Ideal Heating colleagues take on The Elements Challenge for HEY Children’s University

Our apprentices and technicians are back doing what they do best – rolling up their sleeves for a good cause.

Following last year’s 200km team run, which helped Ideal Heating achieve Bronze Partnership status with Hull and East Yorkshire (HEY) Children’s University, a team of eight colleagues have signed up for The Elements Challenge.

This involves four activities throughout 2026, each inspired by one of the classical elements: water, earth, air and fire.

Meet the team

Team captain Lewis Speedy is joined by fellow Engineering apprentices Aaron Snell, Alistair Swyer and Sam Hatch, along with Technicians Nina Weldrick and Sam Phillippi, apprentice Robbie Kew from the Reliability Department, and Senior Technician Jordan Escreet. Across two teams of four, each individual is aiming to raise £500, adding up to a total of £4,000 for HEY Children’s University.

The challenges

The team has already made a start. For the water challenge, Robbie Kew and Aaron Snell took on Hull-based training provider HOTA’s Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator, where they were submerged and rotated underwater in an offshore emergency simulator.

Next up is the earth challenge, which is the “Get Caked” mud run on April 19 at Sledmere House. Billed as the muddiest challenge in East Yorkshire, Sam Hatch and Alistair Swyer will be tackling five miles of crawling through muddy trenches, climbing over logs and jumping through tyres in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

On June 15, Sam Phillipi and Jordan Escreet will be taking to the skies for the air challenge, doing a tandem skydive at Skydive Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire, and experiencing freefall at 120mph.

And to round things off in July, Lewis Speedy and Nina Weldrick will face the fire challenge: a bespoke firefighter training experience at HFR Solutions’ Hessle headquarters. HRF Solutions provide emergency response training, including to the fire service. The pair will tackle a burning building and take on a series of challenges that real firefighters face in the line of duty. This challenge has been created specifically for The Elements Challenge and has never been attempted by a member of the public before.

Why it matters

HEY Children’s University is a Hull-based charity dedicated to building the confidence, self-esteem and aspirations of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged areas across Hull and East Yorkshire. Through unique learning experiences outside the classroom, the charity helps children discover what might be possible for their futures.

Our Engineering Director Helen Villamuera said:

“We’re really proud of the team for taking on The Elements Challenge. It’s a great reflection of the kind of people we have at Ideal Heating and the money they raise will make a real difference to young people in our community.”

How you can support them

The team would love your support. You can sponsor the group or back an individual challenge, with every contribution going directly to HEY Children’s University and the experiences it provides for local children.

Donate via the JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/team/appheycu

To find out more about HEY Children’s University , visit www.hullchildrensuniversity.com