Industry charity the Rainy Day Trust is an estimated £17,000 better off after a successful fund-raising party at this week's Birmingham exhibitions: Spring Fair, Totally DIY, Totally Tools and Totally Secure.
220 guests packed into the ballroom at the National Motorcycle Museum, next to the NEC, for an evening of wining, dining and networking. Compere Ian Irving encouraged guests to support the auction, sponsored by Decco, and a silent raffle; opera troupe Passionata kept the audience entertained; and after dinner the guests enjoyed themselves with a casino and a gallery of Wii games.

"It was a terrific evening," said Trust president Ashley Leboff, overseeing his last major RDT function - he is due to step down from the board in May. "Both the diy and the housewares sectors gave us lots of support, and it was clear that people were really enjoying themselves. Events like this are important as opportunities for the industry to let its hair down - and the fact that they are also major contributors to the Trust's income makes them doubly valuable."

Mr Leboff paid special tribute to the Trust's platinum sponsors - Calor, Decco, Liberon, Ronseal and Stax Trade Centres - and to the party sponsors: Akzo Nobel with Cuprinol, Dulux, Hammerite, International and Polycell; Faversham House Group with DIY Week and Housewares Magazine; Crown Paints; and BHETA with Exclusively Housewares.