Variety Club Awards

Anna-Louise was honoured to be invited to represent The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation at The Variety Club Awards last year, at a star-studded evening of glamour at The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square. Pollyanna was a regular guest at the annual awards. The evening also celebrated 70 years of ITV, with the channel receiving the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Broadcasting, recognising over seven decades of iconic programming.

The fundraising and awards event honours those who have made outstanding contributions to theatre, music, television, fashion and philanthropy. Television personalities, Katie Piper and Mark Wright hosted the night of celebration, which saw Sir Stephen Fry presented with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre and Film, honouring his extraordinary career as an actor, writer and advocate for the arts. Speaking about Variety’s work, Sir Stephen said, “The important thing is how you make disadvantaged children feel involved in the world and accepted. I think what Variety does is give opportunities for these children to develop and to feel loved. Variety has proved that it really makes a difference.”

As one of the UK’s most successful and enduring entertainment acts, Ant and Dec (above with Anna-Louise) were awarded Outstanding Contribution to Television. Anna-Louise was seated with another award winner – TV and radio personality Vernon Kaye and also with TV Presenter June Sarpong . Other award winners included actresses Vanessa Williams and Lesley Joseph, comedian Adam Hills, and iconic singer Petula Clarke. Entertainment was provided by singer Olly Murs.

Over the past 75 years, the Variety Club has given close to £1.6 billion in grants globally to help children who are disabled or disadvantaged, The organisation is also responsible for setting up their famous Sunshine Coaches which are specially adapted minibuses catering to schools and other non-profit organisations working with disabled and disadvantaged children.