Boon for local charities

FIVE local charities will benefit to the tune of £15,000 next week – with a little help from some of Shetland’s schoolchildren.

Pupils from five secondary schools across the isles will each give £3,000 to charity from money donated by the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).

Kids from Baltasound Junior High School, Brae High School, Mid Yell Junior High School, Whalsay School and Aith Junior High School will take part in Dragons Den-style presentations.

Teams from each school have spent a number of weeks picking a local cause and developing contacts with a Shetland charity in that field.

Next week they will give presentations to persuade a judging panel to give the £3,000 to their chosen charity.

The initiative is funded by the Wood Foundation and it first took place in Shetland last year.

YPI Scotland manager Jonathan Christie said the scheme aimed to teach schoolchildren about important social issues.

“YPI Scotland represents a unique opportunity for students to actively engage with, and support, their local communities, whilst developing key skills for learning, life and work,” he said.

“The manner in which YPI has grown and developed over the years is excellent, and to have witnessed how readily Shetland schools have embraced the opportunity and developed meaningful partnerships with local charities is fantastic.”