A SUM of £7,800 raised at last year's Dunfermline Beer Festival has been handed over to local charities.

Five groups walked away with ale money after making their pitch at a Dragon's Den-style event.

It was hosted by Dunfermline Round Table, who help organise the annual festival, and saw grants given to Finlay's Friends, Saje, Heart & Sound, Home Start and Guide Dogs West Fife.

Dominic Collings, from the Round Table, explained: "Each charity had five minutes in front of the Dragons to explain what they wanted the money for and were asked a series of probing question in response.

"After a short deliberation, the charities were awarded money totalling £7,800."

Now in its 14th year, the beer festival is organised by Dunfermline Rugby Club and Dunfermline Round Table and backed by the Press as media sponsors, and proceeds are split in aid of the rugby club’s youth section and the Round Table, whose share is distributed to charities and good causes every March.

The Dragon's Den event saw former MP and Round Table member, Thomas Docherty, in charge of the proceedings.

One of the beneficiaries, Finlay’s Friends, was launched in August by the parents of Finlay Bennett, a Touch Primary School pupil who died in July 2014 after contracting meningitis.

The charity supplies hospitals with 48-hour emergency boxes to help families who have to rush to hospital with a sick infant.

Each box costs £20-30 and contains a blanket, toothbrush and toothpaste, toiletries, snacks, a notepad and pencil and helpful information such as where the canteens and local amenities are.

Finlay's dad, Dave Bennett, said: "We had to submit an application which was a general overview of the charity and what we do and received a response back inviting us to go along.

"It was a five-minute presentation which Jen and Frasier did (Finlay’s mum and brother) and set as a Dragon’s Den – but I am sure it was far less intimidating than the real Dragon’s Den!

"We asked for a month’s supply of kits, which was £375, and when we pitched it they said: 'What if we give you less or more?'.

"At the end, they gave us a cheque for £1,500, which is four times the original amount. It is brilliant.

"We have been looking at doing mobile phone charging packs, but separate to the kits, and this means we can cover the costs for these as well."

Saje, a charity for domestic abuse victims, was awarded £2,300 to deliver training and childcare relief around the Dunfermline area.

Heart & Sound, a charity that carries out youth and volunteer work through music, received £1,000.

Now based in New Row, they will run two courses for 12 young people, dealing with a range of issues from self-harming to online bullying and other social media problems, through audio and visual workshops.

Representatives of Home Start explained the benefits of baby massage and pitched to continue that provision and training for families after central council funding had been cut. They received £2,000.

And Guide Dogs West Fife received £1,000 to help for a puppy’s upbringing from birth to training stage.

The night also featured honorary Round Table memberships being awarded to Allan Johnston and Marilyn Martin, who have been instrumental in helping to organise the Dunfermline Beer Festival for more than a decade.

Dominic added: "Dunfermline Round Table would like to extend its sincerest thanks to both Allan and Marilyn of all their help over the years."

Planning for this year's event has already begun with a date set for September 28 and 29 at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline.