For the third successive year, No5 Barristers’ Chambers has hosted a stunning evening of dance and entertainment while raising thousands of pounds for two children’s charities.
More than 400 guests gathered on Friday evening to see commercial litigator Siona Spillitt of Fieldfisher, and her teenage professional dance partner Joshua Adams, lift the glitterball Strictly 9 to 5 trophy.
The pair wowed both the audience and judges with their Quickstep to secure top slot, while Lex Autolease’s Richard Horvath and his professional partner Nadine Cond had to settle for the runners up prize with their Foxtrot.
Birmingham’s iconic International Convention Centre was the venue for the star studded event, where Master of Ceremonies and compere for the evening was BBC’s Strictly favourite Brendan Cole.
The evening raised £30,000 which was split between two nominated charities, the Child Brain Injury Trust and Whizz-Kidz.
Heading up the judging panel were World Champion professional dance duo and BBC Strictly husband and wife pair James and Ola Jordan. They were joined by Jamie De Souza, a lawyer with Black Country firm Higgs & Sons and former amateur Ballroom and Latin dancer who represented Great Britain, and Joanna Leek, a professional dancer and choreographer.
Tony McDaid, Chief Executive and Director of Clerking at No5 Barristers’ Chambers, said: “This was our third Strictly event and I think it’s fair to say it was bigger and better than ever.
“We are so proud to support two such worthwhile charities, the Child Brain Injury Trust and Whizz-Kidz, both of which carry out such wonderful work with children and their families.
“Yet again the dancers – professionals and volunteers – were incredible and along with all of our sponsors, everyone who donated or bid for a prize and the event production team Pastiche, we can’t thank them enough for helping to make the evening such a spectacular success.”
Lisa Turan, CEO of the Child Brain Injury Trust, said after the event: “The Child Brain Injury Trust was delighted and humbled once again to be one of the chosen charities to benefit from the amazing and truly fabulous Strictly 9-5 event.
“Thank you to No5 Chambers for supporting our lesser known, but highly impactful charity. The money raised will go towards reaching greater number of families affected by brain injury across Birmingham.”
While the CEO of Whizz-Kidz, Ruth Owen OBE added: “It was a privilege to have been chosen as one of the beneficiary charities by No5 Chambers.
“The evening was a magnificent event full of beautiful dancing and laughter, as well as importantly raising funds to help change disabled children’s lives. We thoroughly enjoyed the event and look forward to working with No5 in the future.
“On behalf of all the disabled children we support, I would like to express my sincere thanks to No5 Barristers’ Chambers for their generous hospitality and for a truly splendid evening.”
The Child Brain Injury Trust was established in 1991 and is the leading charity providing support, information and guidance to families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK.
Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children and young people with vital mobility equipment, opportunities to meet and have fun, and training to help them gain skills and look forward to a brighter future.