Three worthy charities including the Ipswich Winter Night Shelter will benefit from the proceeds of Fred. Olsen’s summer ball - which this year celebrated the fact the company has been based in Ipswich for three decades.

Staff from across the Fred. Olsen group gathered at Woolverstone Hall, Ipswich, for the biennial summer ball and together raised more than £11,500 for their three chosen charities for 2018/19 – Ipswich Winter Night Shelter, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Apostleship of the Sea.

The highlight of the Fred. Olsen summer ball is always a grand charity raffle.

Prizes on offer this year included exclusive holidays, flights, meals, events, vouchers for goods and other luxuries.

Damon Impett, director of IT for Fred. Olsen Ltd, said: “We were delighted that our summer ball was such a huge success again this year! Our hotly-anticipated grand charity raffle offered our staff the chance to win a selection of amazing prizes and ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences, all donated by our very generous suppliers, and we are thrilled that we were able to raise over £11,500 throughout the evening.

“Our staff have chosen to support these three worthy causes for 2018/19, as they are close to their hearts, with many friends and family members making use of the invaluable services and support networks that they provide.

“We will continue to raise funds and give generously throughout 2018/19 to help to make a difference to these important local charities.”

Nominated and selected by Fred. Olsen staff, Ipswich Winter Night Shelter, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Apostleship of the Sea will be the focus of their fundraising from May 2018 until the end of April 2019. Fred. Olsen staff will take part in a host of fun activities to raise funds throughout the year, including cake bakes, dress down days and a very popular ‘Christmas craft fayre’.

The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter works with churches, organisations and volunteers to provide solutions for what is a growing problem in the town and elsewhere. It offers beds for some of the most vulnerable people in Suffolk during the coldest weeks of the year.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s largest dementia research charity, dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure.

The Apostleship of the Sea is a Catholic charity supporting seafarers worldwide.