The first-ever Joint Security Associations Fundraising Event (JSAFE) was a fantastic success. Held last night at the Grange City Hotel in the heart of London’s financial district and a stone’s throw from the Tower of London, the event attracted over 150 guests to help raise money for two security industry-related charities.
Over £16,000 was raised for the two charities from ticket sales, raffle tickets and an auction.
Entertainment was provided by one of the security industry’s very own. Garry Evanson, Head of Security at Westminster Abbey and a one-time professional singer, sang three Andrew Lloyd Webber songs which brought the house down and earned him a standing ovation from the audience.
Don Randall MBE, Chairman of the City of London Crime Prevention Association, opened the evenings proceedings and introduced representatives from the two charities.
PTSD Resolution is a charity that offers a unique counselling service to the UK armed forces, TA and Regular Reserves, including their dependents, to relieve mental health problems resulting from military service and the traumas that they have faced. The PTSD Resolution Outreach Programme has over 200 counsellors trained in trauma‐focussed cognitive behavioural therapy and provides a valuable contact point for anyone requiring counselling, complimentary to the work of the other armed forces charities.
Alex Strong, who drove close-protection vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan and suffered PTSD as a result of what he saw during his service, told the audience how PTSD Resolution succeeded in relieving him of the painful consequences of PTSD where other treatments had failed.
Meanwhile, the St Giles Trust aims to break the cycle of prison, crime and disadvantage, creating safer communities by supporting people to help them change their own lives. It offers a range of services which have helped over 16,000 clients overcome any barriers which might be holding them back from moving forward. Ultimately they equip people with skills to help them live independent lives.
Sean McFadden from St Giles Trust explained how they work with prisoners and ex-offenders to help them get their lives back on track. He explained that some of their best staff come from the ex-offenders population and that in some cases individuals had even gone on to work in the security industry.
The Master of Ceremonies was Andy Bignold, the Beadle of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, who kept everyone on track with his forceful and humorous style. He drove a very successful auction, variously enticing and cajoling members of the audience to up their bids and ultimately raise thousands of pounds extra for the charities on top of what had been raised from ticket sales and the raffle.
The five associations who helped organise the event and bring it to a successful conclusion were: the International Professional Security Association (IPSA), The Security Institute (TSI), the City of London Crime Prevention Association, ASIS International and the ADS Group.
Congratulations from SecurityNewsDesk to the organisers, the companies that very generously donated prizes for the raffle and auction and all those who attended. Plans are already afoot for next year’s event – watch out for information from your association in the months to come.
