A BEER festival will be held this weekend to raise funds for a charity set up in memory of Liam Miller.

The Ham & Cheese at Scagglethorpe is hosting the event to support LIAM (Laughter, Inspiration, Art, Music) which aims to make grants to support underprivileged young people going to college to study art and music.

Liam, from Terrington, was a former pupil at Malton School, and studied music and art at York College before going to university to study graphic design.

A talented guitarist, he played in a local band, Nocebo.

The charity was established with the support of Liam’s dad, Pete, brother, Jamie, and sister, Natalie, after the 20-year-old died following a stabbing in York last July.

Claire Marsh, who runs the pub with her husband Shaun, said the beer festival would include about 15 local bands, local breweries and children’s entertainment run by Rillington Young Farmers.

“We had booked Liam’s band to come and play at the beer festival before the tragic events unfolded,” she said.

“Since we came to the pub we have got to known Liam’s dad Pete really well so we mentioned it to him and decided to go ahead with this year’s festival for the charity.

“It is difficult enough for kids going to university to study so having a charity like LIAM will really help them.

“Pete and his family are so lovely and they are are going through the most terrible of times so it is fantastic that they are doing this to give other young people a chance.”

LIAM has so far raised more than £20,000 and is now offering grants to underprivileged youngsters going to college to study art and music.

It is understood grants will go to students going into full-time higher education to help towards the purchase of equipment or materials required to partake in their chosen studies.

Liam’s dad Pete said: “We really appreciate the time and effort Claire and Sean have gone to organising this year’s event with our charity in mind.”

As well as LIAM, the funds raised will also go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes charities.

The beer festival will take place tomorrowon Friday, from 5pm, and Saturday, from noon.

To apply for a grant from LIAM, email Ian Hughes at terrington ian@gmail.com or Natalie Miller at natmiller84@hotmail.com.

To donate, a justgiving site has also been set up for donations to the charity.

Go to justgiving.com/l-i-a-m.

Liam’s family and trustees of the charity have previously said they would like to possibly support students from the three local sixth form colleges in their first year of grant giving as most of their initial financial support has come from the Ryedale area.

They would then open up the charity to applications from other educational establishments of North Yorkshire in future years.

l Samuel Donley, formerly of Hamilton Drive West, Acomb, is currently serving a prison sentence of more than six and a half years for Liam’s manslaughter.