A team of pupils from Rickmansworth School yesterday persuaded a panel of judges to give £3,000 to a charity helping abused women.

The hard-working year nine pupils were taking part in a competition sponsored by the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), which aims to introduce children to local good causes.

Throughout the last school year 13 and 14 year-old pupils at the school have been researching charities in the area and witnessing at first hand their activities as part of their Citizenship curriculum.

Yesterday, more than 200 pupils and guests witnessed articulate presentations from seven teams battling to win the cash for their chosen charities.

The winning presentation by Kirsty Burridge, Emily Drake, Grace Harland, Charlotte Cameron-Wood, and Jack Burford on the Watford Women’s Centre (WWC) was described as “outstanding” by the judges.

WWC manager Tracy Burke said the cash would be used to enhance existing crèche facilities. She said: “I’m absolutely delighted. These pupils worked so hard on this and really did us proud.”