Meeting Needs celebrates industry impact and honours Events R' Talented at annual showcase

Meeting Needs brought together 85 industry supporters at One Aldwych on Monday for its annual showcase event, celebrating another year of fundraising, grant giving and life-changing impact across the UK and overseas.

The event, hosted in partnership with One Aldwych, provided an opportunity for supporters, partners, volunteers and beneficiaries to come together and see first-hand how funds raised by the meetings and events industry are being used to support small charities and community projects.

Since its foundation 22 years ago, Meeting Needs has now raised £2,062,000 and awarded 444 grants, supporting projects that deliver practical, lasting change for people and communities in need. This year’s showcase highlighted the breadth of that impact, from education and digital skills in Zimbabwe to creative health and healing support in the UK.

A key moment during the event was the presentation of the David Hackett Award for Outstanding Contribution to Meeting Needs, which was awarded to the Events R' Talented team, Matt Curran, Ken Findlay, Graeme Saunders and Paul Tidy.

Events R' Talented has been a committed supporter of Meeting Needs since it was founded in 2018, using its platform to bring the industry together while raising significant funds for the charity. Last year alone, the event raised £29,186 for Meeting Needs, helping to fund beneficiary projects that deliver direct support where it is needed most.

Lene Corgan, Chair of Meeting Needs said "We are deeply grateful to all of our industry supporters, whose commitment and generosity make it possible for us to support beneficiary projects in the UK and abroad, changing lives. And a big congratulations to the Events R' Talented team on receiving this year's David Hackett award for Outstanding contributions to Meeting Needs a well deserved recognition of their fantastic support".

The showcase also placed the spotlight on the charities and projects that benefit from Meeting Needs grants. Attendees heard how support for the Jafuta Foundation in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, will help deliver digital skills for 30 young Zimbabweans. The Meeting Needs grant will fund 30 computers for the Batoka Centre of Hope, helping young people access the technology, learning and skills needed to improve future opportunities.

The event also featured Be More Dandelion, founded by former industry event planner Fiona Bool. Through The Dandelion Project, the charity uses creative health, movement and trauma-informed support to help women rebuild confidence, reconnect with themselves and take positive steps forward following difficult life experiences.

Together, the beneficiary stories demonstrated the diversity of Meeting Needs’ work and the direct connection between industry fundraising and meaningful social impact. They also underlined the charity’s role as a bridge between the meetings and events sector and small, practical projects that often need relatively modest grants to make a significant difference.

The annual showcase is one of Meeting Needs’ most important opportunities to thank supporters and demonstrate the outcomes of their generosity. It brings the industry closer to the people and communities it helps, while encouraging continued fundraising, donations and partnerships across the sector.

With more than £2 million raised since its creation and hundreds of grants awarded, Meeting Needs continues to demonstrate the positive role the meetings and events industry can play beyond the events it delivers.