Charity Den Pitch Day at Brook Academy

Yesterday’s experience sitting on the Charity Den panel at Brook Sixth Form and Academy, Dagenham, was genuinely inspiring. Seven teams - over thirty students in total - presented their proposals in the school auditorium, each demonstrating an impressive level of preparation, creativity, and confidence. From polished slide decks and thoughtful branding to several students presenting entirely without notes (always remarkable), the standard across all the teams was incredibly high. Every group brought forward thoughtful ideas with real potential, and it was fantastic to see all of them progress to the next stage.

I felt an enormous sense of pride watching the groups I’ve mentored since early December step up in front of the panel. Over the past couple of months, I’ve seen their early concepts evolve into fully developed projects, and witnessing them articulate those ideas with such poise was genuinely rewarding. At the same time, it was equally energising to see students I hadn’t worked with so deeply engaged, enthusiastic, and clearly invested in their causes. The atmosphere in the auditorium captured the best of what the Charity Den aims to achieve—confidence, collaboration, and a sense of possibility. It was a privilege to be part of it.

Jamie, KICK Mentor