CBSO appeals to business community for support

THE world-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has launched an appeal after its funding was slashed by 24%.

The CBSO, which recently opened its 2014/15 season, performs for more than 200,000 people each year, offers musical education for the region’s least privileged young people, nurtures 750 talented musicians through its six choirs and its youth orchestra, and serves as one of Birmingham’s highest-profile ambassadors on the world stage through its tours, broadcasts and recordings.
 
Plans for the period up to its centenary are ambitious but its public funding has been slashed by 24% since 2010. 

The orchestra is seeking to raise £1m to support its work this year, around 80% of which has already been committed.
 
Donations can be made at http://www.cbso.co.uk/

Birmingham hotel invites people around for a charity cuppa

CAMPANILE Hotel in Aston, Birmingham, is set to stir up support for Macmillan Cancer by taking part in the world’s biggest coffee morning on Friday, September 26.

It is the first time the hotel has taken part in the fundraising initiative which encourages individuals and businesses across the UK to hold a coffee morning and raise money for people living with cancer.

The annual event began in 1990 and raised a record £20m nationwide last year.
The Campanile coffee morning will take place in the hotel’s newly refurbished restaurant and lounge area from 9am and guests will be able to enjoy a selection of cakes, tea and coffee.

Alex McLean, general manager at Campanile Hotel Birmingham, said: “We are really looking forward to hosting our first world’s biggest coffee morning and show our support for Macmillan Cancer.

“The event is open to everyone and we have already started to invite a number of businesses on the estate as well as our hotel guests and those living in the local community.”

Glittering ball raises more than £9,000 for charity

MORE than 200 people attended a charity ball staged by Coventry-based law firm Band Hatton Button at the Coventry Hilton Hotel in Walsgrave.

The event was organised in support of the Heart of England Community Foundation, a harity which gives grants to support community projects across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull.

Highlights of the evening included live entertainment from Freddie the Band who posed as catering staff before giving a surprise performance.

Dawn Mobbs, a partner at Band Hatton Button who helped to organise the event, said: “It is the first time Band Hatton Button has staged a charity ball and the night was a huge success.

“Not only did we have a fantastic time, we also helped to raise a huge amount of money for the Heart of England Community Foundation.”

Great North Run no sweat for college bosses

TWO of Walsall College’s senior managers are looking forward to a well-earned rest after conquering the 2014 Bupa Great North Run in impressive fashion.
 
Fazal Dad, Walsall College’s deputy principal for delivery and success, finished the race in two hours, 29 minutes and Peter Merry, the college’s director of finance, beat last year’s race time by finishing in two hours,14 minutes.

The Walsall College duo have tripled their initial fundraising target of £300 after raising up to £900 for Asthma UK with other donations still coming in.

Merry said: “It was really tough, especially with the hot weather, but also a lot of fun and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our friends, family, colleagues and governors who have all supported our bid to raise money right from the start.
 
“Fazal set off at a great pace at the start of the race and I struggled to keep up with him at first. I felt like I got stronger as the race went on but we both ran great races and I was personally really pleased to shave about 13 minutes off last years’ time.”