Children across Hyndburn are being given a cash seed to kick-start a fundraising campaign for vital charities across the borough.

Run by the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Mike Booth, it also hopes to highlight the entrepreneurial skills of young people.

The Hyndburn Mayor Youth Challenge involves pupils from St Christopher’s C.E. High School, Hyndburn Academy and Rhyddngs School, as well as organisations such as Sea Cadets Accrington and District.

Young people will be given £50 per group from the Mayoral Office to create or organise a fundraising event to raise as much money as they can.

Funds will then be distributed to the Mayor and Mayoress’ chosen charities which include Accrington Stanley Women’s FC, Carers Link Lancashire, East Lancashire Hospice, ACT Street Angels and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cllr Booth said: “It is important to us that the charities this year focus on young people, people with disabilities, and people who contribute to the well-being of the people of Hyndburn, so it is our pleasure to support these charities in every way that we can.

“This project is about the talented youth in our borough, about raising all-important funds for and awareness of local charities, and about early intervention and signposting so that young people are knowledgeable about support and good work in the community.

“The reality is that many pupils and their families in our borough may have already needed to access support from these organisations, or that in fact, they may need to at some point in their lifetime.”

It is also hoped the scheme will give students who are studying business at GCSE a confidence boost while also raising awareness and supporting charities in the area.

Iffat Ali, assistant headteacher at Rhyddings School, said: “We are very happy to be taking part in this project as a school.

“At Rhyddings, we seek to provide our pupils with a boost for their future careers wherever possible.

"We continue to nurture this ethos, but what underpins all of that is that we want to help our pupils to shine.

"A project like this increases their confidence, whilst raising awareness and supporting brilliant local charities who do great work in the community.”

Representatives from the chosen charities were also in attendance at the launch event, including Carers Link Lancashire, which supports 11,000 unpaid carers looking after loved ones, friends or neighbours with long-term health conditions.

A Carers Link spokesperson said: “To be one of the chosen charities this year is an honour, and any funds raised will be vital to help us continue to support unpaid carers across East Lancashire.

“We also support Young Carers aged six to 18 in Hyndburn, so we are aware of struggles that young carers of school age may face whilst balancing a caring role at home, but also the talent they have just waiting for the opportunity to be developed.”