CHARITIES have been given a much-needed cash boost after receiving £5,000 from a music school.

Brighton BIMM announced the donations of a £1,000 each to five charities at a end-of-term gig.

The cheques were presented at a gig at seafront venue Concorde 2 which saw students playing for their peers and the public.

Among the local charities to receive the cash were The Clocktower Sanctuary, Belltree Music Therapy Centre, and The Argus Appeal - the charity of The Argus.

National charities the Amy Winehouse Foundation and the British Red Cross’ UK Solidarity Fund - helping victims of terror attacks in the UK -also received cash.

Brighton BIMM principal Martin Wright said: “BIMM is very much part of this city and this is about us connecting with our community.

“We’ve been very close to The Argus Appeal for years and now this year we are working with a new charity The Clocktower Sanctuary which addresses homelessness in the city.”

Nearly 200 bands at the music school auditioned for one of the coveted 25 performance slots at the gig attended by 400 people.

Student Leah Stanhope,20, who performed a metal set, said: “It’s was exhilarating and everyone was so excited.

“It’s amazing BIMM have donated £5,000 to charity.”

During the gig cheques were presented by Mr Wright to representatives from The Clocktower Sanctuary and The Argus Appeal.

Natalia Borg, development manager at The Clocktower Sanctuary, said: “We are delighted to have support from BIMM.

“We have launched our music workshops over the last year with our clients.

“This creative way is a really good tool to help homeless young people start to make positive changes to move away from home.” As part of the partnership BIMM students will get involved by visiting the centre and working with the young people who use the service, and there will be opportunities for their journalism students to write stories on the charity.

The Argus Appeal coordinator Elsa Gillio said: “We are very pleased to accept this cheque from Brighton BIMM who have supported us over a long period.

“Without donations and fundraising from schools, businesses and the public, we would not be able to carry on the great work we do.”

It comes as The Argus Appeal celebrates 60 years of giving thousands of pounds to good causes across Sussex.

The charity is believed to be the only newspaper charity of its kind in the paper.