Marketing students help charity launch new identity

Creative Teesside University students are helping to support a charity’s ongoing efforts to improve their services for adults with disabilities.

BSc Marketing students Gideon Mensah, Jack Cockerill, Emma Taylor and Adiba Ali worked with Teesside Ability Support Centre (TASC), based Middlesbrough, to create a new identity for the charity.

TASC supports adults with disabilities across the region, helping centre users to build independence, confidence and social connections through a variety of activities.

A new logo, created with support from the marketing students, was recently unveiled on a new specially adapted TASC minibus, which was funded through community fundraising efforts.

Dr Femi Waters-Ajisafe, Principal Lecturer in Marketing at Teesside University International Business School, said: “The TASC project was delivered through the University’s Teesside Marketing Clinic, where second-year marketing students provide free consultancy to small businesses, social enterprises, sole traders and start-ups across the Tees Valley.

“Rooted in a strong sense of community, this initiative helps local organisations access ideas, skills and guidance they may not otherwise have. For our students, it offers a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experience, build professional skills and confidence and make a positive contribution to the place where they live and study.”

The students all shared their positive experience in being involved in working with TASC. Jack, who led the student team, said: “This project has been an incredible learning experience in consulting and working with live clients. Throughout the project, we developed a strategic plan, business tender, and digital marketing deliverables for their website and brand identity, while actively engaging in reflective practice to evaluate our approach, learn from challenges, and improve our work.”

Jack added: “You don’t often expect to see your university projects actually integrated into a real organisation, so it has been hugely rewarding to witness our work making a tangible difference."

Emma said: “Working on the live project with TASC was an invaluable experience. It allowed me to apply my academic knowledge to real-world organisation, strengthening my theoretical understanding, while developing practical hands-on skills. Collaborating on this project also provided meaningful insight into how effective marketing materials and strategies are created and implemented.”

Gideon added: “Being part of the Teesside Marketing Clinic and working with TASC was a really valuable experience, as it gave the opportunity to step outside of theory and work directly with a real organisation. We were able to engage with TASC to understand their needs and support them in developing their brand identity, including their logo and website. Knowing the ideas and recommendations we put forward have been implemented made the whole experience feel meaningful and rewarding.”

Malcolm Turley, chief executive of Teesside Ability Support Centre, said: “A logo is much more than a graphic on a letterhead. It represents the identity and values of our organisation. This new logo represents all our users better than ever before.”

---