STUDENTS in Petersfield have been neglecting their Playstations and mobiles to support a number of charitable causes.

Inspired by First Give, a charity that helps young people use their time and talent to improve their communities, pupils at Bedales School in Steep have won grants totalling £1,500 for charities in their area.

Students were selected for the quality of their work to present the case for fiver charities to an esteemed panel of judges including deputy mayor of Petersfield James Deane, Petersfield Museum trustee Sarah Howard, and police community support officer John Payne.

First Give offers a free eight-week programme in schools that allows students to us their time, tenacity and talents to improve their community.

A number of exceptional causes from the area were advocated in the competition, including The Hampton Trust, who won £1,000, with runners-up Portsmouth Downs Syndrome Association and Southern Domestic Abuse Service receiving £250.

Karen Jordan, programme manager at The Hampton Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive first prize from Bedales School’s First Give programme.

“We feel honoured to be championed by such a gifted group of young people. The money will go toward much-needed resources for our LINX programmes.”

Bedales School is one of 110 schools taking part in the First Give programme this academic year, meaning that £165,000 will be won for charity.