This year, the event was held within the splendour of King’s College Cambridge, where 156 representatives from city centre businesses enjoyed a drinks reception and a three-course meal with specially selected wines by Cambridge Wine Merchants.
Guests were treated to a pop-up beauty bar, courtesy of city centre salon Finn Jordan, before embarking on a night of dancing and equally enthusiastic bidding at the annual charity auction. A special Cambridge BID Christmas tree, laden with baubles to purchase for £10, £20, £50 and £100 - and guaranteeing a prize with every bauble - also helped to boost the total amount raised on the night, which was over £2,000.
Over the last 10 years, the event has raised more than £50,000 for charitable causes including Magpas Air Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Research, Teenage Cancer Trust (the Addenbrookes Ward), Cambridgeshire children’s charity Blue Smile, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices), Royal Anglian Regiment, Contact The Elderly, Jimmy’s Night Shelter and Whizz-Kidz, the provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled children.
This year’s chosen cause, Cambridge Street Aid, is a fundused to give rough sleepers a hand-up not a hand-out – covering such expenses as the cost of work clothes so they can arrive at an interview suitably dressed through to helping with the cost of rent to enable a move into accommodation.The projectencourages local residents and visitors to donate to the fund by text instead of giving loose change to those living on the city streets – and every penny donated goes directly towards helping end the waste and misery of a life spent on the streets.
Ian Sandison, Chairman of Cambridge BID, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Cambridge Street Aid as our charitable cause. This very worthwhile project ensures that the public’s generosity is properly directed and makes a genuine difference to the lives of rough sleepers and beggars in the city.
“I’d like to like to thank all the BID businesses who donated gifts for the auction and other prizes and, of course, all our guests for bidding so generously and supporting the evening so well.”
Sarah Steggles, from Cambridge City Council, who has been involved in developing and project managing the Street Aid campaign, said: “We are enormously grateful for the support we have received from Cambridge BID and look forward to working together closely over the next year to help people change their lives for the better.”
The Sparkle & Shine ball was once again sponsored by the Cambridge News newspaper.
Editor-In-Chief, David Bartlett said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring an event where the guests have such a good time raising money for a worthwhile local charity.”