Posted: 08/03/19
Sammy steps-up to help students
A large stag was spotted on West Nottinghamshire College’s all-weather sports pitch at the Derby Road campus last week.
But this stag came with the distinctive markings of a yellow and blue football kit, and was helping students with a fundraising initiative.
Mansfield Town Football Club’s mascot Sammy The Stag took to the pitch on Wednesday 27 February in a penalty shoot-out challenge organised by students on the Stepping Stones course, to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.
Sammy kindly stepped in as goalkeeper while staff and students took their penalty kicks at 30p a go or tried to score four goals for £1.
Stepping Stones student Connor Blades, 16, “We came up with this idea as we wanted to really help a charity so we started to put a plan together and worked well as a team. We chose Cancer Research UK as a few of us have had family members pass away with cancer so it’s very important to help such a charity.
“Everyone’s been amazing coming to take part in scoring against Sammy The Stag and we’re very grateful to Mansfield Town Football Club for letting him come along.”
Supporter Liaison Officer at MTFC, Danielle Hett, said: “We do things like this quite often to help the community or any charities which need Sammy’s support! It’s been great to see the students at West Notts and have so many come down in this good weather and try to score some goals against our mascot.”
The group raised over £63 through the penalty shoot-out event and money from the prize draw to win two free tickets to an MTFC game and a signed football.
More about the Stepping Stones course
The Stepping Stones course is for young people in year 10 and 11, who have been elective home-educated and has been specifically designed to provide a stepping stone for young people looking to move into Further Education post-16.
It aims to support young people into education in a safe and secure environment. Class sizes are small allowing tutors the opportunity to meet the individual needs of learners.
Students study at the college three days per week (9.30am-3pm) and work towards Functional Skills qualifications in maths, English and IT, alongside a vocational subject, either: construction crafts, motor vehicle, hair and beauty or care occupations. Students also develop vocational and employability skills.
