Mary Berry Charity Dinner

A charity dinner featuring TV star Mary Berry, Michelin-starred chef Frances Atkins, and Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, promises a gastronomical experience of heavenly proportions. Clair at Cause UK has…

A charity dinner featuring TV star Mary Berry, Michelin-starred chef Frances Atkins, and Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, promises a gastronomical experience of heavenly proportions.

Clair at Cause UK has been providing support to the Archbishop of York Youth Trust for over 18 months, and is leading on PR and event management. 

In aid of the Archbishop of York Youth Trust, the exclusive three-course dinner will be hosted at one of Yorkshire’s most outstanding event venues, Grade II listed Bowcliffe Hall in Wetherby, on May 17 2019.

To date, the Archbishop of York Youth Trust has partnered with 630 schools across the North and reached over 77,000 pupils aged 7 to 16. The charity takes pupils through a structured programme of volunteering, leadership and character education to achieve the Young Leaders Award (YLA). This year the charity will be expanding its Young Leaders Award across the UK.

Pupils run projects such as litter picking, fundraising for their local hospice, befriending the elderly, or supporting their local food bank. It inspires children to learn about inspirational global leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, whose famous phrase, ‘be the change you want to see’, is a core vision of the charity that is seen through the social action projects that children and young people design and undertake through the Award.

Mary Berry said: “Food brings people together and unites people like nothing else. To be able to use cookery as a force for good is a complete joy. The work of the Archbishop of York Youth Trust is something I whole-heartedly support.”

Jonathan Turner, owner of Bowcliffe Hall, said: “We’re thrilled to support Mary and Frances cook up a storm for charity. It is a sumptuous venue perfectly suited to host what undoubtedly promises to be the culinary event of the year. Mary has inspired thousands throughout her illustrious career. She’s a tour de force. Combined with Frances Atkins, one of the very few female Michelin starred chefs in the UK, we’re expecting tickets to go, excuse the pun, like hot cakes.”

Dan Finn, CEO of the Youth Trust said: “Some of the children on our Young Leaders Awards will help prepare the starters and desert with these two remarkable chefs and role models, so it will be a very special evening. We are committed to supporting young people not just to learn valuable life skills but to have vision and purpose – to ‘be the change they want to see’ – and strengthen our communities.”

Research by the University of Gloucestershire found the Young Leaders Award increased confidence and emotional resilience in children, with over half of pupils committing to volunteering in their communities after the programme had finished.

About Mary Berry

Mary Berry trained at The Cordon Bleu in Paris and Bath School of Home Economics. Her first TV series was in the ‘70s with Judith Chalmers, but it was as judge on The Great British Bake Off that turned her into national treasure status. She has received multiple awards from a CBE in 2012 to a National Television Award for Best TV Judge in 2017.

 About Frances Atkins

Frances Atkins is one of very few female Michelin-starred chef’s in the UK. She was first awarded the accolade in 2003 for The Yorke Arms in Nidderdale and a Michelin star has been awarded to her every year since. The Yorke Arms is a restaurant with luxurious rooms located in the heart of the spectacular Yorkshire Dales. To find out more about eating or staying at The Yorke Arms visit www.theyorkearms.co.uk

About the Archbishop of York Youth Trust

The Archbishop of York Youth Trust relies on support from schools, grants, individuals and businesses. The Young Leaders Award costs £25 per pupil.  To date 77,000 pupils in 630 primary and secondary schools have taken the course since 2008.  To donate go to www.archbishopofyorkyouthtrust.co.uk/. Charity registration number: 1129075

About Bowcliffe Hall

Bowcliffe Hall is a 200-year old hall and 40-acre estate that has been lovingly restored by Jonathan Turner as a luxury events venue and country house office location.

Turner was inspired by the Hall’s rich aviation heritage; in 1915, Robert and Jessica founded Blackburn Aircraft, one of the most important aviation companies in Britain until the 1950s when it was taken over by Hawker Siddeley. The Blackburn company’s long line of successful aeroplanes included the Mercury monoplane, the Swift, the Dart, the Kangaroo, the Iris seaplane, the Beverley and the Buccaneer. Blackburn and his family lived at Bowcliffe Hall from 1917 to 1950.

The multi award winning Blackburn Wing – part of a £7m restoration programme at Bowcliffe Hall which pays tribute to unsung Yorkshire aviation hero Robert Blackburn – is a unique 2,060 sq. ft tree house conference and events venue built in the shape of an aeroplane wing which accommodates up to 140 guests.

The design of a ‘Bowcliffe Drivers Club’ private members’ club for business tenants and guests captures the nostalgia of the glamourous 1920’s and 30’s when the Blackburns’ played host to guests including aircraft pioneers, media proprietors, RAF officials and national politicians such as Amy Johnson, Lord Northcliffe and Winston Churchill.

To find out more about holding an event at Bowcliffe Hall visit www.bowcliffehall.co.uk

For media enquiries contact clair@causeuk.com 0753 194 8014

Photo credit: Georgia Glynn-Smith