Birmingham restaurant hosts charity evening for hospice

CHINESE restaurant Henry Wong, based in Birmingham’s Harborne district, welcomed more than 75 guests through its doors at a charity evening in aid of St Mary’s Hospice.

Guests were treated to a multi-course banquet and champagne reception before participating in a food and wine matching masterclass.

Hosted in partnership with BYWine, the interactive masterclass taught visitors how to appreciate quality champagne and how to taste the difference between wine types.

Marianne Ho, general manager at Henry Wong, said: “We were pleased to be able to welcome the BYWine team to Henry Wong, and are confident that the event was enjoyed by all.”

All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to St Mary’s Hospice, an end of life facility in Birmingham which ensures high quality of care to terminally ill patients.

Business leaders take on ‘pyjamming’ challenge

LOCAL business leaders visited The Library of Birmingham wearing just their pyjamas in a bid to raise awareness of youth homelessness.

Mike Gibbons, chief information officer at Aggregate Industries, Joanne Hodson, information systems service delivery manager at Birmingham Airport, Praveen Gupta, director of BDO, David Groombridge, head of business systems at Eversheds and Darren Shipley, regional sales Manager at SCC, took part in Action for Children’s pyjamming challenge, which asks Birmingham residents to pose in their pyjamas and share photos online.

The campaign coincides with Byte Night Midlands, a fundraising event which takes place in Birmingham and calls on members of the business and technology communities to sleep rough to raise vital funds for the charity’s youth homelessness services.

David Groombridge, who co-chairs the Byte Night Midlands committee, said: “Posing in my pyjamas at the Library of Birmingham was a silly challenge, a bit of an embarrassment, and all round good fun – but it had a serious purpose.

“We want to make people aware that youth homelessness is a real issue; there are teenagers in this city who don’t have a safe place to call home. And more than that, we want to do something about it.

“That’s why we’re pyjamming and that’s why we’ll be sleeping rough on Byte Night. We need Birmingham businesses to help us raise more than £1m for Action for Children.”

Byte Night takes place on Friday, October 3.

The ‘roaring twenties’ are back at the NSPCC Great Gatsby Ball

THE annual NSPCC Coventry and Warwickshire Business Board Ball is back for 2014 and this year’s Great Gatsby theme is set to make it the most glamorous yet.

The fundraising event, now in its tenth year, will take place on Friday 26 September at The Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

All money raised will be used to fund the NSPCC’s work to prevent child abuse in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Hamilton Bland from the NSPCC Coventry Business Board, said: “This year’s Great Gatsby theme will provide all the glitz and glamour needed for what is always a fun-filled night to remember.

“After a delicious meal, there will be lots of opportunities to win some amazing prizes and bid on some truly wonderful auction items, before dancing the night away. With only ten tables left, time is running out on your chance to attend what is always a great night, so please do snap up your tickets now.”

For ticket information contact Sarah Williams on 0844 892 0215.