Harrogate's first Dragonflies Den was an emotional roller-coaster ride for the panel – but ten local causes are now set to benefit from the support of some influential allies after pitches to representatives from Yorkshire Water, construction firm Laing O'Rourke, Harrogate Borough Council, the Harrogate Advertiser and Stray FM.

The project – devised to help promote an £11m investment in Yorkshire Water's waste water treatment works which serves southern Harrogate – saw the company join contract partner Laing O'Rourke to donate £1,000 and a day's voluntary labour to a local cause.

Harrogate Borough Council, Stray FM and the Advertiser joined a panel modelled on the BBC's Dragon's Den to choose a worthy recipient.

"We had some excellent entries and every group should be congratulated for the thought and effort which went into their pitches," said Yorkshire Water's project assistant Amy Procter. "We had a diverse range to choose from but they all had passion and commitment in common.

Laing O'Rourke's Ricky Rowe added: "It was a pleasure to listen to every pitch but such a difficult decision to decide who should benefit. However, in the end, we were delighted that we think, between us, we have found a way of helping every single candidate. They were all remarkable and all deserve support."

The Harrogate Homeless Project was the cause chosen to benefit from the £1,000 cash donation, which will go towards equipping a new drop-in centre. The charity will also be provided with a water cooler.

However, Laing O'Rourke agreed to stretch the budget and offer an additional £500 to the Harrogate and District Society For The Blind to help fund computer software for people with visual impairments.

Meanwhile, Hornbeam Park's Disability Action Yorkshire will be able to call on a volunteer army to help with the development of a wheelchair-friendly garden at a care home for young adults on Claro Road.