QAC Charity Dinner raises funds for the Building Brighter Futures Appeal
Friday 12th June saw Queen Alexandra Charity hold its first Charity Dinner at Birmingham Conference and Events Centre. Sponsored by Wilkes Solicitors and abm Catering the evening saw businesses, supporters and staff join together to support the charity’s new Building Brighter Futures Appeal which is raising funds to provide a brand new medical and therapies centre on the college site. 
Sponsors Wilkes Solicitors with Senior Fundraising Officer, Pippa Preston
Not only will this enable students to access all required therapies from one central point it will also enable the current various therapy locations to be redeveloped into more learning spaces.
The charity supports young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities through Residential Services and Community Services and Education – this new centre being created at the Queen Alexandra College. Students at the college all have an Education Health Care Plan with many needing to access to regular physio, nursing care, speech and language etc. Without this access on site and readily available to them many students would simply not be able to attend college.
In addition, over the last ten years the student numbers have doubled from just under 200 to almost 500 so to keep up with demand more learning spaces are desperately needed.
Principal and Chief Executive, Bev Jessop (center) with staff members Jasbinder and Sandra.
As guests entered the venue they were met by current students who duly booked them in and welcomed them to the event. Guests then enjoyed a fabulous cocktail drinks reception followed by a lovely three course dinner and a disco. This was all interspersed with a welcome from the Chair of Trustees, Mark Abrams, an introduction to the appeal from Principal and Chief Executive, Bev Jessop with the highlight of the night being a short question and answer session with former student and now Trustee of the charity, Charlie Stonham. A raffle and auction helped the night raise a fabulous £10,000.
Fundraising team members selling raffle tickets.
Bev Jessop, Principal and Chief Executive commented “It was lovely to see so many people supporting the charity through the dinner and having a fabulous time. This appeal is so much more than providing a new building, it’s about making a difference to the lives of our young people and giving them a hope for the future.”
