YOUNGSTERS at a local school have earned money for two nominated charities after making presentations about them to a panel of judges.

The students were in three groups at Stanford-le-Hope's Hassenbrook Academy who took part in a

The competition was organised by the charity First Give, part of the Jack Petchey Foundation.

First Give engages with a year group of students over a period of time during which . students identify a social issue they care about, and they plan and carry out social action to try and improve the issue in their local community.

The students met with their chosen local charity in order to find out more about the charity's work and how they can help.

The programme finishes with a First Give School Final, where the groups of students aim to convince a panel of judges that their charity deserves £1,000. The winning team wins this grant for their chosen charity.

The judging panel.

The final at Hassenbrook was judged by local ward councillors Ross Byrne and Neil Speight, school head Sally Feeney and student George Hare – who was part of the winning team last year.

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Two groups gave presentations about the Basildon-based mental health charity 'Sociability' and a third talked about the work of 'Violence and Vulnerability', which combats knife crime in particular.

All the groups organised events in school, including sporting matches, and raised funds which are donated to the charities.

The judges awarded first place and the £1,000 grant to the presenters for Violence and Vulnerability, but Cllrs Byrne and Speight were so impressed by the other two groups that they donated each £50 to add to the funds they have raised themselves.