BCHS YPI winners back Moray Baby Bank with £3k donation
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A CHARITY which helps parents obtain essential baby items has been handed a four-figure boost by a group of Buckie High students.
Moray Baby Bank are the beneficiaries of the school's winning Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) team – S2 students Nyah Wright, Morgan Osborne and Ruby Jappy – who chose the charity to receive their winnings of £3000.
The trio had to battle through class heats comprising the entire S2 year group before claiming a place as one of the 11 finalists. Once there, they had to convince a judging panel comprising last year's YPI winners, depute rector Moira Taylor and teacher Colin Smith, why their chosen charity deserved to be awarded the £3000 prize pot.
Acting PT RMPS and Raising Attainment Stewart Clelland, who organised the school's YPI scheme, praised Nyah, Morgan and Ruby's victorious performance.
He said: "In the end at the final it was the girls' passion, enthusiasm and presentation which won it for them.
"The standard overall was very high again this year.
"All of the teams have to research the charity they choose. Unfortunately Covid had an impact again this year and we weren't able to hold our usual charity event in the school where the teams can meet and talk to prospective charities and groups. Instead the pupils had to use online sources, and social media as well as phone and Zoom chats.
"Hopefully we'll get back to normal on that next year and also be able to hold a big community event for the final.
"Moray Baby Bank appealed to the girls as it's not that well-known a charity compared to many others and they were able to say exactly how they would spend the money if they won."
Moray Baby Bank secretary Rossana Elisiario thanked the team for thinking of the charity, and went on to outline what the cash would be spent on.
"With the donated £3000, we are able to purchase two new car seats and mattresses for cot beds and Moses baskets, which have to be brand new by safety regulation requirements.
"However, this will be a huge help to our families across Moray currently struggling with the high rise in energy and fuel prices, as we have been inundated with referrals for formula milk, baby food, nappies, toiletries and wipes. These bare essentials are becoming a difficult strain for families doing their best to cope, in some circumstances we have had to support older siblings with warm bedding, clothes and shoes.
"We are also working closely with Moray Food Plus to reduce the financial burden for families during these very challenging times, therefore this help will be a massive milestone in the difference we are making in the community."
It was a case of everyone being a winner thanks to YPI, with the students involved gaining many skills thanks to taking part.
Mr Clelland added: "Taking part in YPI gives pupils the chance to give something back to the community as well as finding out more about the many groups and organisations out there.
"It also gives them experience of doing research as well of speaking to people they don't know in a professional setting.
"There're a lot of transferable skills they can take away from YPI."
Reflecting on their experience, Nyah, Morgan and Ruby added: "It was good to get to learn more about Moray Baby Bank.
"It's a not a charity many people know a lot about."
Founded in January 2019, Moray Baby Bank aim to help Moray parents in need with clothing, nappies, toys, cots, prams and so on for babies from newborn up to two years old. For more information about the services offered by the charity, visit its Facebook page.
Since it was introduced to Scotland in 2008 by The Wood Foundation, YPI has donated over £5 million to good causes and engaged more than 230,000 young people.
