THE community projects set to receive more than £20,000 at next year's Charity Ball have been announced.

After weeks spent sifting through applications, the ball committee has whittled the shortlist down to eight worthy causes.

They are: Swindon Restore, Swindon STEP, Swindon Therapy Centre for MS, Prime Theatre, The Open Door Centre, MHA Music Therapy Appeal, Swindon Children's Scrapstore and Dressability.

To support the charities, the committee is aiming to raise a minimum of £20,100.

"Our key objective was to support the pledges that need equipment to get up and running or to advance comfort for those affected," said Charity Ball chairman Adam Flint. "It was fantastic to see the list at the end of the day. But the work is never complete as we have to now raise the monies. This year we are going out for sponsorship of many items which includes table centre pieces, entertainment and decorations. If we find sponsors for this then it means we can give even more back to the local charities."

Now in its 29th year, the event founded by the Rotary Club of Swindon and the Swindon Advertiser, has raised a remarkable £770,000 for more than 50 local charities. Next year’s ball will be held on Saturday, May 13 at the Marriott Hotel. In the run up to it, the team will organise a series of fundraisers including a golf day on Friday, March 31.

This time around the ball's beneficiaries are in line to receive grants ranging from £1,000 to nearly £5,200.

Prime Youth Theatre is poised to cash in £3,210 towards audio equipment to allow deaf participants to follow workshops without the constant need to lip-read.

"Prime Youth Theatre is investing lots to make all of our sessions fully inclusive and enjoyable for all young people and we’re so happy that the generosity of the Charity Ball is supporting us on this mission," said artistic director Mark Powell. "This means young actors, technicians and writers can focus on creative activities and participate equally without distraction."

The committee has also pledged £1,000 towards the MHA Music Therapy Appeal. The campaign launched by charity care provider MHA aims to raise £26,000 towards pioneering music therapy for all residents suffering from dementia at its Swindon care home, Fitzwarren House.

“We’re delighted to have been chosen to receive £1,000 from the Charity Ball," said Zoe Steer, MHA's Community Fundraising Manager for the West. "The money will be used to buy some much-needed musical instruments to be used in music therapy sessions with dementia residents at Fitzwarren House. These music therapy sessions are vital in helping to regulate residents’ emotions to alleviate symptoms and identify their possible causes. The instruments are an integral part of these sessions and allow the residents to really get involved and get the most out of the therapy.”

After being awarded £2,000 last year, the Swindon Therapy Centre for MS is in line to receive another £1,500 in 2017; this time towards much-needed equipment, including masks and hoods, for oxygen treatment.

"Above and beyond the obvious financial benefit of the £1,500 donation, and I often reflect on this, the fact that we've been chosen again as a beneficiary of the Charity Ball gives us something even more precious than the monetary value of the donation," explained Swindon Therapy Centre chairman Tim Culling. "It gives us hope (in that others are prepared to support us in what we're doing), belief (in that we must be doing something right!) and inspiration to keep going. So I suppose you could say that as well as the donation to us helping to deliver one of our core therapies, we're also using it to fuel hope, belief and inspiration."

As for The Open Door Centre, it stands to receive the Charity Ball 2017's largest donation with £5,174.

The support of the ball was an unexpected silver lining for the drop-in centre for adults with learning difficulties, after thieves broke in and made away with £2,000 back in August.

"We were surprised and delighted to have been chosen as we are only a small charity and would not have been able to afford such a large purchase without this generous offer of support," said Open Door's Carol Harrison. "We asked for money to purchase and install a new commercial oven in our kitchen. Kathy, our cook, provides over 30 two-course healthy lunches each day, providing over 5,000 last year. This ensures our members have the chance to enjoy a hot meal daily. A new, larger oven would help enormously with this task."

To sponsor the event email Charity Ball secretary Sue Harding at susanjharding@btinternet.com or call 01793 813147. For more information go to the Swindon Charity Rotary Ball Facebook page.

PANEL

Swindon Restore

Earmarked for £1,000

Swindon Restore is a charity furniture shop and sister project to the Swindon Foodbank. It seeks to ‘restore’ people, whatever their level of ability, who are temporarily or permanently unable to find employment, by offering them an opportunity to get work experience and gain new skills in a safe and encouraging environment.

Swindon STEP

Earmarked for £3,700

Swindon Ten to Eighteen Project (STEP) provides a safe and supportive environment for children and young people aged 10 to 18, who are experiencing isolation and exclusion. Through the charity, youngsters are encouraged to build and work on anything from assertiveness, anger management to self-confidence and communication and eventually learn to deal with and overcome significant issues in their lives.

Swindon Therapy Centre for MS

Earmarked for £1,500

The centre offers therapies, advice and support to people suffering from multiple sclerosis and their families in Swindon and the surrounding area. The charity actively encourages users, through mutual support, to face the reality of the progressive condition and the challenges it brings.

Prime Theatre

Earmarked for £3,210

Formerly known as Sixth Sense, Prime Theatre is one of Swindon's oldest theatre companies. Based at the Wyvern, it is made up of professional troupe and a separate youth theatre group, which offers young people a chance to perform, receive mentoring and take part in workshops on anything from acting and playwriting, to design and production.

The Open Door Centre

Earmarked for £5,174

Open Door is a drop-in centre for adults with learning disabilities. The charity encourages users to be independent adults through a range of fun and practical activities. It also helps them to understand their rights and choices in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment.

MHA Music Therapy Appeal

Earmarked for £1,000

MHA provides accommodation and support services for the elderly in various care homes across the country, including Fitzwarren House in Swindon. It recently launched an appeal to raise £26,000 to provide pioneering music therapy to all Fitzwarren House residents living with dementia.

Swindon Children's Scrapstore

Earmarked for £2,516

The Scrapstore is a low-cost community resource centre and environmental charity. It runs a range of projects including the Scrappers Boxing Gym and Community Fitness Centre. Scrappers Gym provides an affordable alternative to commercial fitness centres, enabling more people, especially youngsters and those on low incomes, to exercise and stay fit.

Dressability

Earmarked for £2,000

Dressability adapts and alters clothing for people with disabilities and over 65 years old.

The charity's aim is to give people with limited or no mobility and special needs a renewed sense of self-esteem, independence and dignity.