Sir E Scott School on the Isle of Harris takes a creative, community-driven approach to YPI, showing how fundraising can be a powerful addition to the programme.
For the past three years, pupils have organised a coffee morning in partnership with a local hotel, transforming an unused daytime space into a hub of conversation and generosity.
Last academic year, the event raised £885. While the winning group’s charity secured the £3,000 YPI grant, the additional funds meant that the other three finalist charities also benefitted.
The coffee morning has quickly become a highlight of the school’s YPI journey. Pupils take full ownership – planning, promoting, and delivering the event – while the community actively supports and engages with their efforts.
Neil Mulhern, Principal Teacher of English and Literacy at Sir E Scott School, said: “The coffee morning has got a number of benefits. All the groups work together, it involves the community coming together, and it is almost like a partnership beginning to develop.”
The event is about much more than raising money. It is an opportunity for young people to build confidence in public speaking, teamwork, and engagement with adults outside the classroom.
Volunteer Centre Western Isles worked with the school and its young people to deliver the coffee morning, offering guidance and support along the way. The organisation is a part of Third Sector Interface which is a body of expert charities that support, develop and advocate for the third sector and social enterprise. They support YPI Programme delivery across all the Western Isles secondary schools.
Incorporating fundraising alongside YPI is an excellent example of good practice, and we encourage other schools to explore similar approaches to maximise both community engagement and charitable support.
