A £20,000 fund left behind after the closure of Radcliffe Riverside School last summer is to be donated to needy young people in the town.

The money was raised by the Parent and Teacher Associations (PTAs) of Radcliffe Riverside, Radcliffe and Coney Green high schools.

Radcliffe Riverside in Spring Lane, which was created by the amalgamation of Radcliffe High and Coney Green in 2003, shut for good in July.

Almost £20,000 raised by parents, pupils and staff over many years of fundraising has been given to the Rotary Club of Radcliffe, after Radcliffe Riverside’s PTA committee and governors decided this was the best solution.

Mr Colin Jones, the school’s retired chairman of governors, recently presented a cheque to the Rotary Club, and will be used to provide children and teenagers aged up to 18 with one-off grants of up to £500 for education, community or personal reasons.

Dave Chambers, president of Radcliffe Rotary Club, said: “We are extremely pleased, and indeed proud, to be entrusted with the administration of this fund.”

Young people who can demonstrate a justifiable need for a grant can apply for up to £250, or up to £500 in exceptional circumstances.

Requests can be individual or in groups but applicants must live in Radcliffe and must demonstrate a real need for the financial help.

Mr Chambers added: “We envisage the money will be used for things like tuition fees or books – things the young people applying need to help them progress.”

A committee of rotarians will scrutinise each application and make a decision on its individual merit.

After the school closed last summer, its minibus was donated to Grace’s Place, the new children’s hospice expected to open in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe.

Written Applications for grants should be sent or hand-delivered to Richard Dandy, Richard Anthony Jewellers, Deansgate, Radcliffe, M26 2SH.

For more information, see the Rotary Club of Radcliffe’s website at rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=314