Bacta celebrates fundraising work of its Charitable Trust with Parliament reception

Amusement industry trading body bacta has celebrated the work of its Charitable Trust with a Parliamentary Reception, after it has raised over £3.5m since its establishment in 1991.

The event commemorated the Trust’s fundraising capabilities, following the recent expansion to its scope of charities supported to include Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Teenage Cancer Trust, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Rays of Sunshine.

Since 2011, the trust has raised in excess of £500,000, primarily supporting Rays of Sunshine, a charity which grants ‘wish’ days and experiences to seriously ill children.

Its #Tickets2Wishes campaign has been central to the fundraising efforts, encouraging customers at Family Entertainment Centres to donate leftover redemption tickets. The contributions have then been matched by the operator.

Jimmy Thomas, Chair of the bacta Charitable Trust, celebrated the work of the charity, commenting:: “bacta’s charitable trust has been supporting wonderful charities for many years, and we are proud to be supporting these four worthy beneficiaries through our ongoing fundraising work.

“The bacta membership has a unique ability to engage communities and customers to raise money for good causes, and I know it will be pulling out the stops as always to support these charities in their essential work.”

The Trust’s new beneficiaries were introduced to members for the first time at the Reception, attended by parliamentarians including Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet, Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East and Nigel Huddleston MP for Mid Worcestershire & PPS at DCMS.

Gale added: “I am delighted that bacta, which represents so many family-run businesses, and businesses for families, has chosen to make such an effort in terms of charity fundraising.

“The fact that charities such as Great Ormond Street and the Teenage Cancer Trust are benefiting so much from this industry is wonderful.”