Date: 13 November 2007

David Cameron lauds Norwood as it raises a record-breaking £3 million at its Annual Dinner

Click here to view photos from Norwood's 2007 annual dinner...

The Rt Hon David Cameron MP was the guest speaker at Norwood’s Annual Dinner, the flagship fundraising event for the UK’s leading Jewish charity for children and families. The Dinner took place on Monday 12 November at the Grosvenor House in Central London and was attended by 1,100 guests. A record-breaking £3 million was raised, which will go towards carrying out Norwood’s vital work supporting children, adults and families coping with learning disabilities and social difficulties. The Dinner was sponsored by Esfandi Charitable Foundation. The Annual Dinner Committee, chaired for the fourth year by Carol Sopher, worked tirelessly over the year to ensure the evening’s success.

Click here to view photos from Norwood's 2007 annual dinner...

David Cameron started by praising the appeal film and paying tribute to Norwood’s work. He said: “Norwood is a great charity. The work you do with children and families is tremendous. The scope of what you do is awesome and everyone involved with Norwood should be very proud…Organisations such as Norwood provide magical moments to those parents who need your help…I’d like to thank you for all that you do.”

He went on to speak about what he sees as the biggest challenge facing society in Britain today – social breakdown and antisocial behaviour. He cited poverty, drug addiction, low educational achievement and family breakdown as the main causes of this malaise and put forward a three-tiered approach to tackling the issues.

First on his list was welfare reform. He said: “There are five million people wasting their lives on welfare, many of whom could work. Our message is that welfare is not a way of life, and if they are able to work they should do so.” Secondly, he called on government to place more trust in voluntary and charity organisations who actually make a difference. “Charities often have more expertise and energy to tackle these issues than civil servants and you cannot subcontract compassion”. Finally, he stressed the importance of promoting a strong family unit:

“Family should be at the heart of all that we do. Family breakdown is the cause of so many problems and we should do more to recognise, celebrate and encourage marriage, including via the tax system.”

He then proceeded to answer several questions from the floor, during which he expressed the desire to halt the closure of special schools and thereby provide parents of disabled children with choice. He also said that there are many parents with disabled children who are not aware of their entitlement to respite care and that the allocation they receive differs according to where they live in the UK: “Parents of disabled children need respite care. A clear, legal right to respite is important.”

Click here to view photos from Norwood's 2007 annual dinner...

Norwood’s President, Richard Desmond, spoke about his pride at the services Norwood provides to the community. He outlined some of the planned developments for 2008, which include the opening of The Tager Centre – a residential home for adults at the severe end of the autistic spectrum and The Pamela Barnett Centre – a residential home for adults with profound and multiple disabilities – at Ravenswood Village, Norwood’s residential community for people with disabilities. Norwood will also open an integrated nursery at its Kennedy Leigh Family Centre and Pears Wing for Children, which will see disabled children playing and learning alongside non-disabled children.

Speaking after the dinner, Richard Desmond said: ‘This is the largest Annual Dinner that Norwood has ever held and I'm overjoyed that we've had another record-breaking success. It was a fabulous evening and I want to thank the Dinner sponsor Joey Esfandi and our supporters for enabling Norwood to continue to transform the lives of children and families who rely on us.'

The Guest list included the Chief Rabbi and Lady Sacks, the outgoing Israeli Ambassador, Zvi Heifetz, who made his farewell speech before returning to Israel, Sir Philip Green, Gerald and Dame Gail Ronson, Michael and Lorraine Spencer, Poju and Anita Zabludowicz as well as TV personalities Vanessa Feltz and Trinny Woodall.

The audience were shown a moving film highlighting Norwood’s work with people with disabilities. It focused on two families who have disabled children and showed how Norwood was there for them at the most difficult times, providing vital services, as well as practical and emotional support. Both families, and many more families like them, continue to use Norwood’s services to give their children the best opportunities to live life to the full.

Guests were also entertained with songs from hit musicals by 12-year-old Olivia Aaron who has appeared in the West End musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Oliva’s connection to Norwood extends back three generations. Her grandparents were involved in setting up Ravenswood Village in 1953 and the first residential homes for adults with learning disabilities in Stanmore.

The evening was rounded off by a special drinks reception for YN (Young Norwood) supporters – the new generation of philanthropists.

Click here to view photos from Norwood's 2007 annual dinner...

For more information please contact David Wosner, Public Relations Officer at Norwood on 020 8420 6942 or email david.wosner@norwood.org.uk