A group of dedicated Year 13 students from Retford Oaks Academy have proven that personal growth and community spirit can be a recipe for success, after exceeding a £1,000 fundraising target for the British Heart Foundation.
From Tea and Talk to Tasty Bakes
The journey began when Dermot Gascoyne, a mentor at the academy and former professional boxer, was invited to speak about nutrition. This single session evolved into weekly lunchtime meetings over a cup of tea, where students Matthew Bennell, Henry Evans, Harry Fox, Dominic Harrison-Hawkes, Thomas Kemp, Thomas Ormerod, and Oliver Waring discussed personal development, mental health, and local issues with Dermot.
"Every week I start by making them a cup of tea," said Dermot. "It shows respect, and that I talk to and treat them as young men, as equals." These informal gatherings soon took a delicious turn, as the boys began bringing homemade cakes and savoury treats, sparking a friendly weekly bake-off with a dedicated rota.
Baking Up Resilience and Teamwork
The bake-off became an unexpected vehicle for learning core values like integrity, ambition, and teamwork. Student Henry Evans explained the sense of accountability it fostered: "You have to show up with the goods when it's your turn. Even if it doesn't go to plan, say if the biscuits burn, you still show up."
The project helped the group challenge stereotypes about young men and domestic skills, while strengthening their time management and responsibility. It created a supportive space to build confidence and demonstrate positive masculinity. The boys joke about the occasional empty-handed attendee, who earns a good-natured telling-off, and have crowned Dermot's egg custards the "worst bake so far."
A Personal Mission for the Heart Foundation
During discussions on community resilience, the idea for a charity bake sale was born. Choosing the British Heart Foundation, specifically its Retford branch, was a deeply personal decision for the group, as student Henry has lived with a heart condition since birth and undergone multiple open-heart surgeries.
At the Retford Christmas lights switch-on event, the boys set up their stall outside the charity's shop. Their homemade bakes were a huge hit with the community, and with additional support from the ASDA Community Fund, they soared past their £1,000 goal.
Student Matt Bennell reflected on the power of their teamwork: "We are a team and we hold each other accountable. It's one thing to all be friends, but being able to call out when someone is slipping up and still stay friends is really powerful."
While the group now turns its focus to A-Levels and UCAS applications, the experience has left a lasting mark. Matt added, "It's given me my own goals... I'd also love to become a mentor and help inspire this kind of achievement in future students."
