Charities secured more than £10,000 in just 18 minutes in a Dragons' Den-syle crowdfunding session.

Three selected non-profit organisations each had six minutes to pitch to an audience of 80 at St Albans Museum and Gallery on Thursday.

The event, hosted by The Funding Network, brought local businesses and community members together with charities aiming to drive social change.

Earthworks raised £4,152.09 to launch ‘Earthworks on Wheels’, a project which takes a team of adults with learning difficulties to maintain the gardens of older people.

Trustee Carmen Nevado said she was “humbled”, adding: “The monies raised will provide the equipment, materials and resources required to launch our two month pilot.”

Small Acts of Kindness, an initiative which distributes gifts to the elderly, raised £3,828.13.

Founder Lynne Misner was “overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of everyone” who raised the money. She added: “Their gifts will ensure that 150 older people in Hertfordshire will be warmer and less lonely and isolated this winter.”

And HACRO, which raised £3,298.13, will be able to continue their ‘Caring Dads’ course, which enables previously abusive fathers to re-engage with their children.

Development worker Joanna McIntosh said: “The donations received will help to save at least four families with 16 children potentially having the chance of not repeating the cycle of domestic abuse.”

Richard Sved, of The Funding Network, said: “Our Third TFN Herts Crowdfunding Event was a fabulous platform for three great causes to showcase impact and fund vital new projects. I was blown away by the standard of pitches this year and the generosity of the supporters in the room.”