Get Involved

We are the Papworth Trust, one of the UK’s leading disability charities. Together with an exceptional panel of judges we are challenging you to compete in an Apprentice Style Fundraising Contest – The Grand Challenge.

What is The Grand Challenge?
Many people will have watched the Apprentice television series, made famous by Sir Alan Sugar, and some may also have felt that given the opportunity they could do better than the on-screen contestants. We are going to give people the opportunity to prove themselves by developing and using their marketing, selling and entrepreneurial skills in the Papworth Trust Grand Challenge.

The Grand Challenge will be run over a 3 month period from 1st October to 31st December. During that time we are challenging teams of between three and six people, each with a budget not exceeding £1,000, to devise, plan and complete the most successful fundraising initiative.

Participating teams will be encouraged to develop a range of innovative, creative and effective fundraising ideas. The Papworth Fundraising Team will be available throughout the event to provide information and support.

Why get involved?

The Challenge will provide an exciting and original management development opportunity.
Participants and organisations will gain excellent networking opportunities.
Participants will develop a range of skills thus providing an excellent teambuilding tool.
Participants and organisations will become involved with charitable work, gaining a unique insight into the fundraising challenges experienced by charities on a daily basis.
By working with a major disability charity you and your organisation will gain a greater understanding of disability issues.

The Grand Challenge Awards
The Grand Challenge winners will be the team that raises the most money from their fundraising initiative. Prizes will be presented to the teams finishing in 1st, 2nd & 3rd places by our judging panel from the world of business. We are delighted that our judging panel includes Lord Bilimoria, Doug Richard, and the winner of the 2007 BBC show The Apprentice Simon Ambrose to name a few.

Doug Richard, Founder Chairman of Library House Ltd., and one of the original Dragons of Dragon's Den who will help judge the entries said....“To bring the competitive spirit and the entrepreneurial spirit into such a worthy cause as Papworth Trust and its objectives concerning disability is such a positive move - I applaud it wholeheartedly. To engage teams in companies to grow donations from an initial investment is a really innovative idea - and gives those participating a real world challenge”.

Special Awards will also be made in a number of other categories, including:

Most innovative fundraising initiative
Highest profile fundraising initiative
Best initiative plan
Outstanding individual – The Papworth Apprentice

Entry Criteria
Each team will need to provide a start-up kitty not exceeding a £1,000 in order to enter and must sign and return the entry to confirm this pledge towards their fundraising activity. Teams can consist of between three and six people. Individuals not employed by your company/organisation may become part of your team provided at least one principal team member is an employee of the company/organisation registered. To secure your team entry please complete and return the official entry form to Mandy Barker at Papworth Trust. The deadline for entries is 22nd September 2008.

Who is the Papworth Trust?
The Papworth Trust is a registered charity, based in Cambridgeshire, with over 90 years experience of championing equality, providing choice and promoting independence for disabled people.

Annually, we support over 10,000 people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties, sensory impairments, long-term health issues, and mental health issues by providing specialist housing, advice, training, employment and rehabilitation services at our centres throughout Eastern England.

Email us at grandchallenge@papworth.org.uk for more information or support.