On Thursday 13 October 2016, we celebrated our 13th anniversary with the most exclusive event in our calendar: our Gala Dinner at Mosimann’s. Each year, we collaborate with Anton Mosimann and his team to create an elegant evening of food, wine and conversation, to raise a significant level of funds for our work.
This year, guests enjoyed a Champagne reception in the Minstrel’s gallery, during which our Chief Executive Nicky Goulder told guests the story of Sylvie, a young carer who – since the age of nine -prepared and administered her father’ medicine. When asked earlier in the year by a journalist from The Guardian about her school attendance, she replied, “If the person you loved most in the world needed you at home, would you go to school?”. We then screened our award-winning animated film for the guests.
During the evening, guests enjoyed a delicious six-course meal, after which, Colin Sheaf – Chairman of Bonhams UK – and his wife Annie conducted a fast and furious auction, with lots including an exclusive Swiss chalet donated by a Create Trustee; LUXE tickets to London Fashion Weekend donated by British Fashion Council; and The Grand Canal, Venice, painted, signed and donated by Create Patron Ken Howard. Bidding was fierce and, with the funds raised via table sales, our raffle and individual donations, we raised an astounding £43,345.
This will enable us to raise aspirations, broaden horizons, and empower disadvantaged and vulnerable people across the UK. Carefully tailoring our programmes around the needs of each participant group’s unique needs, we will use it to tackle low self-esteem, low self-confidence and social isolation in young carers this Christmas, vulnerable older people, children with disabilities and many, many others.
We appreciate very much the ongoing support of our guests, Anton Mosimann OBE, Mark Mosimann and the staff at Mosimann’s, Colin and Annie Sheaf, and all who donated items for the auction and raffle.
