Every two years The Bingo Association hosts an event in Parliament that celebrates the work of bingo clubs: the people that play and work there, the communities they build, the charities they support and the organisations and individuals who benefit.
The last celebration should have taken place in 2020, but like so many events had to be deferred due to the pandemic. As the pandemic eased and life returned to something approaching normal the date was set for July 18th – after National Bingo Day, before MPs break for Summer recess and at a time when the weather should be kind. As things transpired this July, the weather was too kind and posed a risk to life, as thermometers touched and surpassed thirty eight degrees and some areas of the UK experienced record temperatures over forty degrees.
Thwarted by the heat and out of concern for guests’ wellbeing, while travelling and at the reception, the difficult decision was made to cancel and reschedule once the summer break was over and MPs returned to Parliament.
The Terrace Room at the Houses of Parliament was able to accommodate the re-scheduled event on the afternoon of 8th September – little did The Bingo Association know at the time precisely how memorable the date was set to become in British history, with the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. While the close of the reception had a slightly sombre air, it did not detract from the experience for guests, who felt privileged to be in such an exceptional location on such a momentous day.
Video presentations playing on monitors throughout the room reminded players and guests of the things that makes bingo clubs special: a quote from Mecca Swansea Manager and Mecca Charity Champion Kim Jones neatly summed it up – “We’re not just a safe space in which to play bingo, we’re a community, whether open or not. Bingo brings people together and together they make things happen, for themselves, for their friends and the wider community, supporting a causes, charities and people.”
Guests arrived in London throughout the morning of the day, travelling from across the country, including Glasgow, Newcastle, Hartlepool, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Worcester, Dudley, Birmingham, Cardiff and the South West, as well as guests from London, ready to attend the afternoon reception. Joining throughout the event were a number of MPs, including Carolyn Harris, Alex Davies-Jones, Chi Onwurah, Iain Duncan-Smith and Jo Gideon.
Guests were treated to high tea and two special games of charity bingo, with guest callers Alex Davies-Jones MP and Carolyn Harris MP. The games each raised further funds for The Bingo Associations’ national Charity, Variety, the Childrens’ charity.
The short formal part of the reception was presided over by Association CEO, Miles Baron who thanked guests for attending and spoke a little about what bingo means and the amazing things it achieves, before going on to present a cheque for over £20,000 to the Disaster Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The money was raised from bingo games held in bingo clubs across the country on Friday 24th June as part of celebrations leading up to National Bingo Day on Monday 27th June.
Miles said, “I am delighted to welcome colleagues, partners, players, and parliamentary supporters in coming together to celebrate the fantastic difference the bingo industry has been making in local communities during very tough times. I am very proud that our National Bingo Day games have been able to raise such a significant sum in just one day to support those affected by events in Ukraine. I cannot emphasise enough how tirelessly our representatives have worked to support customers and communities through the challenges of recent years. I also thank those who have supported the game of bingo throughout this time to help ensure the majority of clubs were able to survive the pandemic, and can continue their great work in the years to come.”
The cheque was accepted by Sonja Ashbury, from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), who spoke briefly, “We would like to thank The Bingo Association for the money raised during National Bingo Day to support people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. We are proud to be one of the causes that the bingo industry has supported, and are delighted to have come together to celebrate the difference made by bingo. We know The Bingo Association and its members will keep up its fantastic work supporting important causes and thank them for the difference this donation will make to those we are supporting in Ukraine.”
Representatives from Variety, the Children’s Charity also attended the event alongside students and tutors from Newfriars College in Stoke-on-Trent, to whom Variety and members of The Bingo Association had donated the most recent Sunshine Coach in June.
After the reception Players and Charity Champions retired to the Curio Westminster Hotel, for drinks and dinner as guests of the Association.
