Charity Ball Raises £5,000 for New SEND Centre- the Ability Hub

More than 100 guests came together for an unforgettable evening of fundraising, entertainment and community spirit at the Building for the Future Charity Ball, held at The Mill House Hotel on 15 May.

The event raised an impressive £5,000 towards The Ability Hub, Building for the Future's new SEND play and skills centre at Thames Valley Park, which will provide vital opportunities and support for disabled children and young people and their families.

The Ball brought together charity supporters, local businesses, service users and parent carers of disabled children, many of whom were gifted a rare evening away from their caring responsibilities to enjoy the celebrations. Guests were treated to a delicious three-course dinner followed by dancing, a raffle, music bingo and magic entertainment.

A highlight of the evening was a comedy after-dinner performance from Toni Kent, whose witty and engaging anecdotes had guests laughing throughout the night. Entertainment was also provided by magician Robert Bone and music bingo hosts Graham and Sue Roberts, helping to create a lively and memorable atmosphere.

Among those attending were Wokingham MP Clive Jones and Wokingham Borough Mayor Carol Jewell, who attended as the event's special guest.

During the evening, Cllr Jewell was presented with a beautifully hand-decorated mosaic bird bath created by the charity's BftF Plus young adults. The presentation recognised her support for the charity after choosing Building for the Future as her Mayoral Charity for 2025–2026. During her mayoral year, Cllr Jewell raised an impressive £3,000 for our organisation.

The charity would like to thank everyone who attended, donated prizes, sponsored the event and supported the fundraising efforts. The evening demonstrated the power of the local community coming together to make a lasting difference to the lives of disabled children and their families.