A landmark 15th anniversary celebration for The Principle Trust Children’s Charity has raised an incredible £38,000, which will enable the children’s charity to continue its mission in supporting children and families across Yorkshire facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

Held on Saturday 26 September at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, A Night at the Seaside brought together Yorkshire businesses, charity representatives, community figures and journalists for an unforgettable evening, all united in raising as much as possible to give children and their families the chance to rest, reconnect and make unforgettable memories. 

Guests were transported to the nostalgia of a traditional British seaside holiday, with every detail designed to capture the magic of the coast. From the seaside-inspired menu to a packed programme of entertainment, the fun-filled evening was a success from start to finish. 

The evening’s entertainment included the wonderful Strawberry Cirque CIC, who brought magic and acrobatics to the night, followed by one of the UK’s most popular ABBA tribute shows, Planet ABBA. A live saxophone performance and DJ set from Elara Sax kept spirits high and rounded off the night.

With everyone in attendance wanting to raise as much money as possible for such a brilliant cause, over 200 guests embraced the fundraising activities, from traditional seaside games to a raffle and an exciting live auction hosted by Yorkshire Auctioneer Angus Ashworth.

Since being founded in 2011 by Mike Davies MBE, The Principle Trust has provided free essential respite breaks for over 6,300 children facing adversity, including trauma, abuse, poverty, serious illness, disabilities, and increasingly, mental health challenges. 

In late 2025, The Principle Trust launched an ambitious three-year plan to support an additional 100 families each year by 2028, totalling over 400 breaks annually, alongside a renewed focus on supporting children particularly impacted by mental ill health and other adverse childhood experiences.

Funds raised through their 15 year anniversary event – A Night at the Seaside will help the charity deliver this important next chapter of its work, enabling it to continue its mission while strengthening relationships with referral partners across Yorkshire to identify and support the children who would benefit most. Every donation will help the charity reach more children and families, create opportunities for rest and reconnection, and make memories that last.

Founder of The Principle Trust, Mike Davies MBE, said: “The evening was such a special opportunity for us to reflect on the amazing work the charity has carried out over the past 15 years. It was a real honour to see a room filled with so much support, love and genuine interest in the work we do.

“I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the evening such a success. Over the past 15 years, we have seen how important a break away can be for families going through such incredibly challenging times. To know that, thanks to the support of everyone who attended our 15th anniversary event, further families will now have that opportunity is truly amazing.  It means so much to us and, most importantly, to the families whose lives we can help.”