GENEROUS pupils at a Clydebank secondary school have come together to award a local charity a £3,000 cash boost.

S2 students at Clydebank High School (CHS) handed over a cheque to Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) as part of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) - a scheme aimed at teaching young people about social issues and good causes.

The year-wide competition – which began in January with each second-year class being asked to research local charities – was won by pupils Ryan Ferreira, Micah Gray and Thomas Horvath who wowed judges with their knowledge and research about the Old Kilpatrick community foodbank.

Every literacy class across the year was split into groups of three or four students who were tasked with producing a presentation on their chosen cause.

From there, the best presentation - as voted by the individual classes - would head into a grand final on Wednesday, May 24, judged by school captains Kerry and Ryan alongside careers officer John Egan.

And speaking to the Clydebank Post, Clydebank High headteacher Mary Rooney was full of praise for the creativity showcased by the young students.

She said: “All the teams were watched with an audience of parents and charities, and they were asked questions.

“The panel identified Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels as being the presentation that really met all the criteria and gave the best, most passionate and had the most connectivity with the cause.”

Ryan, Micah and Thomas’ achievement was made all the more remarkable given it almost didn’t happen, with their presentation not even put forward by their class for the final.

Ms Rooney added: “What’s unique about the Old Kilpatrick one is, they were given a kind of golden ticket pass, because the class had voted a different charity presentation as the winner.

“But, when I spoke to the teachers about the best engagement and the best connection with the charity, that group were nominated.

“So, they were given a golden ticket pass at the last minute to come into the final.”

OKFP had been one of a number of local groups considered for the award and founder Maureen Cummings even paid a visit to the school to be quizzed by the students on why her food bank deserved the grant.

Maureen told the Clydebank Post: “Their questioning was excellent, and they all engaged very well with us.

“We were excited to be invited to the final and were thrilled with Ryan, Micah and Thomas’ presentation which ultimately won first prize and we were presented with a cheque for £3,000.

“We are very proud to have had such a terrific representation of our charity by the CHS Team and the funds will really help us at the foodbank during these very challenging financial times.”

YPI is the biggest independent initiative delivered in Scottish education and it looks to engage students, developing skills and confidence through a contextualised learning experience.

The programme raises awareness of local issues and is a vital means of enabling devolved, locally-driven grant-making.