If the function of leadership is to produce more leaders then the High Life Highland Leadership Programme is smashing it! So successful is the initiative that local business leaders are showing the lead too – by generously sponsoring the coveted hoodies that young participants are awarded for their volunteering hours.
The Leadership Programme began life in Nairn Academy in 2004, around the same time that sportscotland launched Active Schools. Leadership Programme Development Officer Elizabeth MacDonald explained: “We were essentially creating our own volunteer workforce with older pupils helping to deliver Active Schools sports sessions. Since then, there’s been a continual cycle of young children taking part in all sorts of activities, then going on to deliver them as Young Leaders themselves. So popular has the Leadership Progamme become that we now have young people achieving over 1,000 hours of volunteering and achieving Diamond hoodie status.”
The High Life Highland Leadership Programme is an inclusive and transformative initiative equipping young people with practical leadership, life skills, and confidence with participants awarded coloured hoodies in recognition of their volunteering efforts. They can volunteer in a huge variety of ways – not just in sports – but also in libraries, museums, music, conservation, community projects and so on.
With more and more Young Leaders there’s more and more hoodies required and to help meet those costs, a quartet of businesses have come on board as the Leadership Programme’s first ever sponsors.
This afternoon (Friday 20 June) those sponsors – Stagecoach Group Ltd, Highland Learning Academy, MacKenzie & Cormack Tain and My Primary & Secondary Tutor – were invited to the Inverness Botanic Gardens & Café to meet some Young Leaders and hear directly from them about the impact on their own personal development. It was also a chance for High Life Highland to thank the generous benefactors that are leading the way in taking up these sponsorship opportunities.
Stagecoach Group Limited is sponsoring both the green and special Ambassador hoodies. David Beaton Managing Director said: “We are delighted to be associated with an initiative that has a lasting impact on young people’s lives. Being a part of the community is really important to us and we are extremely happy to once again partner with High Life Highland.”
Mackenzie & Cormack have taken up the mantel of sponsoring all the Leadership Programme t-shirts. Nigel Jones, senior partner at Mackenzie & Cormack said: “We are really pleased to be a part of the Leadership Programme to help support its growth and ensure its sustainability. It’s inspiring to see so many young people developing real-world skills through volunteering, and we’re proud to play a small part in supporting the next generation of local leaders.”
The first hoodie on the leadership journey is navy, which is being sponsored by My Primary & Secondary Tutor. Karen Simpson said: “My Primary and Secondary Tutor are delighted to be sponsoring the High Life Highland Leadership Programme. We’re excited to see these Young Leaders wearing their navy hoodies with confidence, developing valuable life skills and growing in maturity and self-belief. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey and to support the future leaders of tomorrow.”
The final (and newest) hoodie in the series is diamond which is being sponsored by the Highland Learning Academy. Cath Sutherland of the Highland Learning Academy commented: “This is an excellent way to develop and inspire future leaders within the Highands from a young age. We hope to see some of these pupils progress onto one of our own leadership and apprenticeship programmes in the future.”
Steve Walsh, High Life Highland Chief Executive said: “We are extremely grateful to our new Leadership Programme sponsors. In 2023 alone, these young leaders delivered 23,250 hours of volunteering – they are an essential part of school and community life so it’s crucial that we can continue to grow the project for the benefit of the next generation of Young Leaders who are all helping us help Make Life Better for people across the Highlands.”
High Life Highland Leadership Progamme in numbers:
- This academic year (24/25), 798 hoodies and 262 t-shirts were awarded which accounts for at least 21,260 leadership hours.
- 7,700 young people have registered to take part in the programme since electronic records began in 2020.
- 1,028 young people registered in this academic year, which equates to 85 a month or three people signing up per day.
- To support one Young Leader through the whole programme costs around £370.
If any other local businesses or organisations would like to show their support for the High Life Highland Leadership Programme, there are still five colours of hoodies available for sponsorship – Purple, Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Please email: [email protected]
