Clackmannanshire Council Online

Clackmannanshire Young Philanthropists Secure Funding for Local Charities

Teams from Clackmannanshire's three secondary schools will attend the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) Scotland's "Festival of Philanthropy" at Perth Concert Hall tomorrow.

They will join teams from across Scotland who took part in the YPI programme at this national event to celebrate their success and the inspirational way they have become involved in prominent social issues within their local area.

Since its introduction in Scotland by the Wood Foundation in 2008, the YPI programme has seen the number of schools involved from across Scotland grow from 10 to 195 and has granted over £1.9million to small local Scottish charities. Nearly £600,000 in funding was granted in this academic year alone with the winning Clackmannanshire teams securing £9000 for their chosen charities.

Talking about the YPI programme and the upcoming event Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of The Wood Foundation said, "YPI is one of the most exciting programmes in The Wood Foundation portfolio - high impact and very much enjoyed by young people in schools. It provides a unique opportunity for them to understand the challenges and needs within their local community, and the opportunity to get involved and make a difference, with their first real experience of philanthropy.

"Our annual YPI Scotland National Event is a great celebration of the huge achievements of these young people from across Scotland over the last 12 months, with a number of the winning schools highlighting some very exciting projects. It also highlights the success and growth of the programme across Scotland over the last eight years. There will be 1,000 youngsters attending this year's event out of over 26,000 young people involved in the last year, and a remarkable 80,000 young people since we started.

"In the past year, 195 small charities across Scotland will each have received £3,000, but more importantly a significant number of the 26,000 youngsters involved have undergone a mind-set change understanding the challenges in their community and realising that they can actually do something to contribute. Many of those continue to volunteer or fundraise, and a reasonable number will become good philanthropists in the future. We're very proud of the YPI programme and of the great team we have delivering it."

Education spokesperson Councillor George Matchett said: "YPI is an excellent programme that really encourages our young people to think of others and become active citizens in their own communities.

"These life skills that they develop are a vital part of helping our young people to create a just and fair society."

Mark Beaumont, the record-breaking long-distance British cyclist, adventurer, broadcaster, documentary maker and author, who has recently completed his "Africa Solo" cycling expedition and is a Philanthropy Ambassador for The Wood Foundation is set to be the keynote speaker at the event. There will also be highlights from some of the students, topical interviews, and live entertainment from rising duo Meadowlark along with other Scottish acts - all set up to promote a day of celebration, inspiration, creativity and positivity.

Notes to Editors

The Wood Foundation
The Wood Foundation (TWF), originally named the Wood Family Trust, is a venture philanthropy organisation established by Sir Ian Wood and his immediate family on the 14th September 2007. It is a Scottish based charity with a global outlook investing in economic, community and enterprise activities in the UK and Sub Saharan Africa. The Foundation aims to be an open, intelligent, and thoughtful funder who recognises that money alone will not solve some of society's greatest inequalities. In order to achieve systemic change, TWF invests both money and expertise to achieve systemic change and either takes a lead on projects or takes an active supporting role with strategic partners.

Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI)
The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) is an active citizenship programme that raises awareness among young people about philanthropy, run by The Wood Foundation in Scotland, Sir Ian Wood's philanthropic charity. Scottish pupils taking part in YPI work in small teams in their secondary school year groups, to consider the needs of their local community and identify a grassroots social service charity they believe can make a positive contribution. Having been guided on how to analyse the charity's management and strategy, they are encouraged to build relationships with the charity and then exercise their skills in advocacy and public speaking to make a case as to why their proposed charity should be awarded £3000.

Mark Beaumont - Keynote Speaker
Mark Beaumont has become a household name through his documentaries about ultra-endurance and adventure. His first taste of adventure was at the age of 11, when he decided to cycle across Scotland and he first made fame aged 23 for an 18,000 mile round-the-world bike race, where he smashed the previous World Record by a staggering 82 days. In 2015 Mark rode the length of Africa at a pace of 160 miles a day, taking 18 days off the previous best. Off the bike, he has ocean rowed through the high Arctic and survived after capsizing whilst rowing the Atlantic. His epic documentaries have taken viewers to over 100 countries, and he also presented the BBC's coverage in the build up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Mark received an Honorary Doctorate in Laws, The University of Dundee, where he is also currently Rector.

Meadowlark - Headline Act
Meadowlark are two piece band from Bristol, England signed to Believe Recordings. Meadowlark - Kate McGill (vocals, keys) and Daniel Broadley (guitar, synths) - are at the cutting edge of new music, and have achieved coveted slots on Radio 1's BBC Introducing Playlist, adding to 6 Music and Radio X support the band have already received. Having already sold out numerous London shows and played festivals including Glastonbury, Meadowlark will be touring extensively in 2016.