Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band have launched a £5,000 crowdfunding appeal to help them get to the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships next March.

The championships in Kilmarnock will be the first time in three years that the band has competed in the world championships. And for many of the young band members, it will be their first time competing at this level.

Launching an online appeal on justgiving.com, the band state the band members have been practising continuously over the past three years, including online during the COVID-19 lockdown until in-person practices could resume.

The appeal organisers said: "They have been very dedicated, and we believe they deserve the opportunity to compete at the Championships.

"We are hoping to raise £5000 to cover the travel and accommodation costs for approximately 35 pupils from Sgoil Lionacleit and Sgoil Bhàgh a' Chaisteil to attend the competition."

If you would like to help out, you can find the fund at justgiving.com

At the time of writing, just over a fifth of the target, £1,080, had been raised by 16 donors.