Students raise nearly £600 for Conwy Mind with Llyn Brenig hike

Coleg Llandrillo students raised nearly £600 for Conwy Mind by hiking 15 miles around Llyn Brenig.

Learners on the Business Management Foundation degree decided to support the mental health charity after being tasked with completing a leadership challenge as part of their course.

They organised and promoted a walk around Llyn Brenig and the nearby Alwen Reservoir, setting up a JustGiving page which has so far raised £589 for Conwy Mind. You can donate here.

The students were joined on the day by lecturers Victoria Prince and John Speakman, and Conwy Mind staff. On a hot day with thunderstorms threatening, they completed the gruelling trek in five-and-a-half hours.

Loren Williams and Emma Orr were among the students who organised and took part in the walk.

Loren said: “Everyone struggles with mental health and it’s still quite a taboo subject sometimes, so we wanted to raise awareness. It’s a brilliant charity, and we’re hoping to get involved in some more fund-raising over the summer.”

Emma said: “We have to do a leadership challenge every year, to show organisational skills, communication, leadership and management skills. Fifteen miles was a long way but we had a really good guide in Kieran from Conwy Mind. I don’t think we’d have been able to do it without him!”

The students also organised a cake sale and bucket collection in the Bistro at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus to help raise more funds, and are hoping to hike Yr Wyddfa next year.

Kieran Davenport, a fundraising and community engagement officer for Conwy Mind, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the students for their fundraising efforts over the last couple of months.

“Fundraising is such a rewarding endeavour, and I am glad to hear that they have enjoyed all of it. It was lovely to work so closely with a wonderful group of people, and I am looking forward to seeing them all again in future. They were all incredibly determined!”

Conwy Mind is an independent mental health charity which works across Conwy, Anglesey, and Gwynedd. It is one of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Partner Charities of the Year for 2024/25, along with Vale of Clwyd Mind, which supports people in Denbighshire.

Kieran added: “The funds raised are vital towards what we can offer here at Conwy Mind, but equally so, it is about raising awareness. Even on the walk, many of us engaged in conversations around our own mental health and the efforts to end the stigma around doing so. We will continue to support everyone in our community, but we couldn't do it without the support we have received. Thank you, Coleg Llandrillo.”

John Speakman, a lecturer on the Business Management foundation degree, said: “The students really took the initiative in propelling this project forward. Not only did they apply their leadership skills gleaned from their Skills for Graduate Employment module to make the project a reality, they also got to learn from the excellent fundraising strategies of the Conwy Mind Team in relation to their module on Work-Related Health and Wellbeing.”

Fellow Business lecturer Victoria Prince said: “The opportunity to embed vocational skills into our business degree programmes offers many benefits. Students enhance their employability by developing the practical knowledge and experience that employers seek, and can add these to their CVs and job applications, creating a stronger connection to the job market.

“Having the opportunity to partner with outside agencies to explore vocational skills development has led to volunteer and work experience opportunities whereby students can become proficient in practical skills, boosting confidence and self-esteem, and leading to greater career success.”

Having come to the end of their first year of their degree, Emma and Loren are looking forward to further developing their skills in business, leadership, marketing, project management and more.

Loren said: “It’s definitely worth it. All the skills that we’ve learned I’m applying to my job so it’s been really helpful.”

Emma said: “I love the course - the first year’s gone so fast. If anyone is second-guessing whether to do the course, stop second-guessing and just do it. I’ve loved every minute of it and I can’t wait to come back in September.”

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Business Management Foundation Degree is aimed at anyone looking to progress in their current organisation, gain skills in management or start their own business. Apply for September 2025 or learn more here