The Ascot Charitable Trust (ACT) was established following a hugely successful Charity Ball in 2001 in aid of ChildLine which netted £55,000. It was attended by a host of celebrities, including its illustrious Chairman, Esther Rantzen.

In 2002, Anne Palles, a dear friend of mine collapsed and her heart stopped. Clinically, Anne died, but due to a miraculous sequence of events she was resuscitated by the life saving intervention of the ‘The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance’ team. I needed to thank this incredible voluntary organisation, and another Charity Ball seemed the most logical idea. Hence, the Ascot Charitable Trust was born to organise this annual social event.

The nominated charities for 2008 are the NSPCC and Childline! Other Charities that will be benefitting include Naomi House, People to Places, St John Ambulance, Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance and the Treloar Trust.

Alan Carr
Chairman Ascot Charitable Trust

About this years nominated charities:

The London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was founded in 1884. It changed its name to The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in 1889. Its aim then was to protect children from cruelty, support vulnerable families, campaign for changes to the law and raise awareness about abuse.

Today, the NSPCC looks very different, but its purpose remains the same: to end cruelty to children. It has 177 community-based projects and run the Child Protection Helpline and ChildLine in the UK and the Channel Islands. Most of its work is with children, young people and their families. They also work to achieve cultural, social and political change - influencing legislation, policy, practice, public attitudes and behaviours and delivering services for the benefit of young people.

ChildLine is the UK's free, 24-hour helpline for children in distress or danger. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Almost 1,400 volunteers provide a counselling service, supervised by a team of professional supervisors and managers. Every day around 4,500 children call ChildLine, but lack of funds means that only 2,500 of them will get through to our counsellors for comfort, advice and protection.