Starry Night 2024

Last November, we launched our Starry Night gala at the stunning Grade II listed Battersea Arts Centre. Thanks to the generosity of our valued supporters, the event raised over £150,000 - invaluable funds that will go towards improving the lives of children, young people and their families.

It was an unforgettable evening filled with glitz, glamour, and heartwarming moments. From the moment guests stepped onto the red carpet they were whisked away into a world of magic and wonder, helping to celebrate our life-changing work and how far we’ve come since our inception.

Over 150 years ago, The Reverend Dr Thomas Bowman Stephenson saw some children living rough under the arches of Waterloo Station. Instead of walking by, he stopped to listen to their stories. Then he worked out the most practical way to help, leading to the creation of the National Children’s Home – the beginnings of Action for Children.

Our enchanting night under the stars began with a champagne reception, followed by a spectacular performance by the award-winning troupe, West End Kids. Guests were transported back to Victorian England with an Oliver Twist medley performance, immersive actors and a deliciously theatrical three-course meal by the UK’s top luxury caterer, Jimmy Garcia.

Our headline performer, renowned singer-songwriter, Charlotte Church, took on the role of vocal coach for our Young Carers Aloud choir, mentoring children and young people in Wales to give the performance of their lives at the star-studded event. The choir was stunned earlier this year when Charlotte invited them to visit her at her wellness retreat, The Dreaming in the Elan Valley in Wales when she revealed she was to be their new vocal coach. Intensive rehearsals and hard work continued since then to ensure they felt confident and performance-ready to blow away celebrities and VIP guests with their singing talents at the gala.

ITV's This Morning exclusively followed the Choir’s journey since July, from their very first meeting with Charlotte, to the performance on the night and another spotlight the morning after, where they were invited to perform on the show. It was heartwarming to watch these young carers find their own voices on stage and take a break from being responsible for and caring for their families. Such happy childhood memories are exactly what Action for Children is all about.

Young people from Action for Children’s Employability Service in Scotland were also involved in Starry Night. In the lead up to the evening, a group of young people learnt the essential skills required for a career in the hospitality industry. In doing so, they undertook a qualification that they’ll be able to use, combined with their work experience, to launch their careers in the hospitality industry. We were lucky enough to be joined by some of these young people at the event, who travelled to London, put their skills into practice and were an important part of the Team on the night.

We have an exciting number of sponsorship opportunities available to put your brand at the heart of Starry Night.

With a range of exclusive benefits, dependent on package type, we can offer the following:

• Excellent branding opportunities, during and pre-event
• Verbal acknowledgement by our celebrity host
• Exposure in the souvenir programmes given to guests
• Complimentary tickets/tables

Sponsoring the event is an fantastic way to entertain clients or staff in a magical setting, whilst demonstrating your organisation's commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children, young people, and families supported by Action for Children across the UK.