Tag: charity support

Aldi announces emergency foodbank fund to support charities in Edinburgh and the Lothians this Christmas

Aldi is supporting local charities, foodbanks, and community groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians through its Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund this Christmas.  

The supermarket’s Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund will see it donate £250,000 to help organisations as they prepare to face heightened demand on their services.  

The fund builds on Aldi’s successful partnership with community engagement platform Neighbourly which enables all of Aldi’s 980 UK stores to donate surplus food seven days a week, all year round.  

Aldi will also be introducing new signage in stores this Christmas to help highlight to customers the most in-demand items at foodbanks, as selected by the organisations themselves.  

From early December, shoppers looking to donate to foodbanks should look out for the logo on shelves by certain items, such as baked beans, teabags and toiletries, which can then be dropped at the food donation points located by Aldi’s checkouts.  

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know that Christmas is already a particularly challenging time for many, but this year is understandably going to be even tougher for a lot of households.  

“That’s why we’re more committed than ever to doing what we can to give back. We want to make food accessible for all and hope both our additional funding and donation drive will help to make a real difference in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”  

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “The cost-of-living is impacting communities up and down the country and the charities we support are expecting to see demand increase even further over the coming months.  

“Without the support of the public and businesses like Aldi we’d be unable to help those in need. Within our network there are many charities and community groups that will be able to put this funding to good use, to support families that are struggling.” 

Aldi’s latest commitment follows a recent survey of Neighbourly charities which revealed that 72% will need more food items to help with increased demand this Christmas.  

The items that were revealed to be most in-demand, and will be promoted in store to help drive donations this Christmas, included cereal, rice and pasta, tinned food and toiletries.  

Charities and community groups interested in working with Aldi should contact Neighbourly at aldi@neighbourly.com.  

Fort Kinnaird launches Christmas Jumper Exchange

Fort Kinnaird has partnered with one of its independent retailers, the Leith Collective, to launch a free Christmas jumper exchange to support the local community this festive season.

Visitors are being invited to hand in clean, pre-loved festive knitwear of all sizes to the retailer, located next to Boots, from this week up until Christmas. The jumpers will be available for anyone to take home for free.

The initiative follows Leith Collective’s successful winter coat exchange that has seen hundreds of people donating and picking up coats across its Edinburgh stores.

Fort Kinnaird has also committed to give £1 for every donated jumper to its Edinburgh-based charity partner, Thistle Foundation.

The charity provides local and national support to people living with long-term health conditions or challenging life situations. Through one-to-one wellbeing coaching, group-based wellbeing courses and peer-led activities, Thistle Foundation supports people to lead good lives and achieve what matters most to them.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people will have festive jumpers sitting unused in their homes.

By donating them to our appeal they will not only free up some much-needed cupboard space, but they’ll also be directly supporting people in their community at what is likely to be a very difficult time, and helping the environment by not throwing the clothing away.   

“We’re proud to have Thistle as our charity partner and thank the Leith Collective for helping us support them further this Christmas. The team does incredible work, providing vital support to those who need it most in our local community.”

William Oviatt, Head of Fundraising at Thistle Foundation adds: “We are delighted to be Fort Kinnaird’s charity partner.

“At Thistle Foundation we believe in a world of inclusion, free of isolation and loneliness, where a health crisis shouldn’t mean a life crisis. This support will help us to ensure that people who are living with long-term health conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, the effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic, or mental health conditions, have the support they need to live well.”

Fort Kinnaird announced its partnership with Thistle in February and has since been raising money for the Edinburgh charity through the centre’s Giving Box. 

Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com. 

Amazon’s Development Centre in Edinburgh supports community recycling project

A community organisation in Campbeltown has received a £5,000 donation from the team at Amazon Development Centre Scotland in Edinburgh. 

Kintyre Recycling was formed as a response to the need for inclusive employment for those with special needs. The community-led organisation delivers opportunities and support for people who are facing barriers to employment.

The opportunities provided by Kintyre Recycling are funded through the recycling of waste, generating an income for the charity’s community support programmes. 

In addition to creating employment opportunities, Kintyre Recycling also supports the community through a number of programmes, including the charity’s current drive to provide school uniforms for families in need. 

The donation from Amazon was used to enable Kintyre Recycling Limited to work along with Argyll and Bute Council in delivering the School Uniform Project in the Kintyre area.

The aim of this project is to work towards the reduction of waste, whilst helping families with the cost of school uniforms for their children from Nursery up to senior school age.

The company collects, sorts, organises cleaning and presenting used uniform items for collection from the Kintyre Recycling’s’ Hazelburn premises in Campbeltown.

This has created an employment opportunity for a member of staff who was encountering some issues due to learning difficulties in finding suitable work in Campbeltown. This person is now currently employed to work for 2 days each week on this project.

Tricia McNicol-Cook, from Kintyre Recycling, said: “I would like to say thank you to Amazon for supporting us with this donation.

“Gestures like this enable our team to help more people in our community and everyone at Kintyre Recycling appreciates the support of the Amazon team.”

Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, added: “I am so pleased to see that Amazon has recognised the important work that Kintyre Recycling does within the community.

“I have had the pleasure of visiting the team and have seen how much their work means to them all and the benefits it gives the wider community.”

Speaking on the donation, Oliver Masting, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, said: “We are proud to support Kintyre Recycling and we hope that with this donation, the team can continue its great work.”

The charities received the donations as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK. 

Amazon is providing disadvantaged students with online STEM courses as well as teaming up with charity partner Magic Breakfast and delivering more than five million healthy meals to families in disadvantaged areas across the country.

Bed Head launches ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign that encourages individuals to let their creativity rule

A projection by street artist Pegasus appeared across Scottish Cities this week.

Pegasus, who was close friends with Amy Winehouse, is renowned for his distinctive artwork that can be found across the capital.

Speaking on the project he said, “This campaign struck a chord with me as you need to be headstrong as an artist. It’s important to have integrity and honour your true self – by being bold with your personal style or expressing your creativity in other mediums – and not to fear what anyone else says.”

The projections of three headstrong icons – Harry Styles, Mylie Cyrus, and Munroe Bergdorf – could be seen across the city of Edinburgh with the message ‘Let Your Creativity Rule’ which encourages people to be unapologetically themselves in response to research that shows one in five Brits are told they’re not good enough.

Bed Head launches ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign that encourages individuals to let their creativity rule

  • Two fifths of Brits wish they could have been braver with their hair growing up and believe their hair is the most important part of personal appearance
  • One in 10 look up to Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles and Vivienne Westwood as headstrong role models
  • Over half of Brits think their hair is an extension of their personality
  • The campaign has just launched a new web series fronted by FFSYTHO, Lily Phillips and Lucia Blayke to coincide with its first nationwide consumer retail launch at Boots
  • This year, Bed Head is supporting STONEWALL to drive awareness and help create safe and equal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community
A wall with posters on it Description automatically generated with low confidence

Posters have appeared across the UK in all major cities 

Original rebel hair brand, Bed Head, has launched ‘Stay Headstrong’, a campaign celebrating fearless self-expression and encouraging experimentation.

The ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign is a response to new research that shows that one in five (19%) Brits admit they’ve been told they’re not good enough, with one third (30%) being made to feel inadequate at some point in their lives with regards to how they look. Of those surveyed, more than half (60%) rely on their hair to give them confidence, with two fifths (40%) claiming their hair-do is the most important part of their appearance. 

As part of Bed Head’s campaign, the brand has launched ‘Chats from the Chair’, a web content series on its native platform, that features interviews from headstrong queer Grime artist FFSYTHO, cutthroat comedian Lily Phillips, and trans pride activist and creator Lucia Blayke. The interviews shed light on why the ‘stay headstrong’ attitude is so important to each of the stars and illustrates the integral role products play as tools for self-expression, enabling people to be true unapologetic versions of themselves.

When it comes to role models, the consumer research revealed people admire creative challengers Miley Cyrus,Harry Styles and Vivienne Westwood for their bold fearless nature (42%), integrity (47%) and courage to stand up for what they believe in (44%).

The results also showed that half (51%) of Brits think their hair is an extension of their personality, changing their style on average every two or three years (32%).

Of those surveyed, adopting a headstrong attitude has helped people with:

  • Improved confidence – 29%
  • To take more risks in their personal lives – 21%
  • To persevere after rejection – 20%

Katie Westerby, Senior Marketing Manager at Bed Head, said: “At Bed Head, our purpose has always been to champion creativity by equipping artists with elevated professional hair care products and encouraging all consumers to push the boundaries of what they can do.

“Being headstrong is not only something we embody as a brand, but a belief we want to instil in everyone who buys our products. We hope that this campaign will spark conversation and motivate new and existing Bed Head devotees, and we can’t wait to see it.” 

This year, Bed Head is supporting and donating to STONEWALL a charity that stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. In the UK, more than a third of employees don’t believe it’s appropriate for their LGBTQ+ colleagues to be out in the workplace.

In response to this, Bed Head and STONEWALL want to help create more equal opportunities in society so LGBTQ+ people feel safer in our modern society.

For more information about Bed Head’s ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign, please visit bedhead.com

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store to host festive shopping night in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

The most magical time of the year is almost here and Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is welcoming the start of the festive season with a special charity shopping night in aid of National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

This is taking place in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store on Thursday 24 November, 5-9pm, with tickets on sale now. 

The Christmas Shopping Night is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to explore great-value festive gifts, decorations and products and get into the Christmas spirit.

There will be a welcome drink on arrival plus the chance to enjoy the exclusive shopping offers available on the night. With the Christmas themes for 2022 displayed throughout the stores there will be decorating inspiration for all, no matter your style or budget. 

Dobbies’ popular Santa’s Grotto will launch in its Edinburgh store for a special preview as well as bookable tables in the restaurant offering a taste of the Christmas menu.

Available on the night will be two courses for £14.95 with the option of traditional roast turkey dinner or vegetarian Christmas dinner with Quorn sausages, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pie cheesecake.

Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager at Dobbies said: “We’ve raised over £1.2m for Teenage Cancer Trust and our Christmas Shopping Night is a great opportunity, not only for customers in Edinburgh to enjoy a festive night out and exclusive offers, but contribute to raising funds for an incredibly worthwhile cause.”

Tickets are priced at £1, available at dobbies.com and in-store, and all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising on the night will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. It is also possible to opt in to make a donation to the charity when booking other festive events online.

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationships Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are delighted to see the return of Dobbies Christmas Shopping Night this year – an event our volunteers love to be part of.

“It’s companies like Dobbies, and their incredible team members and customers taking part in events like this, that allow us to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.”

Attendees in Edinburgh are invited to take a photo in-store for the chance to win a prize.

Customers can share their photos on social media by using #DobbiesChristmasNight and tagging @dobbiesgardencentres to automatically be entered.

For more Christmas inspiration and to browse Dobbies’ new season ranges, visit:

 www.dobbies.com

Dalkeith Little Ruggers kicks off season with backing from Stewart Milne Homes

Leading housebuilder continues to build on support for Midlothian community

More than 40 budding rugby players turned out in force for Dalkeith Rugby Club’s Little Ruggers training session this month as the 2022/23 season got underway.

The popular sports club for two-to-five-year-olds holds two classes every Sunday morning at King’s Park in Dalkeith, inspiring youngsters to get into the sport early on by encouraging them to build their confidence, agility and basic rugby ability in a fun and energetic environment. 

After being the main sponsor of the Dalkeith Minis Rugby Festival earlier this year, Stewart Milne Homes has further underlined its commitment to the community and is now the proud sponsor of the Dalkeith Little Ruggers group for the 2022/23 season.

The leading housebuilder has provided the aspiring players with Little Ruggers t-shirts to wear for their class each week and mini rugby balls to play with at home.

Funding of £2,200 from Stewart Milne Homes has also been welcomed by the club to help continue to grow the Little Ruggers classes, encouraging healthy lifestyles and forming a welcoming community in the Midlothian town.

Tony Williamson, Sales & Marketing Director for Stewart Milne Homes Scotland, said: “After sponsoring the Dalkeith Minis Rugby Festival in May this year, we were thrilled to see the positive impact that the sport has on the local community. That’s why we wanted to extend our support for the club, and the Little Ruggers group is a fantastic initiative to encourage healthy lifestyles from an early age.

“Supporting communities is in the fabric of our ethos, and we’re consistently working with local residents, organisations and schools that share our people-first values. We’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Dalkeith Rugby Club and wish the Little Ruggers – and potential future rugby stars – good luck in their new season.”

Susan McGhee, Head Coach of Dalkeith Rugby Club’s Little Ruggers, said: “Our Little Ruggers group is a popular fixture in the Dalkeith community, both for the introduction to rugby it offers to youngsters and the social aspect enjoyed by families.

“We all share a passion for rugby but equally ensuring that there is a positive community spirit amongst players and families, which we know Stewart Milne Homes also champions.

“The support from Stewart Milne Homes is a welcomed gesture, both by the Club and families, and we’re pleased to continue to build on our relationship with their team.”

Stewart Milne Homes is currently creating a number of new developments across Central Scotland, including Shawfair in Midlothian, which will feature 115 new homes as well as communal green space and excellent active travel links to the wider community.

The luxurious three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom homes on offer are from the housebuilder’s new ‘Villages’ range which has been expertly designed for modern-day lifestyles, creating the very best of contemporary and considered living for the whole family.

For further information, visit www.stewartmilnehomes.com

Three good cause groups win share of £25,000 Scotmid funding

Three good causes across the East of Scotland have been awarded a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid’s Community Connect awards scheme. The awards were decided by a vote of Scotmid Members.

LoveOliver secured £15,000 in funding, with Edinburgh City Mission and The School Bank West Lothian both receiving a £5,000 award. The charities were shortlisted by the community retailer to receive the lifeline financial support helping them to continue carrying out vital work within the communities that they operate.

Each organisation delivers a range of different services, aimed at supporting and enhancing the lives of others.

  • LoveOliver is a charity dedicated to childhood cancer research and provides practical support for families affected by the disease. The funding awarded by Scotmid will be used to hire a staff member for its drop-in café, which provides aid and support for families at a local and accessible level.
  • Edinburgh City Mission is a charitable organisation involved in a number of projects that support the most vulnerable in the Edinburgh community. The charity works to aid several foodbanks, a clothes bank and a family-focused weekend club aimed at supporting asylum seekers. The funding granted by Scotmid will be used to help support these projects and the people who benefit the most from them.
  • The School Bank West Lothian was established in 2015 and is dedicated to delivering school uniforms and other school essentials to families experiencing financial hardship. The funding provided by Scotmid will assist The School Bank West Lothian in ensuring every school child is prepared for their studies this winter.

Jennifer Gill, Charity Founder and Co-ordinator at LoveOliver, said: “We are delighted to receive £15,000 from Scotmid and want to thank everyone involved in making this happen.  Our drop-in cafe at The Howat Hub has been running two days each week by our volunteers since opening in February this year.

“This funding will be used to employ a member of staff to allow the cafe to double its opening hours and be more available to families. We’re extremely grateful for this opportunity to extend our team, and to continue our work funding childhood cancer research and providing practical support to families affected by it.”

Catriona Thomas, Fundraising Manager for Edinburgh City Mission, (above) said: “Edinburgh City Mission aims to support as many vulnerable people in the city as possible, so we’re thrilled to be granted with this crucial funding from Scotmid.

“The funding will go towards hosting Soul Food, a weekly sit-down meal service for those most in need, helping us to meet our goal of ensuring that everyone in the local community has access to food.”

Abbie Stephenson, Project Worker with The School Bank West Lothian, said: “The School Bank West Lothian is thrilled to receive £5,000. Vulnerable children shouldn’t be without the basic necessities for school, so our mission is to help provide school children with the clothing and equipment they need to succeed. We look forward to helping reach more children in need.”  

Since Scotmid’s Community Connect launched in 2017, almost £600,000 has been awarded to 66 good cause groups across the north of England and Scotland, enabling key projects to continue operating in their local areas.

Harry Cairney, President of Scotmid, said: “Community Connect is one of the core ways in which we are able to support the communities we serve.

“We’re proud to support local charities and good cause groups and provide dedicated funding to support their goals. As we enter the winter months, it is important to look after one another – we’re grateful for our chosen three charities and good causes’ continued efforts to provide a lifeline to those in need within local communities.”

Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer in September

The team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline made a £3,000 donation to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland and a £1,000 donation to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity as part of the company’s global Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer campaign during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

Now in its sixth year, Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer raises funds and awareness for organisations working to increase survival rates for those with childhood cancer through life-saving treatments and research.

A gold ribbon is the universal symbol for childhood cancer, so this year, Amazon employees from Dunfermline held a month-long series of gold-themed events in recognition of the international emblem. 

The team also showed solidarity to children with cancer by donating £3,000 to Kinross-based charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland and £1,000 to Edinburgh-based charity Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

One of the events this year at Amazon in Dunfermline was a Pyjama Day, which saw the fulfilment centre team join with colleagues across the UK to wear pyjamas to work in honour of children who spend every day in their pyjamas during treatment. 

Amazon Dunfermline General Manager, Jamie Strain, said: “We are proud to support CHAS and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity in honour of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this year’s Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer campaign.

“We look forward to doing our bit for children with cancer every year, and hope that this donation offers encouragement to the charity’s brilliant team and the families it supports.”

One of the Amazon employees who took part in Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer is Aoife Considine. She added: “It was great to take part in Amazon in Dunfermline’s Pyjama Day and help spread awareness of the realities of childhood cancer. I’m so pleased that we could offer support to such an excellent charity.”

This year, Amazon employees in the UK also had the opportunity to support children and families affected by childhood cancer by volunteering with childhood cancer charities and organisations, or by putting together activity packs for children facing cancer, which were distributed to nearby hospitals and hospices.

Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer takes place annually as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK.

Amazon staff step out in support of Edinburgh Women’s Aid

A group of employees from the Dunfermline Amazon fulfilment centre and the Bathgate Amazon delivery station and sortation centre recently set out to walk from Bathgate to Dunfermline to raise money for Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

The employees set off on their 22-mile excursion from the Amazon delivery station in Bathgate and finished the walk at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline. The colleagues joined forces with the team from Amazon’s delivery station and sortation centre in Bathgate with the aim of raising £1,000 for Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

Edinburgh Women’s Aid is a non-profit organisation that offers practical and emotional support to women and young people. Its aim is to provide a safe environment for those in need of protection from abuse.

The team completed the walk in 8 hours and donated a total of £1,740 to Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

The donation from Amazon will be used to purchase safety devices, food vouchers, clothes and other necessities for those using the charity’s services.

Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We are proud of the men and women from Amazon in Dunfermline and Bathgate who took part in the fundraising walk for Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

“It was great to see their enthusiasm for a good cause and we are grateful to have them on our team.”

Clare Cornbleet, Senior Delivery Station Manager at Amazon in Bathgate, added: “The sponsored walk for Edinburgh Women’s Aid was a fantastic achievement.

“We want to thank everyone who took part in raising money for the charity at both the Amazon delivery station in Bathgate and at the fulfilment centre in Dunfermline – they’ve helped raise money for a great organisation.”

Olivia Angus, an employee at Amazon in Dunfermline who took part in the charity walk, said: “From everyone who took part in the walk, we want to say thank you for the support from our team at Amazon in Dunfermline and our colleagues in Bathgate.

“It was great to see the team cheering us on at the finish line. Although the weather was not on our side throughout the walk, we had a great time, and it was worth it to be able to provide a donation for such a worthy cause.”

Linda Rodgers, Edinburgh Women’s Aid’s CEO, said: “The team at Edinburgh Women’s Aid would like to say a big thank you to the teams at Amazon in Dunfermline and Bathgate for taking the time to raise money for our charity.

“Well done to everyone involved; your colleagues should be so proud of your achievements.”

The donation to Edinburgh Women’s Aid was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

School pupils support local charities through Youth Philantrophy Initiative

Young people secure £756,000 for Scotland’s charities

Aberdeen , Scotland, Thursday, 16 June 2022 YPI Annual Event 2022 Picture by Michal Wachucik/Abermedia

More than 35,000 young people have been empowered to be advocates for their communities, securing more than three quarters of a million pounds for charities the length and breadth of the country.

The Wood Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), which took place in more than 250 secondary schools, saw young people research and represent causes including mental health, poverty, abuse, and support for those with health and disability conditions.

YPI is the biggest independent initiative being delivered in Scottish education. The active citizenship programme engages a full year-group at each school who learn about the needs of their communities and the work of local charities. The students work in teams to do in-depth research and develop a creative and convincing presentation in a bid to secure their school’s YPI grant of £3000.

Presentations at schools’ YPI Final Showcases this year have included a poignant poem about the impact of dementia and losing a loved one; a song about seeking support for mental health; a cartoon animation depicting poverty; and an acting performance focusing on domestic abuse.

Each of the successful teams brought to life their social issue, the difference the charity makes, and the business case for the impact of the £3000 grant locally.

In Edinburgh, each of the following schools secured £3000 for the charities listed by their names:

Scran AcademyBalerno Community High School
Edinburgh Women’s AidBoroughmuir High School
Kids in the StreetCastlebrae High School
Vintage VibesCraigmount High School
Muirhouse Youth Development GroupCraigroyston Community High School
Give Blood 4 GoodCurrie Community High School
About YouthFettes College
Edinburgh Rape Crisis CentreFirhill High School
Edinburgh Children’s HospitalForrester High School
Thistle FoundationGeorge Watson’s College
Edinburgh Children’s HospitalGracemount High School
Edinburgh Young CarersHoly Rood RC High School
SaheliyaJames Gillespie’s High School
North Edinburgh Dementia CareLeith Academy
Tailor Ed FoundationLiberton High School
Edinburgh Young CarersMerchiston Castle School
Shakti Women’s AidSt Augustine’s RC High School
Therapet (Caninie Concern Scotland Trust)St George’s School 
Granton Baptist ChurchThe Edinburgh Academy
Held in Our HeartsThe Mary Erskine School
Forget Me Not GardenThe Royal High School
CircleTrinity Academy

Ali MacLachlan, UK Director at The Wood Foundation, said: “We need to give young people the space, time, and opportunities to have their voices heard now, with the resources to act upon what they believe and realise their potential and responsibilities as active citizens.

“YPI is vitally important for young people in terms of their understanding of the world and their role in it, as well as developing their skills. It is also incredibly supportive of schools’ culture, drivers, and curriculum.

“Charities tell us that engaging a new generation of advocates and volunteers, raising awareness of what they do and promoting conversations, is as important as the opportunity to secure funds. Teachers tell us it is improving vital skills for learning, life, and work and making their young people more aware of their communities.

“Most importantly, young people tell us that YPI is giving them opportunities to better understand their communities and feel empowered to be part of change.

“The Wood Foundation is proud to partner with schools in delivering this vital opportunity for our young people and communities.”

Since it was launched in Scotland in 2008, 270,000 young people have taken part in YPI with £6m reaching local charities.

The Wood Foundation, the venture philanthropic organisation established by Sir Ian Wood and his family, is the operational manager and principal funder of YPI in Scotland. The programme is also supported by a range of like-minded funding partners.