TWO youngsters’ passion for a charity supporting families who have lost a baby has helped secure £3,000 for the good cause.

Grace McLean and Angel-Louise Scott presented the case for SiMBA (Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal) during an event at Dunbar Grammar School last week.

S2 pupils represented a number of charities and good causes, with the winners securing £3,000 for their cause.

Paul Sutherland, principal teacher for health and wellbeing, congratulated the duo.

He said: “Their decision to support SiMBA was because Grace’s gran is one of the lead members of the charity.

“Grace has also helped her gran out in the past with regards sending packages to families who have recently lost their child.”

Dunbar midwife Sara Fitzsimmons co-founded the charity in October 2005 to meet the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or close to the time of birth.

Since then, the charity, which is now based in Midlothian, has grown and donates memory boxes to help families to gather precious items of the time that they have to spend with their baby.

In conjunction with CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland), SiMBA offers free advanced bereavement and palliative care study days for midwives and hospital staff.

Monthly bereavement support groups across Scotland are also offered alongside 24-hour online support and family-friendly awareness events throughout the year.

Five groups were represented in the Dunbar Grammar School Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) final.

Pupils also represented East Lothian Young Carers, East Lothian Foodbank, Fresh Start and Health in Mind.

Each team had to present their case to a five-person judging panel made up of S5 pupils Lucy Kilfara and Kitty Bird, who were the first winners of the YPI competition at the school; headteacher Claire Slowther; physical education teacher Ellie Galbraith; and Alex Reid, YPI Scotland co-ordinator.

Mr Sutherland said: “The judges agreed that the winning group were so personal about their presentation and spoke with such bravery and confidence about a topic that is very difficult for some to talk about.

“They were very clear in what SiMBA stood for and how they helped many families each and every day.

“They also emphasised what they would want to spend the £3,000 on, which they are going to discuss with SiMBA.”

A spokeswoman from SiMBA congratulated Grace and Angel-Louise on their success.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted with the result.

“SiMBA originated in Dunbar and it was really lovely for the pupils to talk about us and raise awareness.

“We are delighted with it.”