Children at St Anthony’s School inspired by local accountants

By Zebra Colour

20 Nov 2014

MJH Accountants decided to take quite a unique approach to their Christmas cards this year. Instead of purchasing the usual mundane corporate cards to send to their clients, they asked the children at their local school to produce a design for them.

Based in the heart of Fulwood, MJH Accountants was keen to try and include their local community. With its managing director Mark Hall having attended St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Fulwood, he approached head teacher Rachel Ballard about the possibility of running a competition.

Mark said: “We wanted a more personal approach to our card this year, especially as it’s our first Christmas in our new offices. We were thrilled that Mrs Ballard was so enthusiastic about the concept. Providing children with the opportunity to be involved in a competition that allowed them to display their creative skills proved very motivational indeed.”

Mark wrote a letter to all the children, asking them to design a card that summed up what Christmas meant to them. The letter was met with great excitement by staff and pupils alike.

Rachel Ballard said: “We have fairly recently embarked upon a project to improve the quality of the school’s art work, so the Christmas card competition fitted in perfectly. On top of that, it gave the children the opportunity to discuss the meaning of Christmas and, not surprisingly, Father Christmas.”

Of course, a competition needs to have a winner and this presented everyone at MJH with the unenviable task of judging all the entries. There were a huge variety of designs, with some simple drawings to others that had a lot of intricate detail and were wildly colourful. It demonstrated just what a wide range of feelings the children have about Christmas. Whilst the overall quality was excellent, there was one particular card that really was quite distinctive and had a wonderful wintry and festive feel to it.

Mark presented the prizes at a recent school assembly, where he also gave a little talk, explaining to the children that he’d once attended their school. He spoke about why he’d chosen to be an accountant and encouraged the children to have fun but also work hard at school.

Mark added: “The anticipation as the children waited for the winner to be announced was quite nerve-racking, but was a delight to see.”

Unfortunately two of the prize winners were away at a sporting event that day, but luckily they both had sisters on hand to receive their prizes for them.

22 cards were shortlisted and from these the three best were selected, with the winning card going on to be printed. The 19 shortlisted children all received a chocolate selection box. The 3rd prize of a £10 book token went to Nema Dawkins, 2nd prize of a £15 book token was won by Emily Mayson and collected by her sister Aimee. The winning card was drawn by Maddie McAteer, who won a £20 book token, which was collected by her sister Holly.

The winning card has already gone into production and will be sent to all MJH’s clients and colleagues.

Mrs Ballard concluded: “We’re delighted that Mark asked us to do this. We all loved being involved and it has genuinely stimulated our children to be more creative. Participating in a competition which has a tangible result at the end of it that the children can see has enthused them no end.” MJH is hosting its Christmas party at its premises at 129 Woodplumpton Road on the 11th of December, where the winning card will be displayed for all to view.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Zebra Colour

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin