Cerys Williams, a 17-year-old Level 3 Health and Social Care student at Coleg Menai, raised £1,400 for the mental health charity Mind by organising a community fundraising event in Bangor. The event featured bingo games and a raffle, and the cheque was handed over to Bethan, Income Generation Lead for Mind, during a visit to the college.
Community Support for Mental Health
The event was part of Cerys's Welsh Baccalaureate volunteering project. “The response of the community was incredible,” said Cerys. “It genuinely brought people together of all ages.” She worked hard to secure donations, contacting businesses and explaining her cause, which resulted in local businesses generously donating prizes for the raffle and bingo.
Focus on Older People's Mental Health
Cerys chose to support Mind Conwy because she wanted to help mental health services for older people, an area she feels is often overlooked. “The experience showed me how powerful fundraising can be when people understand the cause and the effort being put into organising,” she added. She was grateful for the support from her tutors at Coleg Menai, whose advice helped her stay organised and focused.
Other Students Contribute
Cerys is not the only Coleg Menai student raising funds for Mind. Level 1 learners from the Bangor campus also raised £309.72 for the charity by organising events over the past two years. These students, now on the Level 2 course, also met Bethan and handed over their cheque. A big well done to all students and thanks to local businesses for their donations.
