IN many ways, The Island is just that: a haven where young people from troubled backgrounds can find a friend who will put them first.

The charity provides mentors for children from the age of eight into their teenage years: adults who will spend time with them, and provide the role model that may be lacking in their lives.

It is a wonderful local charity: and a worthy winner of the first-ever York Soup event, held at the Priory Street Centre.

That, for those who don't know, is a 'Dragons Den'-style event at which local charities make a pitch in front of an audience at a fundraising dinner.

The charity with the winning pitch takes home the money raised at the dinner - in this case, a whopping £930.

The man who made The Island's pitch, the charity's mentoring co-ordinator Nigel Poulton, said the value of the event was about much more than just the money raised, welcome as that was.

"It was an opportunity to raise awareness within York of what different charities are doing," a delighted Mr Poulton said.

It was precisely that.

The idea for 'soup' events began in Detroit, in the USA. But the plan is for a series of the fund-giving dinners to be held in York. A second has already been slated, for September 22 - this time at the Guildhall.

What a fabulous idea these evenings are. We look forward to York Soup continuing to raise the profile and boost the coffers of local charities for a long time to come.