East Riding College Students Bring Bee Lady Day to Flemingate

Students from East Riding College came together at Flemingate today to deliver a vibrant community fundraising event in honour of Hull charity legend Jean Bishop.

The Bee Lady Day event, organised and delivered by Business students from the college, raised funds and awareness for Age UK Hull & East Yorkshire while showcasing the creativity, teamwork and employability skills of students from across multiple curriculum areas.

As part of a live client project, Business students pitched the Bee Lady Day concept directly to the Flemingate team, securing support, event space and collaboration to bring the idea to life. The project gave students invaluable real-world experience in event planning, marketing, promotion and delivery.

The event became a true cross-college collaboration, with students from a range of departments contributing throughout the day. Hair and Beauty students offered face painting and themed nail art, Catering students prepared a selection of bee-inspired cakes and sweet treats, Fashion students created handmade items for sale, Music students performed live sets for visitors, and Travel & Tourism students supported the promotion and visitor engagement activities.

Visitors enjoyed a packed programme of family-friendly activities, including live music performances, games and craft stalls, face painting, and a themed treasure hunt around Flemingate – all inspired by the yellow-and-black spirit of the much-loved Bee Lady.

Students were also delighted to welcome Bertie Bee, mascot for Age UK Hull & East Yorkshire, helping celebrate the incredible legacy of Jean Bishop and the difference her fundraising work made across the region.

Funds raised during the event will go directly to Age UK Hull & East Yorkshire, supporting essential services for older people across Hull and the East Riding.

Rachel Foot, Employability & Placement Coordinator at East Riding College, said:

“This project has given our students an incredible opportunity to work on a live brief with a genuine community impact. Seeing students from so many curriculum areas come together to honour Jean Bishop’s legacy while supporting such an important local charity has been fantastic.”

The event also attracted regional media attention, with students featured on ITV Calendar news coverage during the day.

Watch the ITV Calendar feature here:
www.itv.com/watch/news/city-celebrates-second-bee-lady-day-in-honour-of-pensioners-fundraising-legacy/qm6lr8d

Bee Lady Day highlighted not only the lasting impact of Jean Bishop’s legacy, but also the power of student-led community projects to make a meaningful difference locally.