Their success in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) Scotland – an active citizenship project that encourages young people to support local charities while developing valuable life skills – was so impressive that Elderpark Housing Association backed the school’s participation with funding and support.

This year, Govan High School embraced the initiative with enthusiasm, with the winning team earning a £3,000 grant for Glasgow South West Foodbank after highlighting the vital work it carries out for local people facing hardship.

The work of the young people learning about the importance of community cohesion and doing the right thing in life fits perfectly with Elderpark Housing’s deep-rooted community support which goes far beyond simply collecting the rent.

Elderpark - which celebrated its 50th anniversary recently – is a strong advocate of empowering communities in the true spirit of the community-based housing association movement and works closely with local schools.

Jonathan Giddings-Reid, Elderpark’s Community Regeneration Officer who sat on the judging panel at Govan High to choose the winning project, said: “The pupils from Govan High School have demonstrated an acute awareness of community togetherness. The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative is a trail-blazing project which is a fantastic way of empowering young people to make a difference.”

The winning team consisted of pupils Gemma Tweedle, Aisho Khalif, Kendall Dodge, Amelia Barr and Mahtab Hassan. 

Govan’s pupils have been actively engaged in their YPI project, researching a range of charities and exploring social issues within the community. After careful consideration, they chose to focus on a local foodbank.

Through their research, discussions and teamwork, pupils developed a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable members of society and the importance of community support. The pupils worked closely, communicating and visiting with the foodbank while developing valuable skills and qualities such as empathy, presentation and social responsibility.