Changing lives with 'Dinner at the Roundhouse'

For the last five years, 'Dinner at the Roundhouse' has been honoured to help raise money for the worthy charity ‘Royal School for the Deaf Derby’. This fantastic institution houses a primary school, a secondary school and a sixth form college and makes special provisions for their students including a special audiology booth, soundproofing against all walls and plenty of natural light. 

 

Last year, thanks to the generosity of the guests of 2022’s 'Dinner at the Roundhouse' event, we were able to raise almost £12,000 through both direct donations and our silent auction. Guests were able to bid on a variety of items from holidays through to signed football shirts and every penny was earmarked for the school. 

 

The school decided that it would spend the money by improving one area in the school and that was its early years provision. The old play area had been revamped with all new wooden play equipment including a shop, a castle and drawbridge and a special outdoor reading nook for the children to enjoy. As well as this, they installed a special musical instrument area and a forest school complete with rope swings, mud kitchens and climbing equipment. 

 

Paul Burrows, Headteacher at Royal School for the Deaf Derby, said, '"After the incredibly generation donation from last year's Dinner at the roundhouse it gave us the opportunity to completely overhaul the Early Years provision in school and purchase a whole new suite of play equipment in one go.  

 

With this, we have been able to extend these facilities to other Deaf users from around the locality. We have opened our doors for one morning each week to families of pre-school age children to use this new equipment too. The difference it has made is fantastic. It would have taken us years to replace everything ourselves. Having everything new, all in one go, has meant that the children can play safely, ignite their creativity and imaginations and allowed them to be the children they deserve to be - surrounded by staff and facilities of the highest quality. 

 

Having been selected again as Mainspring's chosen charity for 2023, I very much hope that we can facilitate a similar revamp our some of our residential provision. We could improve the homes of our children who come from across the country, making Royal School for Derby, the home of Deaf Education in the same way Derby is the home of the Great British Railway." 

 

What’s next for the school? They are hoping to improve the facilities for their boarder students by refurbishing the kitchens, creating a special outdoor area for them to gather and enjoy barbeques and evening get-togethers as well as creating a special indoor cinema room. We would like to help them achieve these goals and, as such, are proud to raise money once again for this great cause. 

 

Our guests can help support this fantastic charity through making direct donations on the night or by taking part in our fabulous online silent auction. With a variety of great experiences available from exclusive holiday breaks to fine dining in some of the nation’s top restaurants, this auction has something for everyone. Why not check it out here: https://appv2.goinggone.io/dinnerattheroundhouse and feel free to explore all the items on offer in advance.  

 

You can even make a bid before the evening starts if there is a lot listed which you really want to win!