A CHARITY supporting young people in Southend has raised £4,000 at a gala evening to celebrate a decade serving the community.

Friends and Places Together, which aims to help young people establish and maintain friendships, held their gala evening on Saturday at the ballroom at the Park Inn Hotel in Southend.

The event was attended by Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Burton-Sampson, and Mayor Ron Woodley. 

Celebration - The cake is brought out to mark the occassionCelebration - The cake is brought out to mark the occassion (Image: Gaz De Vere) Raffle prizes - A selection of what could be wonRaffle prizes - A selection of what could be won (Image: Gaz De Vere)


Friends and Places Together runs a centre, in the Victoria Shopping Centre, where children who struggle to make friends can socialise with one another and make lifelong friendships, as well as gain social skills which will help them into adulthood.

The founder of the charity, Denise Nygate, called the evening a great success. 

Gala dinner - Attendees enjoying the eventGala dinner - Old and current charity staff (Image: Gaz De Vere) Taking a pic - Attendees enjoying the eveningTaking a pic - Attendees enjoying the evening (Image: Gaz De Vere)


She estimated the event, which was free to enter, raised an estimated £4,000 through its auction.

Friends and Places together started out as a community interest company in 2010 before being registered as a charity in 2014. 

Ten years - The charity celebrated a decadeTen years - The charity celebrated a decade (Image: Gaz De Vere) Snapped - Attendees at the eventSnapped - Attendees at the event (Image: Gaz De Vere) MP visits - David Burton-Sampson at the eventMP visits - David Burton-Sampson at the event (Image: Gaz De Vere) More attendees - The charity has helped lots of Southend's young peopleMore attendees - The charity has helped lots of Southend's young people (Image: Gaz De Vere)


Denise said: “It was amazing, it made me all warm and fuzzy inside. It was something that I wanted to do, I wanted to be able to offer something I feel proud of and offer something unique.

“The celebration was great, the MP was so inspired that he said he wanted to auction an afternoon tea with champagne at the House of Commons which was lovely.

“He made a massive impact on us, and offered a massive outreach to our community. It was lovely for him to be a part of that community. Anniversary - Denise with attendeesAnniversary - Denise with attendees (Image: Gaz De Vere)


“People have said how amazing the event was, people came up to us and said they didn’t know how we did it.

“We’ve already reserved the date for next year, it’s really important for us to do it yearly.”

The event was also attended by parents, trustees, social media influencers, and councillors.

Denise wants to ensure services such as those provided by her charity do not only extend to those in Southend, and would like to see this offered to more children.

It featured a live band, DJs, a raffle with prizes, and saw the guests get their photos snapped to commemorate the event.