Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band are now more than halfway to their fundraising target to attend The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in March.

They 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.

But with just weeks left to raise the cash for student band members from Barra, Uist and Benbecula down to Kilmarnock on March 12, there is a final push to get them over the line.

At the time of writing, their justgiving.com crowdfunder was sitting at £3,000, 60% of the target total.

The forthcoming championships will be the first time in three years that the band has been able to take part. And for most of the band members, it will be the first time they have been able to participate in this type of competition.

States the band’s appeal page: “These pupils have practised continuously over the past three years, online during lockdown and in person when this was once again allowed. They have been very dedicated, and we believe they deserve the opportunity to compete at the Championships."