FOLLOWING their enthusiastically welcomed charity dress down day in February, Lochgelly High School students Abby Burns, Hannah Doran, Molly Hodge and Emma Jamieson received the wonderful news that their efforts had raised an impressive £304.82 for SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

United by a desire to make mental health more visible around the school, the pupils generated the inspired idea to ask pupils and staff to come to school on Friday February 9 dressed in their own clothes, with different colours representing the wearer’s support for a particular mental health issue.

As part of their S5 Youth Achievement award, the pupils had been tasked with identifying some key areas for personal development. For this project, they looked to develop the key skills of confidence, team working and planning.

Successfully navigating a number of challenges throughout their project, the pupils had to overcome various obstacles and stumbling blocks along the way.

Confidently securing the green light from the school’s management team, and later school-wide support for the event, the pupils attributed their success to practising their pitch, designing eye-catching branding and playing to the key strengths of the team.

In spite of this initial progress, there were some early misunderstandings regarding the project’s key messages. Undeterred, the pupils boldly rebranded the event and got involved in year group assemblies to make the purpose of their event clear to all.

Giving them the springboard to succeed, the group inducted more members into their group, including a number of staff, to push the fundraising drive.

By 3pm their donation buckets were clinking with the sound of success. A remarkable effort from a thoroughly committed group of young fundraisers.