THE beneficiaries of next year’s Charity Ball have been announced with some set to be awarded as much as £5,000.

A handful of deserving causes have been selected by organisers to receive a total of £20,000.

They are the Upland Educational Trust, Swindon NSPCC, Headway Swindon and District, Clivey and Twist Children and Young People’s Project and the Great Western Hospital’s charity, Brighter Futures.

“These charities had the best projects we could see out of the 19 that applied,” said charity ball chairman, Tim Hanley.

“The charity ball raises money for these small incidentals that people don’t think about, like a TV screen or monitor.

“We are deep in preparations now. The ball will be a fun event for a very serious cause.”

Uplands has been earmarked to receive £5,000, while Headway will be awarded £4,500 to help office equipment and laptops.

Brighter Futures will be given £5,000 towards two linear accelerators as part of its campaign to open a radiotherapy unit in Swindon.

Clivey and Twist has been selected to receive £500 for office equipment.

A further £5,000 will be donated to the NSPCC for a new project to be launched in the town.

The event, founded by the Rotary Club Of Swindon and the Swindon Advertiser and held at the Marriott Hotel, in Old Town, has to date raised £670,000 for more than 50 local charities with donations ranging from £1,000 to £49,000.

The ball, now in its 27th year, has received the support of local businesses and high-profile multi-nationals, including Zurich, Nationwide and NPower, as well as Deacons jewellers, the Marriott and the Adver.

In order to raise the funds necessary the committee organised a wine tasting recently and is set to hold a golf day at Broome Manor on April 10 next year.

The ball’s theme has also been announced.

“The theme this year is the roaring 1920s but that’s all I can divulge,” said Tim.

Last May the ball raised £22,953 for seven charities and projects.

To find out more about the ball visit the website at www.swindoncharity ball.co.uk.