British business community helps local charities with Dhs36,000 donation

The latest charity donations has brought the total money handed over to good causes to more than half a million dirhams (Dhs524,937.60) by BBG members at functions and events in the last seven years.

BBG chairman Mark Beer presented the cheques to Katy Newitt, founder of Foresight and James Hancock, Chairman of BCAF at a recent BBG lunch, held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The money was raised by donations at the BBG Christmas Party, which took place in December 2007, following a long tradition of fundraising for charities by the members of the BBG.

"The BBG has always believed in helping the community that we live in and we are pleased to be donating this money which was generously raised by our members," said Mark Beer. "It is great to hear that the latest charity drive has seen us topple the Dhs500,000 mark for money donated to local initiatives since 2001."

Foresight, a Dubai-based non-profit organisation and a branch of Tamkeen, is aiming to help find a cure for blindness caused by diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) through supporting locally based and international research. Foresight is currently establishing a support group for people with RP and other hereditary eye diseases to improve the lives of people who are visually impaired and blind in the UAE.

The British Community Assistance Fund (BCAF), was set up 20 years ago, and has since been helping British people who find themselves in distress in the UAE through accident or loss of employment.

The British Business Group was set up in 1987 to encourage the development of British business in the UAE and to strengthen ties between the UK and the Emirates. It undertakes a wide range of activities from communicating with decision makers and testing British goods to sharing best business practice and arranging networking events for its members.