2024
GALA DINNER INVITE
17th October, 2024
7pm – 11pm
Event Agenda
The evening begins with a drinks reception in the magnificent Great Hall followed by a welcome address and a special performance from local school children we work with, choreographed by the Royal Opera House. Guests will then be invited to take their seats for dinner during which they can hear about some of the exciting projects and initiatives and a special guest speaker. Following dinner there will be a charity auction with the evening concluding with opportunities to enjoy socialising in the company of fellow guests.
HARLAXTON MANOR
Steeped in unique architectural history, Harlaxton Manor’s spectacular architecture combines Gothic, Jacobethan, and Baroque styles, creating an unforgettable and dramatic experience.
Timings:
7pm Drinks reception
7.20pm Welcome address and performance
8pm Dinner
10.45pm Evening ends
Tickets and guests
Tickets are priced at £65 per person. As a registered charity we are incredibly grateful to our friends and supporters who purchase a ticket. All income raised is used to cover the costs of hosting the event and helping us continue our mission.
Drinks Reception
The evening begins with a welcome drinks reception in the impressive Great Hall.
Royal Opera House
Children from local schools that we work with will perform a special dance choreographed by the Royal Opera House.
Dinner
A two-course dinner with wine, the menu is curated by the talented chefs at Harlaxton Manor ensuring guests enjoy a variety of dishes followed by tea and coffee.
Auction
Our live auction returns promising money-can’t-buy experiences balanced with something for everyone! All proceeds directly support our work.
Hosted by the charity’s Patron Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam the evening will celebrate the success of local Olympians and Paralympians at Paris this summer. This year the charity is thrilled to be joined by some very special guests who will share their stories of competing at the highest level.
Swimmer Freya Colbert, the 2024 World Championship gold medallist in the 400 metres individual medley and having represented England at the Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal, will be present. She competed in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris coming fourth in the final of the women’s 400m individual medley. Freya comes from Grantham and whilst at school she was an inspire+ Bronze Ambassador and attended their flagship event Mini Olympics.
Former Grantham student, Lewis Davey will also be in attendance. Having stamped his mark on the international stage at the 2022 European Championships in Munich is where he secured gold as part of the 4 x 400m relay. Silver and bronze followed as he played a key role in successful quartets at the World Championships in Budapest. At Paris 2024, Davey was part of the men’s 4x400m relay that stormed to bronze in a new European record.
Paralympian in High Jump Jonathan Broom Edwards MBE achieved his dream and became Paralympic Champion bringing the Gold Medal home at the Tokyo 2020 games! A triple World Champion title holder, at the time of writing Jonathan is preparing for the Paris games and the charity is delighted he is one of their valued Sports Ambassadors.
inspire+ Ambassador, World, Euro & Commonwealth champion 400m Hurdler Dai Greene will share his experiences of representing Wales and Great Britain at the highest level and talk about his positive experiences of being a Sports Ambassador for the charity. Dai has served as captain of the Great Britain athletics team on three occasions, with the most notable being during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Joining the local Olympians and Paralympians is Craig Heap, a former Olympic Gymnast who made history at the 1998 Commonwealth Games by captaining the English men’s team to their first ever Commonwealth Games Gold medal and again four years later at the Manchester 2002 games. Craig was a judge of BBC celebrity gymnastics show Tumble and most recently provided commentary for the BBC’s coverage of the gymnastics at Paris.
Bruce Dee, a rising star in British para-swimming, will be one of the special guests at our gala dinner. Having made his international debut at the 2024 European Para Swimming Championships, Bruce captured a silver medal in the 200m Individual Medley and competed in four additional events. Bruce trains alongside some of Britain’s best para-athletes and represented the country at his first Paralympic Games in Paris. We’re honoured to have Bruce with us to share his inspirational journey and achievements, as he continues to make waves on the global stage.
The auction catalogue is now available for review, and sealed bids may be submitted at your discretion.
About Us
We’re a sports and education charity dedicated to positively impacting young people’s lives. Founded in 2011, our mission is to ensure the next generation is ‘Healthy, Happy, and Active’ through innovative educational and community initiatives.
With comprehensive school membership, we are also one of the country’s largest PE and School Sport apprenticeship providers. In addition, we support young people through our community provisions, mainly delivered during school holidays.
Our mission
Healthy Happy Active Young People
