Now in its second year, fundraising initiative Events R Talented, a competition for everyone in the events industry, announced its plans for the coming year at a special event at Sandals Resorts Retail Centre in South Kensington, London.
The event welcomed 60 industry professionals to the event to hear about plans to raise money for its named charity, Buses4Homeless Regional Outsource Project, via industry charity, Meeting Needs.
The charity converts decommissioned buses into shelters and sanctuaries for rough sleepers; a place where they can sleep, be fed and regain a sense of normality.
In tune with last year’s fundraising campaign, Events R Talented will host a talent competition for anybody in the events industry who wishes to audition. In contrast to 2018, there will be two auditions held in the south and north of England.
Last year’s winner, singer-songwriter Eiza Murphy was at the event to talk about her journey through the competition and how beneficial it has been for her.
She told M&IT: “The competition was the best fun and so exciting. It didn’t actually feel like a competition, it was just a great opportunity to perform, time and time again. It was just fantastic.”
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Murphy has recorded a specially written song and music video to help raise money for Buses4Homeless. For a £10 donation, contributors will receive a CD card which can be used to download the song and video via email.
Dan Atkins, co-founder of Buses4Homeless, said: “We absolutely love the song and everything it stands by. A huge thanks to Eiza, Ken and the team for all their hard work and support.
“Money raised will go towards fitting a commercial kitchen so we can teach homeless people to prepare and cook nutritional meals for themselves and others. After that, funds will go towards other B4H projects locally and across the country.”
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Co-founders of Events R Talented: Ken Findlay (One Night Only Events) Paul Tidy (Sandals), Matt Curran (Chew Events) Graeme Saunders (Sandals).[/caption]
Guests at the event were entertained by West End singer, Nicola Brazil who has starred in Legally Blonde, Wicked and Grease and enjoyed a buffet of traditional Caribbean food and flowing rum punch.
Ken Findlay, co-founder of Events R Talented said: “We received a great response from our audience tonight and long may that continue via our PR campaign to raise more funds for Buses4Homeless, which is such a great charitable cause to support. Our thanks also go to Meeting Needs for helping us facilitate our fundraising again this year.”
The event rounded off with an auction for prizes including Chelsea Football Club game-day hospitality tickets, Caribbean rum, and a boozy afternoon tea for two at a Mr Foggs bar, fetching £1000 for the Buses4Homeless.
The southern audition for the talent competition will be held at Under the Bridge at Chelsea Football Club on Wednesday 4 September. The northern auditioned will be at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on Wednesday 9 October.
You can find out more about ‘Events R Talented’ and how to audition here.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
