This time last year, we could not have envisaged what our end of year reflections would look like for 2020 based on our 2019 experience. We know many will be ending the year feeling reflective and quite frankly exhausted, however the perseverance we are seeing to the very last minute has been incredible.  

Throughout the year we have observed young people, teachers, and schools across Scotland demonstrating great resilience and innovation when faced with adversity. Looking back to March 2020, when school buildings closed, we know that the school communities certainly did not. 

Through our lockdown adaptation of YPI, Your Community Fund, we were able to award 50 grants of £4000 to organisations through youth-led grant-making. Schools embraced the opportunity to enable students to consider the issues impacting their community. They recognised the vital need to empower their young people amidst a generation-defining time. 

As we entered the 2020/21 academic year in June, uncertainty remained. However, what has remained constant was the commitment and innovation from students and teachers to fully realise the opportunities afforded by YPI. Throughout the academic year to-date, we have seen young people engaging meaningfully with charities via online meetings and telephone calls, bringing a real-world context for learning to life remotely. We have supported and facilitated inspiring and moving live and pre-recorded finals from our own homes. We have heard young people reflecting on the impact of Covid-19 on our communities and passionately advocating for local grassroots charities across Scotland. We have engaged in rich discussions about programme delivery and development with committed practitioners during our webinar sessions.  

We do not underestimate the commitment from our Lead Teachers and Senior Leaders who have made YPI possible this year, and what we have observed has been truly amazing. We are confident this investment of time, and the prioritisation of this opportunity, will benefit your students and communities immeasurably,  

Although we know that Covid-19 is not going to disappear from our lives as we enter a new calendar year, we remain hopeful for 2021 and look forward to empowering #generationchange as champions of our communities. The passion, commitment, and innovation we have witnessed gives us real optimism as we enter 2021. 

Wishing you all a safe and refreshing Christmas break, 

YPI Scotland Team