A CHARITY that takes “invisible” pupils on life-changing expeditions to the ends of the earth has won an “overwhelming” donation from Scotland’s Euromillionaires.
Chris and Colin Weir launched the Weir Charitable Trust four years ago following their £161 million Euromillions win in 2011. Since then the fund has supported a range of good causes from women’s wheelchair basketball to dog rescue.
Yesterday it emerged that The Polar Academy, based in Bo’ness, which takes struggling teenagers to the wilds of Greenland, has secured a major windfall.
Craig Mathieson, who founded the project four years ago, branded the £60,000 sum a “game changer”, saying: “I’m personally overwhelmed by the hugely generous financial support offered by The Weir Charitable Trust. Its support will directly impact on our commitment to use exploration to transform the physical and mental wellbeing of young people who feel invisible at school and plagued by feelings of anxiety and self-doubt.”
The organisation works with youngsters aged 14-17 who are “crushed by a lack of self-esteem” and puts them through 10-month training courses before taking them to some of the world’s most challenging terrain to “redefine their physical and mental limits”.
Participants end the challenge with a 10-day self-guided expedition over 100km in Eastern Greenland, pulling their kit on 45kg sledges.
This year’s programme focuses on pupils from Lochgelly High in Fife.
Trust manager Lorraine Tait said: “Previous participants clearly gain the physical and mental strength to lead positive and fulfilled lives and to serve as role models in their community.
"The Weir Charitable Trust hopes that this £60,000 award towards training and running costs will ensure that The Polar Academy can continue to build on its impressive work to boost the mental and physical health of Scotland’s young people.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here