Date: Saturday 20 July 2019
Time: 10am – 4.30pm
Venue: Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DA (5 minutes walk from Holborn Tube Station)

Please note registration is essential for catering purposes. Register online at https://scsagm2019.eventbrite.com to attend the event.

The morning session will be for members to consider statutory obligations and to consider adopting the minutes of the 39^th AGM and the 2018/19 Annual Accounts.

As you probably know this is our 40^th year as a charity.  We would be delighted therefore if you could join our celebration of 40 years serving the sickle cell community.  To this end we have an exciting and interesting afternoon that will include a Patient Education Seminar for patients, carers and other stakeholders.

We will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary. As a thank you to Sickle Cell Society Members, there will be an opportunity at the AGM to buy tickets in person for our Charity Fundraising 40th Anniversary Gala Ball at the Priority Booker Rate. This will be the last chance to buy at this specially reduced price without online booking fees. Payment must be in cash, cheque or internet banking

We will also be presenting various awards according to the instructions below.  Please submit any nominations to arrive no later than Friday 05^th July 2019.

1. Black on Black Awards – this award recognises creative work by a person with a sickle cell disorder. Nominations should be sent to the Society accompanied by the entry form; downloadable here: Black on Black Awards Entry Form
2. Floella Benjamin Award – this award is presented to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to sickle cell. Nominations should be sent in writing to the Society at info@sicklecellsociety.org
3. Emmanuel Amuta Poetry Award – this award is in memory of Emmanuel Amuta and recognises creativity through poetry of young people living with sickle cell. For more details and how to enter click here

The minutes of the 39^th AGM, audited accounts, and agenda will follow in due course, together with an agenda for our Patient Education event.

We look forward to seeing you at this important and celebratory event.

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40th Anniversary Gala Ball

Sickle Cell Society celebrates 40 Years with Gala Ball

The Sickle Cell Society celebrated 40 years of working within the sickle cell community with a Gala Ball in central London.

The Sickle Cell Society, set up in 1979, has spent the last 40 years working to improve the lives of people living with sickle cell disorder and their families. On Saturday 14^th September they joined with supporters, service users, patrons and celebrity guests at a glamourous dinner and dance to celebrate the progress that has been made.

Chair of Trustees – Kye Gbangbola opening the Gala Ball

Hosted in the Royal National Hotel, the evening opened with a red carpet drinks reception before Chair of Trustees, Kye Gbangbola, opened the event with a powerful call to action for continued support and donations. The Master of Ceremonies, Chizzy Akudolu (Actress: Holby City, Dead Set, Jinx), then took to the stage to welcome guests and set the celebratory tone of the evening.

The guests then enjoyed a delicious three course meal; many sat at tables hosted by celebrities including: Alison Hammond (Television Personality, TV Presenter on This Morning), Rudolph Walker OBE (Actor: Eastenders, The Thin Blue Line, King Ralph), Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE (SCS Patron, Actress, Writer, Campaigner), and Kym Mazelle (1st Lady of House Music, 2X Grammy Nominated Recording Artist).

Chizzy Akudolu then returned to the stage to thank the evening’s sponsors and welcome a few supporting politicians including: Dawn Butler MP; Janet Daby MP; Mayor of Brent, Ernest Ezeajughi; Mayor of Camden, Maryam Eslamdoust; and London Assembly Member, Florence Eshalomi.

London rapper, and sickle cell advocate, A Star, then took to the stage to perform his new single, Hidden Pain. The song was produced in association with NHS Blood and Transplant and gives a powerful insight into living with sickle cell.

All the guests then sang happy birthday to Sickle Cell Society patrons: Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE and Rudolph Walker OBE. They both shared a few words about why they support the cause and congratulated the Society on 40 years.

The second performer for the evening was Soul/R&B singer and songwriter, Shaila Prospere, who gave a spectacular performance and also donated a few copies of her new album.

Victoria Ekanoye singing ‘At Last’

Next to the stage was Coronation Street and The Royals actress, Victoria Ekanoye. She gave two brilliant performances including an acapella rendition of Etta James’ At Last. She also spoke about her commitment to supporting the sickle cell community.

Founding member and patron, Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu then took to the stage to draw the winning raffle tickets for the many prizes kindly donated by supporters.

A fundraising auction was then held with unique gifts including: a signed Chelsea FC shirt, a signed Arsenal FC Banner, tours with both Lord Boateng and Baroness Benjamin of the Palace of Westminster and a copy of Monopoly signed by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

The B Positive Choir

The Official NHS Blood and Transplant Choir and Britain’s Got Talent finalists, B Positive, then took to the stage to give a spectacular performance. Their two songs received a standing ovation and they gave a powerful message about supporting the sickle cell community by giving blood.

Garfield Robinson from the Voice Newspaper

Garfield Robinson of The Voice newspaper then gave a few words and presented the Society with a framed article detailing the history of the Sickle Cell Society. The piece came from a 4-page spread on the Sickle Cell Society in the most recent edition of The Voice. Copies of the newspaper were also donated for the guest’s goody-bags.

Chief Executive, John James OBE, was then welcomed to the stage to thank those involved in making the evening happen and to say a few inspiring words about the next 40 years. Chizzy Akudolu then closed the formal part of the evening and opened up the dance floor.

Red Carpet Photos

A massive thank you to everyone who came to our 40th Anniversary Gala Ball on Saturday 14th September. We had such an amazing time celebrating with you!

Photos from our red carpet reception are now on sale! If you din’t get a chance to buy them on the day, make sure you get your copy now.

You can look through the photos and buy yours here: http://bit.ly/redcarpetphotos The event password is: Hotel

General Photos

During the evening there were also other photos taken. You can see the gallery of all of those photos from the Gala Ball https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/galaballphotos/

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