By order of the Peaky Blinders! Charity ball raises thousands for world's poorest schools

Guests get into the Peaky Blinders spirit at the Furniture Education Worldwide charity event

Held by Burnley charity Furniture for Education Worldwide at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-Le-Moors, guests enjoyed an evening of fun and laughter, while helping raise the coffers.

The next ball date for 2020 has now been released, to be held at Crow Wood, on Saturday, October 3rd.

The charity’s aim is to send surplus and redundant furniture from school and office renovations here in the UK to some of the world's poorest schools and this money will go a long way in helping this cause.

FEW was established by Terry Burns MBE, former chairman of Lancashire County Council and Mike Tull, headteacher at Marsden Heights Community College, following a visit to schools around Pakistan.

Terry and Mike were appalled at the lack of furniture and resources in the schools. Most of them consisted of nothing but a concrete room and painted blackboard – no tables or chairs even for the children to use.

Terry Burns, chairman of FEW, said: “We’ve enjoyed a successful year to date, sending containers filled with tables chairs computers books, bookshelves and blackboards to The Gambia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Zanzibar.

“We have also been working hard to build on our ‘drone project’, used for the clearing of mines in Cambodia, which has already saved many lives.”

Charity Trustee Jack Bannister, managing director of Rapid IT, said: “We’re proud to be involved in such an amazing charity and play our part in raising vital funds. Raising such a fantastic amount at our recent ball is absolutely fantastic and will really help us to continue our valuable work within these countries.”

In summer this year FEW celebrated its 10th anniversary and sent its 100th 40ft container full of surplus school furniture and equipment to some of the most desperate children in the world.

Terry said: “When I first started the charity I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would end up saving lives, but this is now a reality.

“Our projects continue to save children’s lives in Cambodia and our educational projects continue to improve the lives of many thousands of children around the world.

“We really can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

If anyone has furniture they would like to donate to FEW, they are collect anything from stools to tables, even to IT equipment. Contact [email protected].