Get the new academic year off to a great start with a visit from local business Dragons.

We are urging schools across North and Mid Wales to sign up for our challenging and inspirational program that forms part of the Welsh Baccalaureate and is guaranteed to inspire and empower students.

In conjunction with leaders from the business world, our highly successful Dragons’ Lair initiative fulfils the Enterprise and Employability criteria of the Welsh Bacc and encourages pupils to create a business idea, pitch it to the Dragons for feedback, market and eventually sell their product for profit at a school event such as Christmas fair.

Dragons listen carefully to the students' pitches and offer constructive feedback

Capable learners

Sitting along the four principles of the Welsh Curriculum, Dragons’ Lair helps to develop ambitious and capable learners by challenging pupils in a fun and engaging way as well as encouraging social responsibility.

Having so far raised £130,000 and involved hundreds of students across schools in North Wales, the scheme has the backing of the local business and education communities.

With leaders from eminent businesses such as Net World Sports, JCB, Principality Building Society, Platts Agriculture and Proximo Group taking part.

We support schools with a £10 investment per team and will supply all the resources needed, starting with a special launch assembly to motivate the participants. After the culmination of the program there will also be another ceremony to present certificates. 

All monies raised go towards funding our respite, care, therapeutic and counselling work for seriously ill local children and their families at our two sites in Conwy and Oswestry. It costs £7.5million per year to run both sites with only a small portion coming from government funding.

The program helps fulfil the principles of the Welsh Curriculum 

Testimonies

James Harper, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Principality, said of the scheme: “It’s absolutely wonderful.

“I had the pleasure visiting St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High school and I have never seen pitches of such high quality from the pupils.”

Nadia McKane, Sales and Marketing Director from Platts Agriculture Limited is a volunteer Dragon and commented: “Together with other members of the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, I was very impressed with the ambitious and imaginative young people - the future of our businesses and organisations!

“What a great initiative.”

Another former Dragon, writer and historian, David Rowe of Mold commented: “I have had the pleasure of taking part as a Dragon in the Hope House Tŷ Gobaith Dragons’ Lair events.

“The performance of students, many of whom will never have given such presentations, is truly uplifting.

“The level of skills of the various groups bodes well for their futures.

“I hope that all the students who have participated found the challenge as enjoyable as I and my fellow Dragons have done.”

Get involved

The program is open to all secondary schools in Wales and Fundraising Team Leader, Catrin Dowdeswell, said: “This is one of our favourite initiatives as it creates solid links between our schools, local companies and ultimately local families.

“It’s so valuable when our community comes together in this way to help create quality moments for children with life limiting conditions.

“Over the past few years we have been privileged to see young people demonstrate a variety of new skills and many are very proud of the impact they have had.

“Our Dragons love the opportunity to share their life skills and give something back to the business leaders of tomorrow.”

Register your school here

Or phone (01492) 596581.