Words by Anita Goyal MBE, Hallmark Foundation and Championing Social Care trustee and chair of the Care Sector Fundraising Ball, 2018-2023.
As the Care Sector Fundraising Ball prepares for its fifth outing at the end of September, it’s a chance to reflect on how the event has grown and developed into a major fixture in the social care calendar. The first four Balls have raised some £1.2 million in total for charities and 2024 promises to be the biggest and best yet.
It seems a long time ago when my husband Avnish and I organised the first Ball in 2018 – when Championing Social Care and the Hallmark Foundation were just twinkles in our eyes. A second Ball followed in 2019 before Covid intervened and meant that 2020 and 2021 were fallow years.
But we bounced back in 2022, raising a record sum of just over £400k for two charities: Care Workers Charity and Alzheimer’s Society. Only for that record to be smashed again in 2023 with £426k raised for the same two charities.
For me, there have been several highlights over the last six years.
First, the Ball has brought together an ever widening group of social care professionals and supporters with a common cause: to have a good time, network with like-minded colleagues old and new, and raise substantial sums for charity. The Ball was the first flagship event of Championing Social Care and it’s now one of several annual programmes run by the growing charity.
Second, the Ball and its development have only been possible through excellent teamwork, bringing together a wide range of people from different parts of the sector with complementary skills and knowledge. I have made many great friends through organising the Ball.
Third, the fact that people return to the Ball year after year is testament to the quality of the event and how it gets better every year attracting more and more guests. Excellent, fun entertainment and dancing; wonderful Indian food and service; great networking; opportunities for all to give from auctions to prize draws; and record sums raised every year.
Fourth, of course the main purpose of the event is to support two fantastic charities. In 2024 they will be Care Workers Charity again and Marie Curie for the first time, along with a number of small charities. It really is the care sector giving back to those who need help the most.
For all these reasons and more, Hallmark Foundation is proud to support the 2024 Ball as its founding partner. Everyone is guaranteed a wonderful evening while raising more funds for care charities.
And the Ball is a prime example of the difference that Championing Social Care makes, shining a positive light on social care. More people from within the care sector and beyond are joining the partnership to promote all that is good about care and how we make a difference day in day out for so many older people and people with a disability in the UK.
Come to the Ball on 28 September to find out more and see why it’s my favourite event of the year.
