A CASINO has raised £5,000 for a children's centre at Southend Hospital with a gala event.

Rendezvous Southend Casino is raising vital funds for The Lighthouse Child Development Centre.

The centre is a modern, child and parent friendly purpose-built venue providing specialised outpatient care for those who have a significant delay in more than one area of development.

Staff at the casino voted to make the centre its 2016 fundraising partner, after staff heard of their desperate need for sensory equipment. Rendezvous Southend has pledged to raise over £7,000 by December in order to purchase a sensory trolley for the centre.

The casino recently hosted a glamourous Charity Gala Dinner, with 50 per cent of all ticket sales being donated to the centre. More than 50 guests enjoyed a lavish three-course meal as well as top local entertainment and were invited to take part in a charity auction to raise additional funds.

Prizes included a VIP Box at the Emirates Stadium, a 1930s Vintage Rocking Horse and a signed Southend United football. Luke Spencer an inspector at the casino with the signed Southend United ball joined in a furious bidding war for the football, with a customer winning the bid at £100. Unknown to Spencer the generous customer was buying it for him and gave it to him after the auction. The evening raised £5,000 towards the fundraising total.

Johanna Johnstone from the casino, said: “We are thrilled that the Charity Gala Dinner and auction raised such a fantastic amount, being surrounded by the buzz of the casino clearly got everyone buzzing and in the mood to donate to this worthy cause.

"Rendezvous Southend has always been a central part of the community and we are proud to be able to give back and support a local Centre.”

Andrews Taxis will support Rendezvous Southend in September by donating 50 pence to the centre from every fare that is called from the casino.

December will see a final fundraising incentive with a Toy Drive initiative where people will be urged to donate both a toy and funds directly to the casino for the children at the centre. Staff at the casino plan to deliver toys and a cheque for the total funds raised directly to the children of the Southend centre just before Christmas.

Ms Johnstone added: “We are determined to achieve the fundraising target and are really looking forward to the delivering toys and the all-important funds so that they can purchase the sensory trolley for the children just in time for Christmas”

For more information, visit www.southend.rendezvouscasino.com or call 01702 668534.