It’s been 18 years since the first YPI grant was awarded in Scotland. Since then, 390,000 young people across all 32 local authorities have stepped up to advocate for causes in their communities, securing £8.5 million for charities tackling everything from mental health to food poverty.

Launched by The Wood Foundation in 2008, the programme has become a staple of Scottish education. The process is simple yet transformative: young people work in teams to research a social issue and pitch for a £3,000 grant for a local cause. Judged by a panel of staff, alumni, and local business leaders, the winning team sends that funding directly to the heart of their community.

While the numbers are staggering, the real impact is in the participants themselves. They move from being learners in a classroom to leaders in their communities realising they have the actual power to change things.

To mark this significant milestone, we’re looking at two schools at very different stages of their journey: one that has been with us since the programme launched, and one that is just getting started.

St Machar Academy in Aberdeen has been a YPI powerhouse since the very beginning in 2008. In the 18 years since, the young people have actively championed causes that matter to them, donating a staggering £54,000 to 18 north-east charities. It has supported Aberdeen Foyer, Grampian Deaf Children’s Society and Grampian Women’s Aid, to name a few local causes championed through the programme.

In keeping with the school’s “I Belong; We Achieve” approach, a team recently secured £3,000 for Diversity Bridge, a charity which supports inclusion, belonging and anti-discrimination, particularly poignant for St Machar Academy as it has one of the most diverse student bodies in the city. Through the YPI and school partnership, the charity has empowered young people from diverse backgrounds with the leadership skills they need to thrive with many students growing in confidence, strengthening their communication skills, and developing a deeper sense of compassion for their local community. For the teachers at St Machar, the change is visible.

Mr Matthew Carle, Principal Teacher of Crew & Teacher of Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies, St Machar Academy said:

“YPI has become a valued part of our school curriculum as it promotes independent learning and encourages learners to work off their own initiative. Since moving YPI into our S1 Crew curriculum, we have seen learners grow in confidence, which we hope will provide a strong foundation for learning and independence as they progress through school.”

On the other side of the country, Wallace Hall Academy in Dumfries and Galloway, has just completed its very first year of YPI. Teachers at the school have already seen young people building key skills for future employment. Learners recently secured £3,000 for Dumfries & Stewartry Women’s Aid – a charity doing vital work supporting those affected by domestic abuse. This grant has enabled them to purchase vital resources for women and children, allowing them to feel safe and live their life to their full potential.

None of this would be possible without the support of our ten funders across Scotland. The Gordon Cook Foundation, Principal Funder in Aberdeen and The Holywood Trust, Principal Funder in Dumfries and Galloway play a key role in directing much-needed resources to local charities. Their continued support and commitment to young people ensures that resources delivered through YPI reach the charities that need them most, year after year.

Val Gilchrist, Trustee at The Gordon Cook Foundation, notes that attending finals in Aberdeen over the last two years has shown her how passionately young people engage with their chosen social issue and the charity they represent. She said:

“As a charity established to promote Values Education in its widest sense, the objectives of the Gordon Cook Foundation align very closely with those of YPI. It is clear that for some of these young people, YPI acts as a catalyst to take agency and become involved in local community issues.”

Whether it’s St Machar’s nearly two decades of legacy or Wallace Hall’s fresh momentum, the mission remains the same. From the four corners of Scotland, YPI is proving that when you give a young person a platform and a purpose, they can and will become the next generation of changemakers by making a positive difference in their local communities while gaining valuable skills for future employment.

Are you ready to see what the next 18 years look like? We are!