Senior students at Dundee’s Morgan Academy have secured £4500 for local charities through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
The team representing mental health charity Wellbeing Works secured £3000, with runner-up grants of £1000 and £500 secured for Alternatives Dundee and Dundee Bairns respectively.
YPI is an active citizenship programme which empowers young people to be advocates for their community. In Dundee, principal funding partner of the programme is The Northwood Charitable Trust. Balgay Children’s Society provide second and third prize grants.
Kenny Bell, Lead Teacher of YPI at Morgan Academy, said:
“The standard this year was excellent. The teams struck up a real bond by getting to see the work of the charities first-hand.
“I was really impressed at just how committed the students were, particularly when they faced continuity challenges due to absences.
“There was great variety and creativity in the presentations. YPI is an important part of what we do in Morgan.”
The teams’ presentations consisted of animations, songs, rap, interactive challenges, and thought experiments. Wellbeing Works will use the funds to establish a choir as part of its mental health support service.
Blair Thomson of The Northwood Charitable Trust said:
“Huge congratulations to the students. Their presentations were very strong and showed real passion for the causes they were representing. We are very proud to partner with YPI so young people can raise awareness and secure funds for their communities.”
Suzanne Kerr of Balgay Children’s Society said:
“We are always very impressed by the finalist teams and the dedication the young people show to the charities. We are very happy to provide funding to charities in this way.”
Seven secondary schools in Dundee take part in The Wood Foundation’s programme with young people taking responsibility for more than £20,000 reaching local, social issues charities each year.
