CAFRE Enniskillen students raise over £4,000 for Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh

Date published: 22 June 2026

Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh is a leading voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland. They provide essential services within the local area, including emergency accommodation, outreach support, and educational programmes aimed at preventing domestic abuse. Community support and fundraising is vital in ensuring these services remain available to those who need them most.

Fundraising initiatives brought together staff and students from across courses to combine practical learning with community engagement to support a cause that has a vital impact across the Fermanagh and Omagh district. 

Highlights of the fundraising campaign included the contribution of Level 3 Equine Management students, who as part of their event management organised a showjumping event on campus. A fundraising raffle was held alongside this event, with donations received from a range of businesses. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who generously supplied raffle prizes. The event demonstrated the students’ organisational and teamwork abilities to plan, promote and deliver a large-scale activity, and attracted strong support from the student body.

Sporting efforts also played a major role in the fundraising total. Two teams made up of CAFRE staff and students took on the challenge of the Belfast City Marathon, raising a remarkable £2,000 through sponsorship and donations. Students began their training completing the ‘Couch to 5k’ plan which was facilitated by team captain Andrew Ross, continuing throughout the year. Their commitment and determination are commendable and significantly boosted the overall fundraising total.

Students continued their efforts through a range of community-based activities. A bag-packing day saw students volunteering their time to assist shoppers while collecting donations, creating valuable interaction with the public and raising awareness of the charity’s work. 

Meanwhile, a popular bake sale helped maintain fundraising momentum, with staff and students contributing homemade goods and generously supporting the cause.

The recent Spring Formal also contributed to the campaign, with proceeds from the event adding to the final amount raised and demonstrated how a varied range of activities effectively supported fundraising goals.

In total, the collective efforts of students, staff and the wider community raised £4,100 for Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh. The funds were formally presented to Nicola Meldrum, who expressed sincere appreciation for the donation and highlighted the difference it will make locally.

This successful campaign highlights the strong sense of community spirit at CAFRE Enniskillen and demonstrates what can be achieved when students and staff work together towards a common goal. The partnership with Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh has not only raised much-needed funds but also increased awareness of the organisation’s important work across the region.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated and supported out fundraising efforts throughout the year including those in the equine industry and across the local community. We look forward to strengthening those bonds and a new year of fundraising in the upcoming academic year. 

CAFRE provides education and training in agriculture, food, equine, horticulture, floristry and land-based industries including land-based engineering, supporting students to develop practical skills and industry knowledge. We offer a wide range of courses across our three campuses, enabling learners to pursue careers in these vibrant sectors. If you are interested in any of our courses, please visit the CAFRE website.