A TEAM of young pioneers at Alva Academy were successful in securing a huge funding grant for their chosen charity.

The group of three girls took part in the final of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) at Alva, winning the competition and earning £3000 in funding for Women’s Aid.

The final of the competition took place last month, on Friday, December 15, with Mally McPherson, Abi Henderson and Amelia Castle-Izatt, securing the cheque for their charity.

Josh Harding, religious, moral and philosophical studies teacher at Alva Academy, said: “YPI is a fantastic initiative to allow pupils to work with the local community where so many new exciting partnerships have been made.

"This year's winners have won an amazing amount of money for a fantastic cause - Women's Aid.

"The girls who won the YPI final at Alva Academy are now all school ambassadors for Women's Aid which really highlight the importance of the charity to them.

"I am incredibly proud of not only the winning team but also the whole of S3 cohort who took part in either the semi-final or finals and put so much dedication and effort into a chosen charity in the aim of inspiring others with the local community of Clackmannanshire."

The three students delivered the best presentation, with judges voting for them to receive the £3000 funding cheque for their charity.

Women’s Aid Clackmannanshire aim to help as many women and children as they can to escape situations of domestic abuse or violence.

They hold many appeals and campaigns, including the 16 Days Against Gender Based Violence campaign each year.