A SUNDERLAND student is helping SAFC Ladies get their first cup – after winning a merchandise design challenge.
As part of this year’s Work Discovery Week, a week of activities linking schools from across the city with businesses from across the region, young people were asked to create a new item of merchandise for the Lady Black Cats.
Schools from across the city took part, out of which a number of entries were shortlisted and the young designers asked to present them to a panel of judges, including Sonia Kulkarni, General Manager of Sunderland AFC Ladies.
Ideas included everything from baby vests to ear muffs to bobble hats and ear phones, but it was Hetton School pupil Bobbi Bunker’s design for a SAFC Ladies cup that won the day.
“We chose Bobbi as her design was bright and useful, she had considered the market and tailored her design to suit the team and the brief,” said Sonia.
“When she went before the panel of judges she spoke with confidence and humour and was not at all fazed.”
Bobbi, 13, was given the good news when players Brooke Chaplen and Beth Mead visited the school and now her mug will go into production and will be available in the near future.
The merchandise challenge was one of a numbers of activities which took place throughout Work Discovery Week, which includes a careers fair at the Stadium of Light, business visits, workshops, business problem solving challenges and a range of hands-on activities.
This year 21 schools and more than 1000 children from Sunderland were involved in the event, which is sponsored by organisations including Gentoo, the University of Sunderland, Sunderland College, Arriva, Nissan, SAFC and Sunderland City Council.
More than 45 businesses from around the region were involved in the event, which is now being held up nationally as an example of best practice.