FLIXTON Girls School has secured a £3,000 grant for Reuben’s Retreat, a charity founded in memory of Reuben Michael Graham who died aged 23 montha.

The grant was awarded to the organisation as part of the international Youth & Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), which challenges participating schools to identify worthwhile causes and provides grants, thanks to its network of corporate partners and donors.

Students from Year 10 took part in the initiative, visiting their chosen charities and presenting their pitch to a funding panel, in this case comprised of other students, staff and Iggy Rhodes, regional facilitator of YPI.

The charity received the grant thanks to FGS students Mia Carney, Alice Holroyd and Mia Foley who chose Reuben’s Retreat as their charity and were praised for their passionate and professional pitch.

Iggy Rhodes and the students presented the cheque to the charity.

Founder Nicola Graham said: “We are overwhelmed to have received this grant and are very grateful to the YPI - and to FGS for including us in their range of worthwhile causes to support.

"Our goal is to provide a retreat in the north west countryside that will relieve the distress of families and their close friends who have suffered the bereavement of a child or have a child suffering from a life limiting or life threatening illness.”