Big-hearted Bristol businesses have been praised by The Prince’s Trust for contributing to one of the charity’s biggest-ever regional fundraising events.
The annual Red Dinner, held at the new Lansdown Restaurant at the city’s Ashton Gate stadium last month, raised £200,000 to help unemployed and disadvantaged young people across the region. 
Nearly 600 business people and high-profile guests attended the black-tie gathering, which was sponsored by wealth management group LGT Vestra and headlined by musician and Prince’s Trust Ambassador Jamie Cullum, pictured, with BBC presenter Jon Kay hosting.
Highlights included a silent auction, prize draws, as well as donations and pledges for the 40th Anniversary of the charity, which is taking place this year, totalled £21,500 alone.
A single donation of £34,000 came from a bid for a single 2.03ct Mozambique ruby donated by upmarket jeweller George Pragnell.
Prince’s Trust South West director Dermot Finch said: “This year’s event was three times as big as our previous Red Dinners and the £200,000 total raised was simply amazing.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without our partners, so heartfelt thanks go to LGT Vestra and (Ashton Gate owners) Bristol Sport for making the event such a success.
“Without the support of the business community and the generous fundraisers and attendees at the event we simply couldn’t change as many lives as we do.”
It is through initiatives such as the Red Dinner that the trust helps young people overcome challenges in their lives.
Last year alone the Prince’s Trust helped more than 3,000 disadvantaged young people in the South West and the £200,000 raised by the dinner will be spent in the coming year on helping even more.
Prince’s Trust South West development committee Mike Beesley, who is also chief executive of Bristol-based international recruitment organisation RSG, said: “The business community in our region has a great heritage of giving back to our most vulnerable people.
“It was excellent to see this being brought to bear at such an impressive level during the Red Dinner – and, at the same time, everyone enjoyed a truly memorable evening.”
Bristol Sport CEO and development committee vice-chair Andrew Billingham added: “It was an honour to have one of the first major events in our Lansdown Restaurant create this level of positive impact for our community.
“Jamie Cullum’s performance (pictured below) will go down also as being very hard to beat but we are already working on plans to build on this year’s success and bring even more energy and support in 2017.”
During the evening, Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador Amy Rawbone also bravely spoke to the room to talk about how the charity’s work helps people get on their feet.
The money raised from the event will be invested into helping disadvantaged young people in the South West get back into work, education or training.
Andrew Davies, who heads LGT Vestra’s recently opened Bristol office, said: “I know from my years of volunteering for The Prince’s Trust that the charity does invaluable work supporting young people and changing their lives for the better.
“It is a pleasure to be able to support these efforts through our sponsorship of the Red Dinner. We are also delighted to announce that we have chosen The Prince’s Trust as our charity partner for 2016/17.”
