Daisy Chain is delighted to have attended the 2019 People’s Postcode Lottery Annual Charity Gala alongside George and Amal Clooney who were given a special award.
The Clooneys were representing their organisation, the Clooney Foundation for Justice and were interviewed on the night by Natasha Kaplinsky.
A total of more than £404 million has been raised for charities and good causes in Britain and around the world in 2019 thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Daisy Chain received an incredible £350,000 in 2018 which allowed for the continuous support of over 2,300 families affected by autism – over 300 children per week from toddlers through to adults. There are also a whole host of services including educational placements, adult social clubs, supported work placements and an employability course.
In 2019 Daisy Chain is concentrating £100,000 on tackling loneliness for young adults through its employability scheme.
The Gala at McEwan Hall in Edinburgh was a celebration of the phenomenal achievements of charities working across Great Britain and internationally that are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Laura Chow, head of charities, said: ‘These are challenging times and even the smallest locally-run organisations are having to compete for funding. Never has the support of our players been so important to so many.’
Neeraj Sharma, Daisy Chain chief executive, said: ‘I was delighted to attend the 2019 People’s Postcode Lottery annual Charity Gala. We rely on the generosity of supporters like players of People’s Postcode Lottery. This funding is vital for us to continue to offer our holistic services to families and individuals who depend on us to provide qualified guidance and support. We are experiencing an unprecedented demand for our services and having this funding allows us to plan how we can grow, develop and deliver services which fully meet the needs of those affected by autism within the Tees Valley.
‘It’s also vitally important that we are able to tackle issues of loneliness and isolation in young adults who can struggle without the support they need to interact socially and work as a team which in turn moves them into or closer to employment. Our specifically tailored and accredited employability course and supported work placements for adults offers a holistic approach to bridge the gap in provision during the transition to adulthood and addresses the loneliness and isolation they can face as a result of not working.
‘We cannot thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery enough for continuing to support the essential needs of families and individuals living with autism.’