YEAR five pupils from St Andrew’s First School in Heddon-on-the-Wall are taking part in the seventh annual Newcastle Building Society Boardroom Charity Challenge.

The challenge asks young participants throughout the region to develop business ideas which will benefit their local community, while making a profit for a charity.

Two thousand young people from schools throughout the region participated. But only eight school teams were shortlisted, and invited to present their ideas to senior business figures at the society’s boardroom final in June.

Andrew Haigh, chief executive at Newcastle Building Society, said: “Financial education has been a key focus for the Society for many years, and the Boardroom Charity Challenge gives us a wonderful opportunity every year to help hundreds of young people learn more about managing their money as well as possible.

“The energy, creativity and commitment of our young participants is always outstanding, and it’s great to know that many North East good causes have benefited directly from the ideas that they have developed and the recognition we’ve given to them.”