Making a Difference
Welcome to YPI
We hope these hints, tips and resources will help you, #GENERATIONCHANGE, feel empowered to make a difference in your communities while developing confidence and skills.
What is YPI?
YPI is delivered to an entire year group in hundreds of schools across Scotland. Working in teams, you will work together to identify a social issue you care about and a charity supporting that issue in your area. You will then have to get in touch with the charity before pulling together a passionate and impactful piece of work. Each school will choose the most creative and convincing team presentation for its £3000 grant.
For more videos from YPI Scotland, please visit our Vimeo page.
The YPI process
Please note, this academic year (2020/21) will be a bit different because of Covid-19 so your YPI delivery may be adapted.
Your teachers will support you with how this has been adapted to make sure you can still make the most of this opportunity.
Your YPI journey
YPI is an opportunity to work as part of a team. An opportunity to learn about your community. An opportunity to make an actual difference.
You will learn how the programme works and explore the key concepts of philanthropy and social issues.
1
YPI Launch
You or your teacher will select teams for you to work in. Remember to draw upon your unique talents and skills and learn to work effectively – you’re stronger together.
2
Form teams
What are the issues facing your community? What do you know about? What do you care about? What would you like to learn more about? Who is doing something to help people and how are they doing it? Make sure your chosen charity is OSCR-registered and active in your local area.
3
Research a social issue and identify a local charity addressing it
Understanding a charity’s offering must go beyond copying and pasting what is on their website. Get to know your charity, either by visiting or conducting a virtual interview, and find the stories within the organisation.
4
Get to know your charity
Use all the skills you already have in your team and spend time developing new ones. Digital packages, spoken word, music, dance, poetry, art, and drama can all be used to make your case. Make sure you clearly demonstrate the impact the £3000 would have on your chosen charity. Check out our Creativity Zone for inspiration.
5
Develop a creative and convincing presentation
Schools do this differently. Your teachers may hold class or house heats to decide which teams proceed to the final YPI Showcase.
6
Shortlisting
This is an important date in the school calendar and a chance to showcase your work to classmates, teachers and judges. Remember this is not only an opportunity to secure funds but to raise awareness of a cause you’ll now be really passionate about supporting.
7
YPI Showcase
Feeling inspired, motivated and engaged by the process? What can you do next? Now you can see that anyone can make a difference, how will you stay involved with your chosen charity or other causes you’d like to support? Can your presentation package be used by the charity on social media or for anything else? Read our guide to volunteering and remember to share your experiences on social media (@ypi_ scotland, #YPI, #generationchange).
8
After YPI
Think creatively!
Check out our Creativity Zone for inspiration in creating exciting presentations which grab the judges’ attention.
Feeling inspired, motivated and engaged by the process?
Then share your experiences on social media
“YPI helped me develop a whole host of skills which have transferred into my adult life. It also opened my eyes to what was happening in my community and the power young people have to make a difference. Now as a teacher, I recognise it is our role to afford young people transformative opportunities such as YPI and I am delighted to be leading on it at my school.”
“I really feel like I can make a difference now and that opportunities like YPI mean that it isn’t only adults with lots of money who can make big changes for charities. I will definitely continue to support charities in the future.”
Working with likeminded partners supports the sustainability of YPI as we grow the opportunity throughout Scotland.
Would you like to be part of empowering #GENERATIONCHANGE and communities throughout Scotland?
Feeling inspired, motivated and engaged by the process?
Then share your experiences on social media