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Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Stirling pupils earn £3000 for Armed Forces charity
Bannockburn High School's young people handed over cheque to the Forth Valley branch of SSAFA after an impressive presentation at a competition. A team of six pupils from Bannockburn High School have secured a £3,000 donation for its local branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. The team won the school's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) Project final with a powerful and moving presentation on the charity's work. The students, who each chose SSAFA individually as the charity they wished to champion and were then formed into a single group, researched, created, and choreographed a deeply thoughtful presentation that impressed the judging panel and won top prize at the recent school final. The YPI empowers secondary school pupils to engage with social issues and advocate on behalf of charities they feel passionate about. Each school's winning team secures a £3,000 grant for its chosen charity. In this case the £3,000 will go to the Forth Valley Branch of SSAFA, helping the branch to continue its vital work supporting local members of the Armed Forces community, whether serving or retired, Reserves or Regulars, regardless of rank or regiment, ship or squadron. Ian McAlister, Branch Chair of Forth Valley who attended, said: 'It was a real pleasure to see how much effort and understanding the students brought to the project and I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with them as they prepared their presentation for the final. 'The pride they took in presenting SSAFA's story was heart-warming. It means so much to us that a younger generation not only took the time to learn about our work, but chose to advocate for it with such energy and empathy.' One of the winning group, Kenzie McLeod, said during the presentation: 'SSAFA is a charity that has directly supported families within our school community. 'Because my uncle was in the Army, this project felt personal to me. I can say that SSAFA supported my relative after a serious battlefield injury left him reliant on a cane. We all learned so much and felt proud knowing we were helping to make a difference.' Ian added: 'This is a great opportunity to build lasting relationships and raise awareness of SSAFA's mission among young people. We're excited to see what can grow from this success.' SSAFA has been supporting veterans, serving personnel, and their families for 140 years. Those in the Stirling, Falkirk, and Clackmannanshire area who are interested in volunteering or fundraising for the charity, or who wish to get support from it, can search online for 'SSAFA Forth Valley' or call 0141 488 8552.
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Youth power on show at YPI National Event as £8.5m granted to Scottish charities
More than 800 people attended the annual gathering – Scotland's largest celebration of youth philanthropy – held on Wednesday 11 June at Perth Concert Hall. Through YPI – a programme managed and majority funded by The Wood Foundation – a generation has been empowered to lead meaningful, sustainable change that addresses the needs of those who need it most. This year's theme, Be the Change, was a compelling call to action. The event recognised pupils who took the time to understand the challenges faced by others, championed causes close to their hearts, and demonstrated a genuine dedication to social responsibility. The YPI National Event was also an opportunity to reflect on the legacy that has been created since the introduction of YPI in Scotland. Since 2008, £8.5 million has been granted to charities with the help of 390,000 young changemakers. This year, YPI engaged pupils from 280 Scottish secondary schools who raised £840,000 (£3,000 per school) for causes they are passionate about. Garreth Wood, Chairman of The Wood Foundation, said: 'For many young people, YPI is just the beginning. Over the past 17 years, The Wood Foundation has been proud to provide a platform that empowers young people to explore complex social issues, develop their confidence, and find their voice. 'The passion, empathy and commitment on display at this year's YPI National Event were truly inspiring. It is our hope that this experience encourages young people to continue their involvement in their communities – whether through volunteering, advocacy or by remaining actively engaged in local initiatives. 'The YPI National Event also served as a valuable opportunity to unite stakeholders who have been integral to the programme's growth and success, including our funding partners, local authority colleagues, third sector representatives, and the schools who so enthusiastically embrace and deliver YPI.' The annual event was hosted by Sonni and Cory from St John's RC High School in Dundee with pupils from 12 other Scottish secondary schools presenting moving and creative content. In addition to the student presentations, which addressed issues including poverty, mental health and diversity, two keynote speakers also delivered thought-provoking speeches on the YPI stage. Sheli McCoy – a record-breaking weightlifter, multi-business owner and TV star – captivated the audience with her inspiring talk The Sum of All Efforts. She shared her non-linear path to success in sport and fitness, encouraging young people to embrace their own journeys. Sheli said: 'Listening to young people speak so passionately about the causes they care about was truly inspirational. I wanted to encourage them to push beyond perceived limitations – both mentally and physically – and to feel empowered to become the best version of themselves.' Young activist and YPI alum Emma Porter spoke about how her YPI journey at Springburn Academy encouraged her to continue volunteering and stay actively involved in her local community. The event also featured a special performance by Ben Walker, Scottish Young Live Artist of the Year 2024, who participated in YPI during his time at both Montrose Academy and Mearns Academy. He shared: 'YPI was one of the first times I felt like what I had to say actually counted. It gave me confidence and made me think differently about the kind of impact young people can have. 'Getting to come back and see it in action again was really special. The energy, the passion, the belief these young people have in their causes – it is amazing to watch. It was a full-circle moment for me, and I am buzzing to have been a part of it again.' The YPI National Event highlighted the power of youth voice, advocacy, and philanthropy, motivating attendees to consider how they can further their impact and continue contributing to their communities. 1 . Contributed Musician Ben Walker performing at YPI National Event 2025 Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Hosts of YPI National Event 2025, Sonni and Cory from St John's RC High School in Dundee Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Young people engaging with stallholders at YPI National Event 2025 Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: Perth Concert Hall
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Kibble kids support FEARLESS charity with £3k donation
Young people from Kibble have chosen a charity that supports people who have witnessed or experienced crime, as the recipient of a generous £3,000 donation. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The young people chose FEARLESS, a Crimestoppers charity, to receive the donation after winning a competition with The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), which is managed and funded by The Wood Foundation. Over 50 young people from Kibble took part in a school-initiative with YPI, advocating for the charity of their choice in mock exercises, presentations, campaigns and creative executions, including social content and TikTok videos. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One young person of Kibble said: 'The charities we chose help so many people of all ages, and I'm really grateful they exist. It's reassuring to know there are organisations out there making a real difference for those who need support and I was glad to get involved.' YPI Event FEARLESS is a charity that enables young people to pass on information about crime 100% anonymously. The organisation is part of Crimestoppers and works closely with local authorities to provide children and young people, aged 11 – 18, a safe and anonymous route to providing information on crime via an outreach service. The money will be used to make reporting crime anonymously more accessible for children and young people who can't read and write. Impressed with the efforts and ambition displayed by the young people, Kibble stepped up and donated £500 to the second-place winner, Possibilities for Each and Every Kid (PEEK) Project and £250 to the joint third-place charities, Beatson and Neil's Hugs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jim Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Kibble said: 'The young people who took part in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative showcased their passion and support for the individual charities that they chose to advocate for. We saw young people choosing to support FEARLESS, Women's Aid, Save the Children and Beatson Cancer Charity amongst many others. Lyndsay McDade (Fearless), Leona Donnelly (Kibble) and Lynn Raynal (YPI) 'We are pleased to be able to support FEARLESS, the dedicated youth service from Crimestoppers. The work that they do to provide young people with the opportunity to safely and anonymously report crime is critical and makes a real difference.' The Wood Foundation's spokesperson said: 'Congratulations to Kibble's winning team for securing funds for Fearless. YPI is all about empowering and engaging young people to understand their role within their community and the ways in which they can make a difference while developing their own skills.' YPI is an active citizenship programme empowering young people to make a difference in their communities while developing a range of skills. Through teamwork, research, and competition, young people advocate for social issues in their communities in a bid to secure their school's £3,000 grant.
