By Alice G and Alice T, Year 12

On 20th January, our team held a bake sale in the morning to raise funds for EduCycle, a student-led social enterprise created as part of the GDST LEAD programme. Our original target was £40 to help cover start-up costs, but thanks to the generosity of students and staff, we managed to raise £88. This will go towards securing our domain name, with the remaining funds donated to the Ealing Youth Foundation.

GDST LEAD is a year-long programme that encourages students to explore entrepreneurship by creating and running a social enterprise. Through this opportunity, we launched EduCycle with the aim of making education more accessible while also promoting sustainability.

EduCycle was created in response to the increasing cost of school uniforms and supplies, and our aim is to reduce these barriers. The enterprise collects second-hand uniforms, stationery, school bags, and other essential school items, which are then resold at a significantly reduced price through our website. Families will be able to request items through an online form, allowing us to match donations directly with demand. In doing so, we aim to support families facing financial pressures while reducing waste.

We will soon be running collection and donation drives, and we encourage everyone to get involved by donating items or spreading the word. By supporting EduCycle, you are helping to promote sustainability and access to education for all.