Scottish schoolgirl, 12, wins award after designing solar-powered blanket to help the homeless

A 12-year-old schoolgirl won an engineering award after designing a solar-powered blanket designed to help the homeless.

Rebecca Young triumphed over 70,000 entrants to take home the MacRobert Commendation Medal in the UK Primary Engineer competition, following a public vote.

Tasked with producing a design to address a social issue, the Kelvinside Academy S2 said she thought of the invention – a heated blanket integrated into a backpack and powered by solar panels – after witnessing people sleeping rough on the streets in Glasgow.

While Rebecca’s main passion in life is music – she is a drummer in a band called The Girls – she admitted the experience of seeing her creation come to life has been “inspiring”.

“To think something I’ve designed could one day help somebody on the streets is amazing”, she said.

“Unfortunately, you see so many people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow, and I always felt bad seeing how cold they were. It was obvious to me that this could help.

“It felt amazing to see my drawing turn into something real. I never thought that could happen. Homelessness is a big problem that needs fixing, and if you see a homeless person, help in any way you can.”

Rebecca came up with the blanket design after seeing people sleeping rough on the streets in Glasgow. Story Shop via Supplied

Engineering firm Thales, which supports the Primary Engineer initiative, was inspired by Rebecca’s invention, and have even chosen to develop a prototype.

Their engineers produced a blanket that uses copper wiring for heating, flexible frames for portability, and solar panels for power.

The firm are hoping the product will be further enhanced and patented for production.

Rebecca was able to see her creation in person when the prototype was brought to Kelvinside Academy’s Innovation School.

Colin Scouller, head of engineering early careers at Thales, said: “Thales in the UK is proud to be national sponsors of Primary Engineer.

“Their mission to get more young people involved in STEM and inspire the next generation of engineers is something we truly value. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with Primary Engineer as it continues to grow.”

Rebecca's designs were showcased at numerous events. — Rebecca’s designs were showcased at numerous events. StoryShop via Supplied

Rebecca’s designs were showcased at events at Barony Hall, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Glasgow, giving her a glimpse into the possibilities of a potential future career.

The youngster’s parents and sister, who attended the showcase events, said they were “immensely proud”, and Leigh Goldie, Rebecca’s teacher, also praised her achievements.

She said: “Rebecca’s success feels incredible. It’s so unusual to see this level of awareness and creativity at such a young age, and to apply that to a real-world issue is truly special.

“Rebecca’s story shows how creativity and compassion can lead to meaningful innovation, even at this stage of life. If she decides to pursue STEM further, who knows how far she could go?

“At Kelvinside Academy, we are committed to inspiring young minds through our Innovation School, empowering students like Rebecca to use their creativity to make an impact in the world.

“Rebecca’s work highlights how young people can contribute to addressing societal challenges through innovation, inspiring others to consider how they too can make a difference.”