About SIFE:

SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. An annual series of regional and national competitions provides a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and to be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges. National champion teams advance to the prestigious SIFE World Cup. In addition to the community aspect of the program, SIFE’s leadership and career initiatives create meaningful opportunities for learning and exchange among the participants as well as the placement of students and alumni with companies in search of emerging talent.

Mission

To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.

Organizational Facts

Country Operations: 39*

Active Teams: 1,500*

Active Students: 48,000*

Team Community Projects: 8,700*

Student Volunteer Hours: 4,900,000* 

SIFE Worldwide Revenue: $12,800,000* 

Total Global Network Revenue: $19,000,000*

Information taken from SIFE.org.

About SIFE Newcastle

After a few year’s absence, the SIFE Newcastle team reformed in 2010 and went on to win the ‘Spirit of SIFE’ award at the national competitions only a few months later. The team membership is constantly expanding as students around the university hear about the projects and want to get involved. The team became a ratified student society last year and is currently running three projects, including one international project. Last year the team’s focus was to ensure the sustainability of SIFE Newcastle to enable it to grow from strength to strength, now the team is engaging is a recruitment drive, fitting new members into the existing teams and stepping up our efforts to achieve the aims of the projects. Last year SIFE Newcastle established a dedicated fundraising team which runs events and establishes commercial ventures in order to provide money for the projects. This, along with grants, award money and donations help ensure the financial sustainability of the team.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to build a sustainable SIFE society that provides Newcastle University students with the best opportunities to develop their skills and to make a difference through projects that will improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in the local and wider community

Team Highlights

• 28 members – a three-fold increase from 2009-2010
• 3 projects
• 616 volunteering hours
• £4,535 including in-kind support generated
• £6,035 projected income
• 5 business advisers
• 3 projects-specific advisers
• Worked with 22 partner organisations

Here’s a summary of our awards/ achievements:

ASemi-finalists at last year’s national competitions.

BWithin 12 months we’ve gone from ‘Spirit of SIFE’ winners to National Semi-Finalists.

CIn total we won 7 awards and £1,050 in prize money at the 2011 national competitions to fund future projects… scooping:

• Winner of the Flying Start Raising Enterprise Awareness Award (£500).
• Winner (one of a handful) Wilkinson Entrepreneurship Competition (£100).
• Winner (one of a handful) enterprise-rent-a-car Diversity Competition (£200).
• Runner Up npower Team Sustainability Challenge (£250).
• Anelise Siddle secured an Outstanding Student Achievement Award and
• Claire Adamson received the University Adviser Award sponsored by Enterprise Educators UK