THOUSANDS of pounds have been donated to good causes across the town thanks to the Charity Ball.

The annual event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Swindon, the Adver and the Marriott Hotel in May, raised £22,953 for seven local charities and projects.

On Tuesday, the money was handed over to each of the good causes in a presentation event at the Swindon Marriott.

Chairman of the Charity Ball committee, Tim Hanley, said: “We are very pleased with the total raised at this year’s Charity Ball.

“The beneficiaries were happy when we handed over the cheques, which gives you a good buzz.

“This year’s event has been a brilliant success. It’s one of the toughest years we have had because of the climate we’re in but hopefully going forward now it will get easier.

“We want to raise £25,000 next year and I urge anyone who can sponsor the event to get in touch. We raised £47,000 one year with the help of matched funding.”

The biggest donation was made to Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool Association, which received £10,000 to help pay for essential structural work to renovate the leaking roof in the changing rooms. The work will cost £40,000, and thanks to the Charity Ball their total has reached £17,500. They are hoping work will start early next year.

Pool manager Neil Montgomery said: “We are over the moon. We want to say a huge thank you to the organisers because without events like the Charity Ball, charities like ours wouldn’t survive.

“The ceiling in the changing room leaks – it’s not a nice environment to get changed in. It’s the last part of our refurbishment project.”

Asthma Relief has been given £1,600. The money has paid for 10 new nebulisers for people in Swindon with breathing difficulties, including people living at home in Swindon and Prospect Hospice.

Asthma Relief office manager Patricia Davis said: “This will make a huge difference to the charity and we want to say a big thank you.

“Nebulisers are life changing. Having a nebuliser at home means you can stay out of hospital.”

Swindon Interactive Arts Service, which helps adults with learning difficulties, providing creative arts classes, received £700, £250 of which will go towards a new microphone.

Swindon Advocacy Movement got £2,349 towards an internet cafe at its premises in Regent Circus for people with learning disabilities.

DASH, Discovering Autism Spectrum Happiness, has been given £3,500 to help pay for seating, equipment and materials for allotment space. The project supports adults with high-functioning autism and Aspergers to use their green fingers.

Those experiencing mental health problems will also benefit, with £2,304 given to the Friends of TWIGS, an independent charity which supports Therapeutic Work In Gardening Swindon, to help develop their plant sales activity area.

Swindon Foodbank has been given £2,500 to help increase the charity’s warehouse capacity and open at least one new distribution point.

The Charity Ball will be inviting applications from potential beneficiaries for next year’s event through the Swindon Advertiser in a few weeks’ time.

For more information or to sponsor next year’s event, log on to www.swindoncharityball.co.uk.