Leading Welsh recruitment agency, Smart Solutions, has raised more than £8,000 by hosting a Mad Hatters Ball, in support of their nominated charity Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales.
Around 200 attendees joined the ‘madness’ at the Mecure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff including staff, clients and suppliers of the Newport-headquartered company for an evening of themed entertainment.
Smart Solutions has pledged to raising £21,000 for the charity over 12 months aiming to hit its target by July 2014, after seeing the support and treatment that Bobath provided to one of its team members, Deb Vincent and her eighteen month old son, Jack.
The funds raised at the Mad Hatters Ball were through ticket sales, a raffle and an auction, with the top prize of a five-star holiday to Andalusia selling for £1,200. The event has brought the total amount raised by Smart Solutions to date to £14,500.
Smart Solutions chief executive, Nathan Bowles, said: “We’re absolutely delighted at the success of the Mad Hatters Ball, and to see our fundraising efforts rewarded for such a fantastic cause.
“The night was hosted by the Mad Hatter himself, and we worked the theme into every aspect of the night, from Alice in Wonderland themed cup cakes, cocktails from teapots to a 10ft balloon sculpture of tumbling tea pots and tea cups. We wanted our guests to enter a world of the weird and wonderful and they played their part brilliantly with extravagant waistcoats, bow ties and fascinators.”
The Mad Hatter, who was performed by magician, comedian and compere Jasper Blakely of Penarth, began the night dressed as an 8ft white rabbit while he entertained guests with magic. He also performed a song especially written for the evening and rounded the night off with a Russian roulette illusion involving four revolvers.
Smart Solutions’ pledge to raise £21,000 for Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales coincides with the charity celebrating its 21st anniversary. Each year Bobath provides specialist therapy to more than 450 children across Wales who have cerebral palsy, and needs to raise over £1m every year to make this possible.
The charity supported Jack Vincent, son of Deb Vincent who works at Smart Solutions, after he contracted meningitis when he was just four weeks old and suffered a series of mini strokes, resulting in brain damage leading to a diagnosis of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.
When Jack was seven months old his family were recommended to the Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales by their consultant paediatrician and the charity provided specialist physiotherapy and speech and language therapy to help Jack improve his core strength and oral skills.
The charity has agreed to fund treatment for Jack and already his parents have seen the benefits for Jack who is now able to sit unaided for short periods of time.
Mr Bowles said: “Bobath is a charity that is very close to our hearts. The support shown to Deb, her son Jack and her family has been life-changing and our fundraising efforts is just one way to show our appreciation.
“Its full steam ahead for us as we push to reach our target goal over the next six months. The support shown to date has been very encouraging and our attention will now turn to planning more successful events in the New Year.”
Gail Griffiths, head of fundraising and retail at Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, said: “This was yet another amazing fundraiser organised by the team at Smart Solutions. Their pledge to raise £21,000 over 12 months is not an easy task but their commitment to this means they are already well on their way to meeting this target.”
Smart Solutions Recruitment was established in 2007 and in five years has become one of Wales’ most successful emerging brands, receiving a Welsh “FAST GROWTH 50” award four times.
The company is headquartered at the Langstone Business Park in Newport and has 33 locations across the UK, including seven in Wales. It puts more than 4,000 staff to work across the UK every day.
Donations to Smart Solutions charity efforts can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/Smart-Solutions