Buzzin Celebrity Gossip

Alice Temperley, Sophie Ellis-Bextor join star-studded Gala to raise an incredible £860,000+ to support traumatised women in areas of conflict. 5 May. Banqueting Hall. London

With Annie Lennox being given a ‘Making a Difference Award’ , Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing and Pamela Stephenson compering, Women for Women’s Gala was always bound to be a success. But the charity which helps traumatised women in war-torn areas, was delighted that £860,000 was raised, which will help thousands more women in countries from Afghanistan to the Congo to receive support and develop their skills, so they can rebuild their lives and support themselves and their families.

Annie Lennox – Singer and human-rights Activist who received a Making a Difference Award at the Gala says

“Women for women is an incredible organisation, working to transform lives, to support, uplift, and put light in the darkness. To be acknowledged by them is an absolute honour for me, and I’m humbled to be given this award, when so many of their members are my inspiration”

Nearly 400 of the charities most ardent and valued supporters from the business and financial world, together with those from the Arts and celebrity guests, gathered to celebrate five years of Women for Women in the UK and raise badly needed funds for the charity.

This included fashion designer Alice Temperley from Temperley London, TV Presenter Tess Daly, Model, Jacquetta Wheeler, supermodel Natalia Vodianova, musician and designer Pamela Hogg, singer and human rights activist Annie Lennox, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, psychologist and TV personality Dr Pamela Stephenson-Connolly, Film Director, Hugh Hudson, Architect, Zaha Hadid, Jewellery Designer, Pippa Small, Joan and Simon Burstein, Browns, Actress Rosamund Pike, Sophie Turner-Laing, MD Entertainment and News, Sky, Barbara Brocolli, maker of Bond films, actress Cherie Lunghi, TV presenter and singer Claire Richards, Swarovski Creative Director, Nadja Swarovski, artist Jenny Saville and Women for Women’s founder; award-winning human-rights activist Zainab Salbi.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor said:

“Today 75% of those injured or killed in war are women and children. As a woman and a mother, I am proud to support the work of Women for Women International; helping women in areas of conflict, who have often lost everything, to rebuild their lives and develop skills so they can support themselves and their families”.

The Gala opened with a cocktail reception, followed by a sit-down dinner catered by Rhubarb, live and silent auctions, The Making a Difference Awards Ceremony and a performance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

It also featured a talk about Karak Mayik, Women for Women International Country Director, Sudan and a film about the charities work in the Congo narrated by Cherie Lunghi.
Corporate Gala Partners were Bank of Singapore, Bloomberg, Brown’s, Goldman Sachs Gives, Iceberg Vodka, Kate Spade, Neal’s Yard, Paul Hastings, Signature Lifestyles, Sotheby’s UK, Swarovski & the Body Shop.

Dr Pamela Stephenson-Connolly, psychologist and TV personality said:

“When I visited the Congo recently, I saw first-hand the devastating impact of a human conflict where rape is used as a weapon of war and thousands of women have been traumatised and violated. Women for Women do some amazing work helping women rebuild their lives and develop the skills and knowledge they need to support themselves and their families. I am proud to be MC at their 2011 Gala helping them raise funds so that many more women in areas of conflict all over the world, have an opportunity to receive the help and support they need”.