Students from Girvan Academy secured £3000 to support families facing food poverty in South Ayrshire.
The group impressed judges with their creative and convincing presentation outlining how Children 1st would deploy the grant locally. Other charities represented at the YPI Showcase were the Salvation Army, South Ayrshire Women’s Aid, and Girvan Youth Trust.
The finalist teams had been mentored by YPI’s Ayrshire funding partner QTS.
QTS is currently in its fifth and final year of sponsorship of the programme, having granted £150,000. The transport company, which is headquartered locally, has been heavily involved with mentoring and judging YPI finals as part of its commitment to the community.
Alan McLeish, Managing Director of QTS, said:
“We are incredibly proud of what our partnership with YPI over the past five years has empowered across Ayrshire, not only in terms of funds reaching local charities but the young people and schools we have engaged with in our community.
“Congratulations to these Girvan Academy students who have raised awareness of really important issues.”
The grant will be used to support the Girvan Food Pantry which supports 180 people facing food insecurity. Michelle Robertson of Children 1st said:
“We are so pleased to have received this grant. The Girvan students are wonderful representatives of their school and did a great job representing our charity and its work locally. YPI is important as it gives young people this very real opportunity to make a difference.”
YPI is an active citizenship programme of The Wood Foundation. Since 2008, it has empowered more than 230,000 young people to grant in excess of £5m to social issue charities across Scotland. Through a unique programme of teamwork, research, and competition, young people are empowered to advocate for their communities. Each of the 250 participating schools is responsible for £3000 being granted to a local charity.
