffield. 

Confidently delivering her set in July at the famous Leadmill venue, Rachael’s eight-week UltraComedy training helped display her comedic talents.  

Read on as we discover the inspiring story of Rachael’s challenge, as she shares her setbacks and triumphs along the way.

The joy of making others laugh

Choosing comedy over a sporting fundraising challenge, Rachael says she loves making others laugh.

“One of the things I miss most about teaching is standing up in front of 28 pupils and making them laugh (I did teach them on occasion too!),” she says. “So, I thought it would be good to try some actual stand-up!”

Overcoming writer’s block

Crafting comedic material proved a formidable challenge for Rachael, as she grappled with a creativity block.

“I discovered that writing actual jokes is really difficult. Being funny in the pub with your friends is very different to standing up on stage and performing your own material.” – Rachael

Rachael’s perseverance shone through as she embraced the training, relishing the opportunity to meet new people and share creative ideas.

Battling the nerves

As it would be for most, the prospect of performing stand-up comedy was nerve-wracking for Rachael.

“I was okay in terms of feeling nervous right up to the day itself and then I found my emotions hard to manage! There were 27 acts in total and I was on 25th! Waiting such a long time whilst everyone else performed was really tough.” – Rachael

However, Rachael conquered her nerves and delivered a brilliant performance in the spotlight.

“I was glad that there were such bright spotlights shining on me so I was dazzled and couldn’t actually see anyone in the audience!” – Rachael

Fundraising success

Rachael had great fundraising success, raising an incredible £503.75 including Gift Aid.

This amount could provide enhanced DBS checks for 44 volunteer tutors, or high quality maths or English workbooks to 96 pupils!

“Watching the funds raised for Action Tutoring mount up was a great buzz.” – Rachael

Get out of your comfort zone

Rachael encourages anyone considering a similar challenge to take the plunge!

Want to get involved and help us support disadvantaged pupils to unlock their academic potential? Email molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk to discuss your fundraising idea!

My Smoke Ring challenge for Action Tutoring

175 miles, one ripped tyre and a whole lot of learning

Blog written by Action Tutoring’s Nich Bull:

On Friday 5th July this year I took on the challenge of a lifetime – the Smoke Ring 2024; a gruelling 200 mile off-road bike ride around London raising money for Action Tutoring.

The ride is definitely a brutal test. Overall it was a super wet night, constant pedalling for nearly 20 hours, and the significant physical and mental strain that comes with pushing yourself to the limit.

While I didn’t quite make it the full 200 miles, I still managed 175 miles as a ripped tyre forced me to stop around 10 am on Saturday. Disappointment? Sure. But this ride wasn’t just about the finish line. It was a journey of self-discovery, and it taught me some invaluable lessons that I want to share with you.

Resilience and the power of learning from failure

The Smoke Ring was altogether the most challenging thing I have ever done. It certainly pushed me to my absolute physical and mental limits. But you know what? It also shows me the power of resilience and the importance of learning from failure.

Now, I have a year to analyse what went wrong and return stronger next time. Going forward, I will look to prepare different tools and strategies. That’s the beauty (and sometimes frustration) of pushing your boundaries – you learn what works and what doesn’t.

The importance of evidence-based action in overcoming challenges

This experience got me particularly thinking about the importance of resilience and learning from failure in a broader sense – not just for individuals, but also for organisations. Research shows that the best organisations are the ones that embrace failure as a learning opportunity. They take stock of what went wrong, analyse the data, and use that information to improve.

A core Action Tutoring value is basing our work on evidence. We especially focus on analysing our results, even when they’re not what we specifically hoped for. This allows us to constantly improve and make a bigger impact on the lives of the children we serve.

Maybe we all need to get better at embracing evidence-based failure. By learning from our mistakes, we can grow stronger and achieve even greater things.

This Smoke Ring challenge may not have ended with me crossing the finish line, but the journey of learning and growing is far from over. Together, let’s keep pushing forward, embracing challenges, and positively impacting the world.

Support Action Tutoring and keep the journey going

If you feel inspired by Action Tutoring’s mission and Nich’s Smoke Ring challenge, there are a few ways you can get involved:

• Take up a challenge yourself: See a list of our events here or get in contact with our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk if you have your own event in mind.
• Corporate partnerships: Are you looking to get your company involved in a cause that matters? See more information here or get in contact with our Corporate Partnerships Manager, Mollie, directly on mollie.vessey@actiontutoring.org.uk.
• Volunteer as a tutor: Share your knowledge and make a real difference in a child’s life. Sign up to volunteer below!

10 formidable fundraisers challenge themselves at the London 10k!

Ten fearless runners have raised over £3,000 for Action Tutoring by taking on the Saucony London 10k.

Cheered on by family and friends, fundraisers completed the flat and urban route, supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds across England.

Read on to find out about how our runners triumphantly crossed the finish line on this fantastic day of fundraising.

Fantastic day at the London 10k

On Sunday 14th July, London’s streets were not filled with the usual traffic. Instead, 13,000 keen runners completed the London 10k, surrounded by sun and blue skies.

Starting in Piccadilly, passing many iconic landmarks, and finishing near Parliament Square, the route was made  for a personal best!

“Running through the beautiful streets of London was an exhilarating experience, and it was made even more special knowing that every step taken was towards supporting Action Tutoring.” – Ashutosh, fundraiser

Booming atmosphere and iconic London 10k route

The London 10k is renowned for its carnival-like atmosphere, and this year’s event was no exception, with roaring music and applauding supporters.

“The atmosphere throughout the run was amazing, people cheering and music blaring was so much fun and helped push me on.” – Eluario, fundraiser

Running past incredible sights like Big Ben, the London Eye, and the River Thames made for an unforgettable experience. Westminster Bridge even brought a welcome surprise!

“Reaching Westminster Bridge and having people shoot water guns to help cool us all down for the last couple of kilometres was a much-needed blessing and so much fun for everyone involved.” – Gabe, staff fundraiser

Best-friend duo

The camaraderie shared between friends can be a powerful motivator for taking on a personal challenge. Running the race as a duo, Gabe and Eluario created a lasting memory as they ran side-by-side.

“Running with one of my best mates made the experience so much better as we were able to push each other.” – Gabe, staff fundraiser

They both attributed their success to the mutual encouragement they provided throughout the race, helping them push through to the finish line.

Keeping the cause in mind

Driven by their commitment to our cause, our runners maintained high motivation and determination throughout their training and on race day.

“Knowing that our efforts will support educational needs for those who require extra help made it all worthwhile.” – Bernard

Not only did they raise vital funds, but our team pushed themselves physically and mentally to achieve their goals.

“Running for such a great cause was a huge motivator, making me push myself to complete the race and finish it in as fast a time as possible.” – Eluario, fundraiser

“This event was not just about pushing my physical limits but also about contributing to a cause close to my heart.” – Ashutosh, fundraiser

Victorious fundraising

All their hard work paid off! The team raised an incredible £3,049.93, rising to £3,321.80 with Gift Aid.

This could provide an incredible 610 high quality pupil workbooks, or online training for 1,071 volunteer tutors.

A huge thank you to QBE, of which Action Tutoring is the UK community partner of their foundation. We are grateful to them for matching the donations of their four runners in this race.

“A huge well done to our team of 10 who took on this personal achievement whilst fundraising for our important work. Our vision is a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background. We couldn’t achieve this without you. Thank you!” – Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Fundraise for us

Do you want to get involved in a fundraising challenge for us? We might just have the opportunity for you!

Contact our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, at molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk for a full list of our events. You can also check out our Fundraising Pack for all the ways you can support us.