Teenage refugee takes centre stage at Big Valentine’s Ball at Ipswich Town Hall – which raised £8,000
A teenage refugee left his audience feeling emotional when he took centre stage during a Valentine’s ball over the weekend.
The Big Valentine’s Ball, at Ipswich Town Hall on February 15, welcomed more than 350 people, who spent the evening dancing to ABBA and Queen cover bands and Phaze 2, a Caribbean steel band.
However, one of the main events was a performance by a Kurdish refugee, who now lives in Ipswich.
Daryas, still a teenager, sang three traditional songs supported by George Fothergill, founder of Status Creative CIC, who has worked with him.
The ball, organised by DPL Group and Ipswich-based PR firm Friel, raised £8,000 for Suffolk Refugee Support.
Rebecca Crerar, charity manager at Suffolk Refugee Support, said the organisation was honoured to have been this year’s beneficiaries.
The money raised would be used to change lives and meet the urgent need of refugees and asylum seekers in the county, such as by providing food, school uniforms, to help find employment or to improve their English.
“It was such a beautiful, fun event and it was lovely to see the impact of the young refugee performing on stage in front of so many people,” she said.
Vincent Langley, director of DPL Group, said this was the largest event in the ball’s 30 year history.
He said: “Suffolk Refugee Support was the chosen charity due to its excellent work in the community and as a chance to break down some barriers to show the help and support needed to people in desperate need.
“The performance from Daryas, a young refugee living in Ipswich, was a particularly moving moment.”
Clare Friel, managing director of Friel, described the event as ‘fabulous’, raising vital funds for a charity that ‘does incredible work in the area’.
She said: “It was such fun - the bands were amazing and everyone had a brilliant time, all while supporting a fantastic cause.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during Daryas’ performance, it was a real highlight of the evening.”
