Inverness Royal Academy pupils win £3000 grant for Maggie’s Highland

Pupils from Inverness Royal Academy have handed over a £3000 cheque to Maggie’s Highland.

Melody Allen, Sophie Brown, and Vilis Forstmanis won the grant for the charity, after they took part in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) over this academic year.

Pupils worked in teams to investigate social issues in the local community and research charities that are working to address these. They then had to present their findings and make a case for their chosen charity to win the £3000 grant money.

The winning team focused on the work of Maggie’s Highland. The Maggie’s Centre at Raigmore Hospital offers a range of services to anyone affected by cancer in the Highlands and offers a welcoming, supportive environment.

The judges of the school final were impressed by their obvious passion and the clear way that they explained the support Maggie’s offers to people affected by cancer across the region.

Sophie Brown, S3, said: “YPI was an incredible experience. It really opened my eyes to the effect that cancer has on patients and their families.

“We were delighted to raise awareness for Maggie’s to increase the knowledge people have of the service, and hopefully bring in more money to support them in future.”

YPI develops professional skills in young people, including: research, communication, team work, networking, organisation, and creativity.

Charities benefit from engaging with the young people by raising awareness of their work; developing potential employees, fundraisers, and service users; and increasing the chances that the team supporting them will be able to win the £3000 grant.

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