Help our UK National Robotics Champions represent Scotland on the World Stage!

We are Thistle Robotics, a team of 16/17 year old students from James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh. We’ve achieved something incredible - we’ve qualified for the VEX Robotics World Finals in the United States.

We won the THINK award for the best programming in the competition. Even more exciting - we are the only state-funded high school team from Scotland to qualify.

We are a small, self-funded school club. To get our team to the World Championships we need to raise £14,000 in record time – before the competition starts on 21 April.

We’re confident that, with your help, we can get the team to Missouri to represent Scotland.

Help us reach our goal, every penny counts! Every donation to this Go Fund Me link makes an absolutely vital contribution to our cause. We can’t do it without you!

We are also looking to partner with local businesses. If you have a business and would like to gain international exposure while supporting local STEM talent, please check out our tiered sponsorship model – we’d be delighted to hear from you.

There is more information about us and our cause at our website - www.thistlerobotics.co.uk

Why We Need Your Help

Travelling from Scotland to the United States is extremely expensive for a school team. To attend the competition we need to fund:

• Flights for 5 students and 2 teachers - Around £950 each, £6650 in total

• Competition registration - £1400

• Accommodation in St Louis - Around £4000 for 6 nights

• Transporting our robot safely to the USA - Purchasing a flight case for around £200

• Travel documents and visas - around £820

• Final robot improvements and spare parts - around £1000

If we are unable to reach our full fundraising target, or if circumstances change, any funds raised will still be used to partially support funding students to attend this year’s World Championship.