Glasgow schoolgirl wins UK competition with solar-powered blanket for the homeless
Rebecca Young's solar-powered heated blanket design has won the MacRobert Commendation Medal and the UK Primary Engineer competition, outshining 70,000 peers with her design for the homeless, which has now been turned into a prototype by Thales engineers.
The 12-year-old pupil from Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow’s West End is a fan of design technology (DT) and wider science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational lessons. She won the competition after a public vote and coming through earlier qualifying rounds.
The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal is a collaboration between The MacRobert Trust and Primary Engineer, with support of engineering practitioners, The Weir Group. The UK competition is the highlight and culmination of the UK Leaders Award that attracted 70,000 nationwide entrants.
Young’s creation – a heated blanket integrated into a backpack and powered by solar panels – was inspired by seeing people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow. She was tasked with designing something to address a social issue and felt homelessness was a pressing problem that she could help to solve.
The talented youngster spent time researching existing products, such as sleeping bags and backpacks, to inform her design. Her efforts earned her the top spot in both the Scottish and UK-wide rounds of the competition.
Design made real
Engineering firm Thales, which supports the Primary Engineer initiative, chose to develop a prototype based on the design. Their engineers produced a blanket that:
uses copper wiring for heating,
flexible frames for portability,
and solar panels for power.
The first version of the prototype was brought to Kelvinside Academy’s Innovation School, where Rebecca was able to hold the tangible result of her idea (see picture) for the first time.
Thales engineers hope the prototype will be developed further and potentially patented for possible eventual production. The company’s involvement gave Young a rare insight into the engineering process, sparking her interest in how ideas move from concept to reality.
Colin Scouller, Head of Engineering Early Careers at Thales UK, said: “We are 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.”
Commenting on her win, Young said: “To think something I’ve designed could one day help somebody on the streets is amazing. 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 feels amazing to see my drawing turn into something real. I never thought that could happen.”
The caring schoolgirl added: “Homelessness is a big problem that needs fixing. If you see a homeless person, help in any way you can.”
STEM a framework for the future
During the prestigious competition, Young’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 future career in STEM, which she says she is now interested in pursuing, alongside her drumming and music in a band called The Girls.
Leigh Goldie, her teacher and design coach at Kelvinside Academy’s Innovation School, praised her achievement. “Rebecca’s success feels incredible,” she said, adding: “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? Her work highlights how young people can contribute to addressing societal challenges through innovation. It inspires others to consider how they too can make a difference.”
