Taking place at The Monastery in Manchester last week, the Masquerade Ball event was hosted by Salford born film and television actor Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazareth, Holby City) and featured musical entertainment from local X-Factor star, Laura White.

Money raised by the Ball has contributed towards the inclusion of specialist health and exercise facilities in a specialist, £5 million dementia care service we are developing in Manchester, opening in spring 2012.

 The service, named Everystep, will incorporate a care home, which will provide 24-hour residential and nursing support for 48 people a short-term respite service for 12 people as well as a day service which will give people with the condition the opportunity to spend a day with company, enjoying engaging activities. We have already launched the first stage of this integrated service, a specialist dementia domiciliary care service, that supports people with the condition across Greater Manchester.

 In offering all four types of support (home care, day care, respite and residential support) from one location, CIC will be able to support people with dementia throughout every stage of their condition.

The fundraising event attracted support from a host of local and national businesses, and included an auction featuring items donated by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Colin Firth, Victoria Wood, Manchester United and Manchester City. Our charity was also given an exclusive donation of a pair of tickets to the X Factor Grand Final, which was the star prize of the evening.

 Ingrid Smillie, CIC’s Director of Strategic Projects said, “Our Ball saw over 270 people come together to generously support the development of one of the North-West’s most innovative dementia services. Our integrated service will give people with dementia a far greater quality of life and because of this, we received incredible backing from the local community and beyond.”

 She added, “We were genuinely overwhelmed by the support we were given from celebrities, businesses and social care professionals, all keen to get behind such an innovative and much needed service. CIC would like to extend their sincere thanks to all who contributed towards what was a fantastic event.”

Robert Powell, host of the Fundraiser said "I was delighted to be involved in a fundraising event for such an important project. Dementia is a condition that will probably touch all our lives eventually and it is hard to think of an enterprise more deserving of our help."

Photo – X Factor star Laura White, left, with Robert Powell.