Celebrating 18 Years of Languages United: Where Milestones Meet Meaningful Action

by Slavenka Vukovic-Bryan (Managing Director, Languages United)

Languages United has come of age, proudly celebrating its 18th birthday. We market the occasion in a way that truly reflects our values—by giving back to the community and supporting important causes. As part of our autumn tradition, we once again participated in the national Breast Cancer Now “Wear it Pink” campaign, combining our celebrations with a fundraiser that brought together our students, homestays, and staff for a project filled with learning, creativity, and purpose.

Fundraising with Heart: Karaoke, Bake-Offs, and Pink Spirit

We ran two fantastic “Wear it Pink” Karaoke parties and a bake-off competition, raising an incredible £554 for Breast Cancer Now. Our students from Italy and Switzerland embraced this initiative wholeheartedly, weaving it into their studies and showcasing the spirit of generosity and collaboration that we strive to instil at Languages United.

Dressed in vibrant pink outfits, our school came alive with delicious treats, with everyone getting involved in this wonderful cause. The students, assisted by our homestays on the baking front, worked hard not only on their baking skills but also on the business aspect, learning how to price and sell their cakes to staff and local businesses around Walcot Street, where our school is located. It was a truly hands-on project that taught them the value of giving while exposing them to the broader community.

A special thank you goes to Bath YMCA for kindly letting us use their lovely conservatory to host our Bake-off.

A Bake-Off to Remember: Delicious Creations and Talented Bakers

As always, our bake-off fundraiser was a huge success. Our students went above and beyond, creating beautiful and delicious treats that impressed everyone. While all participants did an excellent job, there had to be a winner! The first prize went to Stella and Lily, whose white and pink chocolate-coated lollipops were as stunning as they were delicious. Joint second place was shared by Emma, who made sparkly brownie cupcakes, and Louise and Shria, who baked the most delectable autumn-inspired pumpkin pie.

We are also excited to announce that, in honour of our 18th birthday, this year’s project will result in a cookery book, filled with all the wonderful recipes our students created during the fundraiser.

Karaoke Fun with a Purpose

The Karaoke element of the event was equally as entertaining. Our first party featured 120 Italian students singing popular tunes with passion and enthusiasm. For the second event, with our Swiss group, we added a fun twist—teachers sang while students donated, and students sang while teachers donated, all while proudly wearing pink! It was a lively event that brought everyone together for a shared cause.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to Slug and Lettuce for allowing us to use their venue for the Karaoke event. Their contribution was a huge part of making the event a success, bringing fun and fundraising together for a great cause.

Project-Based Learning: A 360-Degree Experience

At Languages United, we believe in the power of learning through doing, and this fundraising project provided a perfect example of that. Our students didn’t just bake cakes—they learned how to plan, price, and market their products, gaining real-life business skills along the way. They worked hard to raise money, both within the school and by selling their baked goods to local businesses, learning valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and community engagement.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our homestays, who were a vital part of this 360-degree project. Together, we fostered a sense of belonging, teamwork, and generosity that went beyond the classroom.

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Tradition of Giving

Wear it Pink has become a growing tradition at Languages United, and we are committed to continuing our support for this important cause. As we look forward to the future, we are grateful for the meaningful ways we have been able to celebrate our school’s 18th birthday, and we hope to carry on this legacy of community, charity, and collaborative learning for many years to come.

Here’s to many more years of Languages United—where learning and giving go hand in hand!