Falkirk pupils' £14,000 funding for charities

Youngsters from Falkirk High, St Mungo’s High, Denny High and Larbert High submitted presentations and videos to The Wood Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) in a bid to receive a grant for a local cause.

Pre-lockdown, students took part in a range of classroom-based activities to learn about philanthropy and the needs of their communities.

An entire year group at each school was split into teams with one, deemed to have the most convincing and creative application, securing their school’s grant.

The work of Falkirk High students was rewarded with £3000 in funding which will be passed on to Screen Memories which aims to recreate a sense of community and belonging using cinema memories, particularly among the elderly.

St Mungo’s High pupils secured two £4000 grants for Falkirk Autistic Bairns and The Butterfly Trust to support those with autism and cystic fibrosis respectively.

Denny High donated its £3000 YPI grant to Keep Ticking Falkirk whose volunteers provide support with cardiac rehabilitation and recovery.

Finally, Larbert High handed over £3000 to Committed to Ending Abuse, formerly Falkirk and District Women’s Aid.

Ashley Wilson, Falkirk High School RME teacher and YPI lead, said: We teach the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative to S2 pupils as part of the curriculum.

"It empowers young people to make a positive change in the local community.

“It’s been a hugely successful initiative in our school as we can really see the skills pupils have developed.”

Michelle McMullan, geography teacher and head of faculty at St Mungo’s High, said: “We’re one of two schools doing YPI with S1 pupils. It allows the pupils to experience social issues within their area.

“Sometimes pupils are protected from these issues but we decided to raise awareness.

“We’re really proud of what the pupils managed to achieve. Their submissions were fantastic.”

Fiona Craig, of Denny High, said: “The money went towards new equipment for Keep Ticking Falkirk’s classes and they hoped to purchase a defibrillator.

“All S3 pupils are involved in YPI through the English department.”

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