A TEAM of teens from Ringwood School scooped the lion’s share of the Lion’s Den funding pot after successfully presenting their case.

Jake Adams, Molly Fairhead-Parsons, Mae Hutchins, Charlotte Christopher, Ellie Bowen, Ailsa Poulter, Josgua Wale, and Libbie Dunn impressed the judges the most with their presentation to raise funds for Ringwood Foodbank.

They were competing for a share of £1,600 offered by the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Lions Club, and tipped the balance in their favour by filming their own video with volunteers at the Salisbury- based charity, The Trussell Trust, to make their argument even more compelling.

Four teams of students from Ringwood School and four from The Burgate School in Fordingbridge presented their bid for a share of the money before an audience of staff, parents, pupils, and a panel of judges comprising Fordingbridge Mayor Malcolm Connolly, Ringwood Deputy Mayor Barbara Woodiford, and the president of the Lions Stephen Sherring.

Mr Sherring said: “All 34 students played an integral part in the presentations, showing great ingenuity and skill to make their bid for the money as compelling and professional as possible.”

He added: “What makes this competition so great is that students from both schools take a long, hard look at competing needs in their own local community, develop a passion for the work of local charities, and get the chance to hone their presentation skills ready for the next step in their careers.”

The spoils were divided among eight local causes: new storage racking for the Ringwood Foodbank, a new mental health awareness program being launched at Burgate School by Solent MIND, new storage for the craft centre at The Lantern Community, much-needed funds for The Rose Gale Trust, Honeypot Children’s Charity, 1st Poulner Scouts, Liberty’s Owl and Raptor Centre, and the appeal for a new CT scanner at Salisbury Hospital.

Many of the students were so moved by work being done in their local community that they plan to continue to donate their own time and energy to help with their chosen cause well into 2014.

The Lions Club has made donations of more than £12,000 already this year. Further details at ring woodandfordingbridgelions.org.uk or on 0845 8335819.

Burgate School’s head of Sixth Form Louise Burns said: “There were well balanced teams from both schools and the content and quality of the presentations was very high indeed this year.

“I was amazed by the fluency and competence of our Burgate speakers and touched by the sincerity of their charity bids.

“They made us very proud. I know we have really caring young citizens in our midst.”

The successful Burgate students were: Solent Mind: £300 – Lauren Stevens, Charlotte Boyd, Luke Bruton.

The Honeypot: £100 – Martin King, Tom Plenderleith, Andrew Rothwell.

Rose Gale Trust: £250 – Olivia Beatson, Jack Coots.

Stars Appeal: £100 – Miriam Cakebread, George Carter-Owen, Oliver Rea.