Category: News

People in Warwick will be hoping to paint the town pink in the New Year at an inaugural fundraising Gala Dinner.

A Touch of Pink, on February 7^th, is set to raise thousands of pounds for The Esther Project which, the organisers say, promises to be ‘a night of heart, hope and unforgettable moments.’

The Leamington-based CiC was established by Lianne Kirkman in 2023 – her mission, to create a nurturing and empowering community where every woman can heal, grow and reach their future potential. It does this through a range of services, including counselling, one-on-one support, creative activities, employability opportunities, and drop-in sessions.

Esther House – a seven-bed supported living accommodation, opens its doors for vulnerable women who need a safe space to recover.

Lianne said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be organising our very first fundraising gala dinner – an opportunity for our supporters to come together and truly help elevate our fundraising efforts.

“We have been blown away by the incredible generosity shown so far, from our event sponsors to everyone who has donated auction lots and raffle prizes. Their support is what makes a night like this possible, and it’s shaping up to be one we will never forget.

“We’ve set an ambitious fundraising target for this event because the need is great. Every pound raised will help strengthen the work we do in creating safe spaces and opportunities for women in our Esther community – women overcoming trauma, social or economic disadvantage, and the barriers that stand in the way of thriving and building independent, fulfilling lives.

“This gala is more than a celebration; it’s a step towards real, lasting change, and we are so grateful to everyone standing with us.”

The full evening of entertainment, at Kings High School, is being compered by award-winning host and broadcaster Kirsty Leahy of KLP, and includes live music from all-female electric-acoustic trio String Infusion and talented singer songwriter Shanade Morrow. Shanade also leads regular lyric-writing, poetry and singing lessons at The Esther House Monday drop-in sessions.

Also helping to keep the guests entertained throughout the evening will be Angus Baskerville, wowing with his table magic – and DJ James Farmer will see the night out with plenty of dancefloor fillers.

Highlights of the evening also include the chance to get your photo taken wearing the Queen Cape, handmade by the Esther ladies earlier this year and now touring the area to raise awareness. The impressive patchwork is made up of more than 1,000 hand-stitched hearts and flowers and took over six months to complete.

Lianne said: “Piece by piece, these crocheted creations have been joined to form a spectacular cape, one truly fit for a Queen. In modern slang, ‘Queen’ is a term of empowerment, admiration and respect, often referring to someone who exudes confidence, strength, and excellence.

“This cape is more than an artwork; it is a bold symbol of what’s possible when women lift each other up, share their journeys, and rediscover their power.”

There will also be the chance to see the first showing of an exclusive photographic exhibition by headline sponsor Karen Massey Photography. The Behind Closed Doors collection aims to create a visual narrative which brings awareness to the lived realities of survivors, while preserving their dignity and truth.

Karen said: “The approach was shaped in close collaboration with the charity and, most importantly, with the women themselves. Together, we agreed that the most honest way to share their stories was through re-enactment.

“Each woman chose to represent her own experience and was deeply involved in how it was portrayed. Every shoot was handled with great care, with professionals on hand to support the wellbeing of everyone involved.”

A host of auction and raffle items have been donated by businesses including a stunning 1.57 carat diamond ring worth more than £3k, courtesy of Camilla Jones Jewellers in Alcester. The business is also kindly gifting a silver heart pendant to each of the Esther ladies who took park in the photoshoot.

Some of the businesses supporting services in kind on the evening include Vibe Immersive, Table Art, Box Factory and PSL Lighting. See website for full list of businesses supporting the auction and raffle.

Other headline sponsors of the event are The Paul Rigby Group and Pentlands Accountants, Chalmers News PR and The Leader Marketing Partnership in Henley-in-Arden.

Lianne added: “This powerful event offers a rare, real, and raw glimpse into the lives of the women we support, their courageous journeys, and the complex paths that lead them to us. It’s more than a dinner – it’s a call to action, a chance to understand why systemic change is urgently needed and how your presence can make a difference.

“As an attendee, you’ll not only be moved by the stories shared but also empowered to take part in creating meaningful impact.”

Tickets cost £99 each or a table of ten for £950, and are available to book HERE. Further information about sponsorship packages is also available here or by getting in touch with kerry@theestherproject.co.uk.

Donations can be made HERE.

Gambling and alcohol are actively encouraged at a local distillery, which is offering visitors the chance to win their entire purchase for free – all on the throw of a dice!

People who take part in one of Warwickshire Gin Company’s three experiences leading up to Christmas, will be made an offer they can’t refuse – roll a six on a single throw of the dice and walk away with an unlimited amount of pre-ordered drinks on the house.

Owner David Blick said: “As a popular destination for our customers new and old, we wanted to add some more fun to our experiences. Something inclusive and easy to play. As many guests make a purchase making use of their visitor 10% discount, adding some added jeopardy would be great fun.

“So we have added the dice game, where a guest can win their order for free if they roll a six. In our first weekend alone we had a couple of winners, who were very excited.

“To play you just need to attend one of our three experiences before the end of 2025 and at point of purchase you will have the chance to take your order away for free!”

The distillery’s popular visitor experiences are: Gin Tasting, Cocktails at The Distillery and Afternoon Gin & Tea.

At the Gin Tasting Experience you can learn all about the distillery process and inspiration behind the company as well as enjoy seven tastings from their gin, rum and vodka range and four complimentary drinks of your choice.

In the Gin & Afternoon Tea Experience you are able to try a number of their gins, selection of sandwiches, scones, and delectable desserts all perfectly paired with your gin of choice.

The Cocktails At The Distillery Experience gives you the chance to try WGC’s gins and enjoy 3 cocktails of choice from their menu.

Those not lucky enough to roll the magic number are still entitled to 10% off all purchases from the distillery shop, which includes anything from their gins, rums or vodka collections or the range of build-your-own branded gift bundles, including spirits, goblet, mixers and gin or rum-infused chocolates.

The business recently shot to the envied top spot on Tripadvisor thanks to over 170 five-star reviews from visitors. Internationally it’s also made its mark, achieving the “Travellers’ Choice Award” which puts the Warwickshire distillery in the top 10% of businesses listed in the world based on reviews.

The inspiration behind the award-winning drinks collection comes from a desire to capture a moment in history, developing flavours to fully represent the county’s own unique story and bringing the range of hand-crafted flavours to life.

These include Leamington on Parade, inspired by the true story of circus elephant trainer Sam Lockhart in the 1880s; The Kingmaker – named after Richard Neville 16^th Earl of Warwick and Peeping Tom – inspired by the legend of Coventry’s Lady Godiva.

Find out more about the experiences HERE.

A Coventry foodbank user-come-volunteer finds himself the focus of this year’s festive fundraising campaign to help tackle the rising food crisis in the city.

Tony Lee, from Bedworth, is the ‘star’ of the charity’s latest fundraiser Where’s Tony?, a play on the popular hide and seek picture puzzle books Where’s Wally?

As well as a fun social media campaign running every other day throughout December, the 12 cartoon scenes, depicting locations in Coventry and the foodbank, also form the basis of a fundraising calendar, available to purchase from the charity now.

The campaign, which launches this week, aims to raise awareness as well as thousands of pounds for the under-pressure foodbank, which has 15 centres throughout the city.

Tony was first brought into contact with the foodbank in 2012 after a spell in hospital with septic arthritis, a serious condition which left him unable to work for many months while battling back to health.

He said: “I was so short of money; I had to borrow from family just to be able to have the heating on. The foodbank was a lifeline for me during that time. I was so grateful, and when I was well enough, I started volunteering at the foodbank. And a couple of years after that, I was employed as a member of staff.

“I enjoy working for the charity and get satisfaction from helping people, and I get to see that every day. Working with the charity has given me confidence; it’s given me purpose.”

On being the face of the Christmas campaign, he added: “I’m getting used to being all over the calendar. I don’t mind; if it’s helping more people in Coventry to get the food and support they need, then being turned into a comic book character and having everyone trying to find me can’t be a bad thing!”

There is normally a foodbank centre open somewhere in the City of Coventry six days a week as Coventry foodbank distributes food through 15 partner churches. But demand goes up in the winter months, with some people even having to make the difficult choice between heating or eating.

Coventry foodbank partners with a wide range of care professionals who identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three to five days’ of emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink and can signpost people to other organisations to help resolve the longer-term problems that might cause someone to need to use a foodbank.

Canon Gavin Kibble MBE, founder of Coventry foodbank said, “Every day we see how a simple act of kindness can change a life. Our Christmas calendar isn’t just a fundraiser – it’s a celebration of the people and stories that make our city so special.

“Tony’s is a true story, and there are thousands more stories like it, told by people who have found themselves in a difficult position and needing help. People like Tony, who, many years ago, came to us for help and is now part of the team helping others. It’s an honour to recognise his contribution to the work of the city’s foodbank over the last 15 years, as well as highlighting the dedication of over 300 volunteers and staff who ensure that thousands of people are regularly supported with emergency food.

“Tony’s story reminds us that no matter how difficult your situation, with compassion and the support of the community around you, there is always hope for a better day.

“By buying a calendar, you’re helping to feed families. The calendar makes a great Christmas present and every pound raised helps us continue to support those in need, ensuring that no one in Coventry goes hungry this Christmas.”

The calendars are £5 plus postage and can be purchased HERE.

Donors who start a regular monthly donation to Coventry foodbank in December will receive a free Where’s Tony? 2026 Calendar.