DRUMMOND YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS

Drummond High School sixth-formers have been learning about important social issues and competing to win charity funding for related good causes, writes David Sterratt. 

On the final Wednesday of last term, five teams of S6 pupils competed on behalf of local charities to win a £3,000 prize put up by the Wood Foundation. 

It was all part of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative in Scotland, billed as 'a unique citizenship education programme that engages young people across an entire school year group (S2–6), raising awareness of how each individual can make a positive contribution to their local community'.

Over the preceding eight weeks, with the help of mentors from PriceWaterhouse Coopers, each team had researched a social issue and chosen to work with one of five local charities dealing with the issue: Citadel Youth Centre (teenage pregnancy), the Welcoming Association (support for newcomers to Edinburgh), Fresh Start (homelessness), The Yard (children and young people with disabilities) and Simpsons Special Care Babies (premature babies).

Each team visited its chosen charity and prepared a presentation to explain the social issue it addressed and what difference a £3,000 award could make.

The judges (of whom I was one) had to pick a winner on the basis of the teams' passion and creativity, as well as how successfully they demonstrated their involvement with their charity and the impact the money would have.

Although a cliché, it's true that this was a very difficult decision to make: all the teams were passionate and articulate, and there were some very impressive presentations which included particularly creative use of film-making.

All deserved to win, but there could only be one winner: the team of Faiqa, Rebecca and Ronaigh on behalf of homelessness charity Fresh Start.

The £3,000 will be used to create more starter packs of essentials such as pots, pans and cleaning materials for homeless people moving back into accommodation.

The winning team will also go to a Scotland-wide final in 2015. I wish them well.

[Photo top-right courtesy of Greig Howitt.]