FOUR BUCKIE COMMUNITY HIGH S2 pupils have won a £3000 boost for a local homeless charity after presenting a winning case that they deserved to receive a funding grant.
The cash has been awarded by the Wood Foundation through the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), a programme that aims to strengthen the social sector by engaging youth in social issues, local charities and grant-making.
YPI operates around the UK as well as in Canada and the United States. In Scotland, participating schools are responsible for directing a YPI grant to a local charity through a programme of team work, research and competition.
Nine teams made it to the final last month with the winning team emerging from Buckie High School represented by Amber Smith, Noah Bowie, Jodie Murray and Tommie Marandola. They presented the case for Moray Fresh Start, which supports homeless people moving into new homes in the region.
Dorothy Loveland, who teaches Modern Studies and History at the school, said: “We are all delighted and very proud of the work done by our team and so pleased that their efforts were selected with £3000 going to such a worthy local cause as a result.
“They all worked so hard on this and each of them are determined to carry on helping Moray Fresh Start in their own time.”
The winning team have now accepted an invitation to attend a YPI Scotland ‘Festival of Philanthropy’ event in the Perth Concert Hall on June 21, where they will hear the stories from other schools and inspirational speakers. Buckie will be one of 195 schools at the Perth event represented by over 1000 young philanthropists.
One of the inspirational speakers at the Festival last year was Lucy Lintott from Fochabers, who spoke of her efforts to raise £100,000 for MND Scotland – a target Lucy has subsequently achieved.