Falkirk area high school pupils play host to Scotland's first openly gay footballer at national event

Denny High School’s answer to Ant and Dec – Euan and Blake – hosted the national event, which took place on Wednesday, June 12 and brought together hundreds of pupils, teachers, charity representatives, and a number of keynote speakers, including Zander Murray, the first senior male footballer in Scotland to publicly come out as gay.

Braes High School pupils were also at the event, giving a presentation which addressed a number of issues including poverty, mental health and domestic violence.

YPI is the biggest independent programme being delivered through Scottish education, empowering tens of thousands of young people each year to make a difference in their communities.

This year, the national programme engaged pupils from 280 Scottish secondary schools, who raised £840,000 for causes close to their hearts.

Sir Ian Wood, chairman of YPI funders The Wood Foundation, said: “Through YPI, young people engage in meaningful discussions about challenging issues, discovering that everyone has the ability to drive change and make a positive impact on and for their communities across Scotland.

“The confidence displayed by pupils at this year’s event was very impressive and it gives me a great degree of hope for the future. Youngsters have the courage and ability to make a difference and we are proud to provide them with a platform to do so.

“The National Event also unites stakeholders who have played a vital role in YPI’s growth, development and success – including our funding partners, local authority colleagues, third sector bodies, and our schools who embrace the programme.”