The first City Pitch Day was held at London City Hall on December 7th, 2017. The first six finalists and their proposals presented to City Pitch had been pre-selected and pre-approved through an initial sifting process. This was to ensure that we have good quality presentations to the panel and avoid disappointing the young people involved in the process. The following schools were pitching:
- Sheringham Primary School, Newham, presented the campaign ‘Go Girls’: pupils are fighting the issue of gender inequality and encouraging girls to be the leaders of the next generation. They want to start up career talks, trips to local businesses and a campaign promoting gender equality in their community.
- Vicarage Primary School, Newham, with their ‘NObesity’ project want to promote healthy lifestyles by holding a fun fit day, along with a dance for local elderly people, to help everyone in their community stay active and healthy.
- Mayfield School, Ilford, with ‘Happy Health’ campaign want to help bring a smile to terminally-ill children who are in hospitals in London, by putting together gift packages.
- ‘A Paw for a Hand’ is a project by Little Ilford School, Ilford, aiming to prevent loneliness in the elderly community by starting up sessions where local animal shelters can bring their pets to interact with elderly people in care homes.
- ‘Homeless Survival Packs’ by Harris Primary Academy Phillip Lane, Haringey, is a project promoting survival packs containing socks, shoes and warm clothes to help homeless people during the winter.
- ‘Say NO to knives’ by Springfield Community Primary School, Hackney, is a campaign to educate the local community and raise awareness about the dangers of gangs and knife violence.
Each group presented to the judging panel that included a cross-section of industry leaders:
– Mark Whelan, CCO, Havas UK;\
– Lawson Muncaster, Joint Founder & Managing Director, City A.M.;
– Temitope Moses, Education & Youth Team GLA;
– Matthew Patten, Chief Executive, Mayor’s Fund for London;
– Elena Baturina, Founder of BE OPEN and Trustee, Mayor’s Fund for London.
Each school received £1500 to deliver their project, with Sheringham Primary School, Newham receiving an extra £1500 from Elena Baturina for their continuing work on female empowerment.
