EXCITEMENT was in the air as a host of good causes charities were handed £27,000 by the kind fundraisers behind the Charity Ball.

On Tuesday evening, the ball’s 2015 beneficiaries gathered at the Marriott Hotel to receive a share of the money collected at the black tie event back in May.

This was the culmination of months of anticipation for the organisations after being handpicked for funding by the Charity Ball organisers.

This year’s beneficiaries were 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. The charities were initially promised a portion of £24,000, but so much was raised on the night thanks including a remarkable £5,000 last-minute donation from Imagine Cruising, that the Ball committee were able to nearly double the sums initially promised to Clivey and Twist and Uplands.

“There was so much generosity on the night and we got a little bit more than we originally anticipated,” said Charity Ball committee chairman Tim Hanley.

“Imagine Cruising have also offered to match funds raised next year to the tune of £20,000.”

Headway Swindon and District, which helps patients to rebuild their lives following brain injury, received £4,500 towards new equipment on Tuesday.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive such fabulous support from the Swindon Charity Ball,” said centre manager Jane Weston.

“The money from the ball will go towards purchasing a range of new equipment to help people regain these lost skills and develop renewed confidence and independence. This includes items ranging from computers to run our specialist speech and language software, through to mobility aids within the centre.”

Clivey and Twist and Uplands were handed £1,265 and £11,235 respectively.

Brighter Futures and the NSPCC were awarded £5,000.

“We are so grateful for this fantastic donation from the annual Swindon Charity Ball,” said Caroline Morgan, NSPCC fundraising manager. “The money will go towards delivering services at our NSPCC Service Centre in Swindon. Our staff there work with local families who need our help, and find the very best ways to keep children safe.

“It takes time and money to rebuild lives.”

Over the past 27 years, the Charity Ball has raised nearly £700,000 with donations ranging from £1,000 to £49,000.