A lifeline charity that tackles food insecurity has this week received a cash boost thanks to the efforts of local young people.
The Darkwood Crew has been awarded £3,000 after its work caught the attention of pupils at Kibble’s Goudie Academy.
Youngsters attending the Paisley school identified the charity as an organisation tackling some of the biggest problems facing the local community as part of their work with the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
The programme - funded by the Wood Foundation - challenges young people to work together to identify social issues in their community and the charities successful in tacking them in a bid to win a grant for that organisation.
The students saw the cost-of-living crisis and individuals experiencing bullying and harassment as amongst the biggest challenges facing people in Renfrewshire.
The Kibble young people then worked closely with their selected charities, the Darkwood Crew and Respect Me, to create a video presentation that answered how the organisation would spend a £3,000 grant.
Winning top prize and a £3k donation from The Wood Foundation was the Darkwood Crew, which aims to tackle food insecurity, fuel poverty, and isolation and loneliness in the Ferguslie area.
Its community market aims to provide £15 worth of shopping every Thursday to those worst affected by the current cost-of-living crisis.
Terry McTernan, Darkwood Crew community development worker, said: “The money received has helped us fully restock our community market to help navigate the cost-of-living crisis in the coming months.
“We are expecting an uptake in demand, so this has helped us prepare and is a very welcome addition to our toolbox.
“We are extremely grateful to have been awarded such a large sum of money and would like to take this time to emphasise the benefits this will bring to many across our community.”
Audrey Baird, executive director at Kibble said: “Our pupils strongly believe no one should go hungry and were determined to do what they could to help make sure families could get themselves good food.
“Young people of Kibble are extremely proud that their efforts have had a direct impact on people looking for help and are keen to continue fundraising for causes that will help the local community.”
As a result of the unwavering dedication to the project, Kibble decided to donate an additional £1,000 to runner-up organisation Respect Me. The charity was highlighted by pupils looking to tackle bullying and harassment in their local community.
Respect Me is Scotland’s anti-bullying service, that has the vision of creating a respectful, equal and inclusive Scotland, where children and young people can live free of bullying.
Kibble’s secondary education facilities at Goudie Academy and Mirin View provide a bespoke secondary programme for pupils with experience of trauma and adversity.
