Some final show week thoughts from our directors:
With show day approaching at breakneck speed (3 days to go!!), we had a chat with our amazing committee directors who have been working so hard behind the scenes to coordinate and organise Dreams 2024. It’s largely thanks to them and their leadership that will ensure THE best night possible for all our attendees while raising money for Impact Arts, our incredible charitable partner.
Firstly, in keeping with the spirit of GCFS which holds charity at its heart, we asked them why they saw the fundraising and charity work that the society does as so important:
Mia Hardie (President)
Fundraising is at the centre of the GCFS campaign, our charitable partner remains the core focus of all of our event planning. It is incredible to be able to donate such a large sum of money to our charitable partner each year as a donation of that size, such as the £44k raised last year does immeasurable things for a Glasgow based charity. All of the charities we have worked with in the past year have worked incredibly hard to improve the lives of people in Scotland and we are proud at GCFS to be even a small part of their stories. We further offer the platform to increase awareness for each charitable purpose, engaging new students each year in a cause close to them, always based right in Glasgow.
Craig Strachan (Vice-President)
GCFS is super unique in the way that we are fully charity and fundraising centred which makes it such a rewarding society to be a part of. I think it is a brilliant way to link the student community with local charitable causes, in a really cool and engaging format as well. By spotlighting different charities each year, we are also able to increase awareness around a variety of extremely important issues and tie our fundraising efforts with the ethos of the charity!
Freya Hartley (Treasurer)
GCFS is fantastic for raising awareness for Scottish charities - particularly amongst the student population. This is incredibly pertinent for a charity like Impact Arts, where it may not be entirely clear from their name the widespread and valuable work that they do within Scottish communities! Fundraising for and spreading the word about Impact Arts has been really rewarding.
Freya Corcoran (Marketing Director)
I think as students it can be really easy to live in a bubble the whole way through university. Especially at UofG, when very few of us have much reason to ever leave the west end. GCFS has been a method, over the last 10 years, of raising awareness of some of Glasgow's most important and incredible charities. It allows us (students) to put effort into something that benefits Glasgow's wider society, creating a far more cohesive relationship between students and non-students within Glasgow. Of course, supporting these charities should not be seen as a form of self-gain, and really the most important part is being able to collect such a huge total that can go into supporting the groups and funding the services that our charitable partners provide. We have a duty to give back, and to offer our time to supporting those less fortunate than us. GCFS has created a way for students to do that.
Susie Al-Naib (Social Media Director)
The fundraising work GCFS does is so important as we always fundraise for a charity nominated by people in Glasgow/the Glasgow student body. I think that makes the fundraising process extra special as we know the money is going to a cause that means a lot to the local community. It is also amazing to see so many students come together to support the third sector and the work they do. Impact Arts is an amazing charity, and it is really fulfilling knowing that the money and attention raised is substantial and will help the charity grow and achieve their goals.
Maeve Gorman (Creative Director)
Impact arts is such an amazing charity that focuses on creativity. Charity and creativity are central to GCFS and as Creative Director it has been so great to focus on a charity that values creativity as much as GCFS. Impact Arts makes such a huge difference to our community and the fundraising from our committee and models helps them to do this and that is so rewarding.
Issy Whyte (Production Director)
I’d say the fundraising is so important to me as we get to work so closely with the charities and really get to see the impact that it has. It’s such a great opportunity to work closely with a charity, get to know them and what they do and help them by raising awareness and funds!
Mimi Cartwright (Charity Director)
Giving back to the community which we are all so blessed to be able to live and study in is such a privilege. Impact arts provides a creative outlet to transform people's lives; it is an honour to be able to use our own creative outlet to support this!
While we still have the show to look forward to (yay!), it marks the end of months of hard work in putting it together – so we asked the directors what their favourite part of working with GCFS this year has been.
Mia Hardie
As president, it has been a delight to spend the majority of my university career on the GCFS committee and work my way up to President. I have found the role particularly demanding (unsurprisingly) but incredibly fulfilling and exciting, it has been a privilege to be involved across all aspects of the society and work so closely with Impact Arts, who support countless undervalued people across Scotland. It's too hard to say which part I have enjoyed the most as I have thoroughly enjoyed it all, from engaging with a new committee to working closely with the charity and I will be sad to come to the end of my run with the society. GCFS has truly made my university experience.
Craig Strachan
Everything! I don’t know if I could pick one thing but I would highly recommend getting involved to anyone who is interested. I think overall though we all get a buzz from being part of the process and progression of the campaign, reaching different milestones throughout the year enhances the excitement we carry through to the show and (cringe) makes us all so proud GCFS!!
Freya Hartley
Working closely with the fantastic charity, Impact Arts, and spending time with the entire committee. Everyone involved with GCFS are incredibly lovely, so it makes it a really fun society to be a part of.
Freya Corcoran
I absolutely loved working with the external press teams that have been involved with GCFS this year. It is so lovely to be able to showcase everyone's hard work through a platform that will reach those outside of Glasgow's student body.
Susie Al-Naib
I have loved being able to meet other interesting, creative and driven people! I have made so many new friends, and I have loved being involved in so many aspects of making the Fashion Show possible. The socials have always been amazing (shoutout to Rose) and my weekly content meetings with Talia and Freya have also been a highlight of working with GCFS!
Maeve Gorman
It’s difficult to choose just one favourite thing about working with GCFS this year! I have loved coming up with creative concepts and organising the photo shoots for our 23/24 campaign ‘Dreams’. It’s been such a privilege to work alongside the rest of the Creative Team and get to know all of our models and build some amazing friendships. We’ve also been fortunate enough to collaborate with some incredibly talented designers, photographers, MUAs and hair stylists. One of my personal favourite moments was the theme reveal launch at Alchemy Experiment. We played our video and had a lovely, wholesome GCFS time.
Issy Whyte
My favourite part about working with GCFS this year is definitely working with such great people and getting to learn on the job. My team has been amazing, and I have learned so much about production along the way.
Mimi Cartwright
Getting to know lots of like minded people! The whole team is so lovely.
Our last question to the directors (can’t be keeping them too long during show week!) was to ask them what they were most looking forward to on the night of the show.
Mia Hardie
On the night of the show I will very likely be running about looking very busy! but i cannot wait to see it all come together as the show begins and to show everyone in attendance all of the incredible work our 77-person society has been working so hard towards! Our event can't go on without the dedication from every single member involved so I owe a huge thank you to the committee and the models and first year reps and I really hope everyone seriously enjoys their night!!
Craig Strachan
Getting to see all of the attendees' outfits! I think everyone gets so excited about seeing what the models are going to be wearing, but having already seen those (gorg) pieces myself it is kind of the opposite effect for me, anticipating how the guests are going to style themselves! No pressure x
Freya Hartley
Seeing an entire years' worth of hard work come together! I am particularly excited (and nervous) to see our stunning new venue, Old Fruitmarket, filled with the 800 ‘Dreams 2024’ attendees!
Freya Corcoran
I think probably my friends coming to see it, and them being able to see everything that has come together. And of course, the show itself - the second the show starts will be such a big moment. Everyone has worked so hard; it's going to be so lovely to see the culmination of all our effort.
Susie Al-Naib
I am so excited to celebrate the end of the campaign with the rest of the committee and my best friends who are coming to watch the show! Seeing the venue and Maeve’s creative vision come to life will be incredible, and I can’t wait for the audience to have the best night ever!
Maeve Gorman
On show night I’m looking forward to seeing the hard work of the committee pay off. I can’t wait to see all the models kill their runway walks and showcase the work of all our wonderful designers. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and fundraising efforts so I’m just excited to take it all in. The show will be a showcase of creativity and everything that GCFS and Impact Arts is about, and I can’t wait!
Issy Whyte
I am really looking forward to seeing all our hard work throughout the year pay off and everyone having a fun night! I am always looking forward to smashing the fundraising side of it!
Mimi Cartwright
I can’t wait to see the show in all its glory. GCFS offers such create freedom to us as students, I’m buzzing to celebrate that with everyone involved!
The whole committee at GCFS would like to extend a huge thank-you to the directors for the work they have put in and the guidance they have provided throughout the last few months in preparing for Friday night – show night!
There are now only three sleeps to go before Glasgow’s biggest student-led charity night, which in its tenth year is aiming to be bigger and better than ever – and we can’t wait to see you there!!