Charity Den Pitch Day at Brook Academy
Earlier this term, KICK worked with Year 12 students at Brook Sixth Form and Academy to deliver a Charity Den pitch day - an opportunity for students to step away from the timetable and present real-world social impact ideas to a panel of KICK representatives.
Seven student teams pitched their project ideas, with proposals ranging from support for local food banks, to mental health “circling” groups, to education around hygiene and wellbeing as young people enter puberty. Each team had developed their idea through mentoring sessions in the lead-up to the day, before presenting in a Dragons’ Den–style format to a panel of KICK representatives.
The standard of work on the day was impressive. Students demonstrated confidence, creativity, teamwork, and a strong sense of purpose - exactly the qualities the Charity Den is designed to nurture.
Reflections from Brook Sixth Form and Academy: Overall, the experience was extremely positive. The Dragons’ Den–style presentations were well planned and engaging, providing students with a valuable opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial thinking, presentation skills, and confidence. Students responded very well to the format and were clearly motivated by the real-world focus of the tasks. Many demonstrated strong teamwork, creativity, and resilience throughout the process. The mentoring element was effective. Mentors built good rapport with students, offered constructive and encouraging feedback, and supported them in refining their ideas and pitches. This personalised guidance had a noticeable impact on students’ confidence and the quality of their final presentations.
We are very appreciative of the work KICK Charity does and the positive contribution made to our students’ personal and academic development. We look forward to continuing to work together and building on this successful partnership
Samantha Nunnery, Assistant Principal / Head of Sixth Form
A Mentor’s Perspective: 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 Stickler, KICK Mentor and Panellist
What Happens Next
All seven teams will now move into the delivery phase of their projects, supported by ongoing mentoring and clear project roadmaps. The pitch day marked a transition point and laid the foundation for students to take real ownership of their work.
We’re incredibly proud of the students at Brook Sixth Form and Academy and grateful to the staff and mentors who made the day possible.
