October 2016

Charity cheque presented for £250,000 to Variety ambassador Angela Rippon at the Houses of Parliament

Pamela Sinclair, Angela Rippon and Miles Baron

Variety supporter Angela Rippon OBE joined Miles Baron, Chief Executive of The Bingo Association, at a parliamentary reception held by the Association to celebrate its relationship and hugely successful fundraising for Variety, the children's charity and 30 years of the National Bingo Game.

The reception was attended by bingo players and charity champions from across the UK who were joined at the event by a number of MPs. This year the hard work and efforts of clubs and bingo players from across the industry and around the country has resulted in over £250,000 being raised for Variety. This brings the figure raised by bingo to over to in excess of £500,000!

Angela Rippon said: "I'm very proud to represent Variety today and to take this opportunity to thank bingo players and staff at clubs nationwide for their incredible support. It is only with this fundraising and support that Variety can continue to help young people so that they may reach their full potential"

Angela Rippon has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for over 40 years, winning multiple awards for her work on both televisions and radio. She remains committed to Variety, the children's chary, which she has supported since the 1970s.

In addition to the cheque presentation and speeches by Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bingo, Anna Turley MP, the event also involved a charity bingo game, called by Anna and fellow MP Dawn Butler.
The game raised a further £200 pound for Variety.

Anna Turley MP and Dawn Butler MP

Miles Baron said: " For the second year in a row bingo clubs have raised over £250,000 for Variety, the children's charity. The bingo industry is
a social activity rooted in the heart of local communities. What makes Variety such a great partner for bingo is that money raised by customers goes back to the communities from where it came and therefore I am delighted to announce that we are extending our relationship with Variety for a third

year." The Association and its members have been raising funds for charity partner Variety, the children's charity since 2015. Bingo clubs across the country have taken part in a wide range of fundraising activities over this time including hosting football tournaments, cask sales, sky dives, runs and special £1 games and prize draws. Since September 2015 the industry has raised over £500,000 which has enabled Variety, amongst other things to purchase two Sunshine Coaches for special education needs schools. The Association would like to thank the many MPs who have supported the industry with this initiative, particularly:

Anna Turley MP and Bill Wiggin MP
Chi Onwurah MP
Chris Green MP
Christina Rees MP
Craig Williams MP
David Mackintosh MP
Dawn Butler MP
Gerald Jones MP
Gisela Stuart MP
James Davies MP
John McNally MP
Ian Lucas MP
John Woodcock MP
Justin Madders MP
Lisa Cameron MP
Martyn Day MP
Mary Glindon MP
Neil Gray MP
Nick Thomas Symonds MP
Philip Davies MP
Ruth Smeeth MP
Sir Roger Gale MP
Stephen McPartland MP
Tracey Crouch MP