Talented pupils from schools across West Lothian fought it out in a Dragons’ Den competition to win a cash prize for their outstanding ideas.
On Monday 10 schools pitched their social enterprise ideas to an expert panel at the Social Enterprise Schools: Dragons’ Den competition at Larbert High School.
Taking part were Linlithgow Academy, St Margaret’s Academy and The James Young High School, along with St Nicholas, Deans, Polkemmet, Croftmalloch Primary, Windyknowe Primary, Williamston Primary and Springfield primary schools.
And the panel of expert Dragons picked Deans Primary and their ‘Prep for Prom’’ pitch and Linlithgow Academy with ‘Chat n Chill’ as their winners, with each team taking home £100 for their school.
Joan Alexander, education manager, Social Enterprise Academy said: “The energy in the room was tremendous. It’s so important that they are empowered to be social change-makers. If the young people are passionate, there’s more chance they will do what they are actually planning to do.
“It’s about the experiential learning and the skills and friends they make along the way!”
Launched in 2007 Social Enterprise Schools enables every young person to step up, realise their potential and create the change that they want to see in the world. Y
Young people aged five to 18 get real life experience of running their own social enterprise which impact them, their school and wider community.
Schools are given the opportunity to pitch their social enterprise idea to a panel of Dragons. The winning schools will receive £100, runners up £75 and every other school participating will get £50 to go towards funding for their social enterprise.
The panel of Dragons included Douglas Westwater, CEO, Community Enterprise, Carol Lawton, with estate agent, Remax and Ali Lewis, an education quality improvement officer with West Lothian Council.
Following the Dragons’ Den, the schools involved will work towards a Social Enterprise in Education Award, which will be presented at a national ceremony in Edinburgh in June.
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