As a registered charity, The Lord’s Taverners mission, is to give young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance. We achieve this by providing opportunities for young people, able bodied or with disabilities, under the age of 25 to participate in sport & recreation. Nationally over the last 50 years we have given over £36m away to schools, sports clubs & special needs organisations. Locally, The Lord’s Taverners is represented by the Northern Ireland Region and the Republic of Ireland Region.

This will be the biggest fund raising event for the Northern Ireland Region of the Charity in 2008.

Locally the Northern Ireland Region of the Charity has been raising money to:

• Enable young people with special needs to participate in sporting activities
  
• Supply minibuses to special needs’ organisations
  
• Create recreational facilities

This Ball and other events throughout the year will raise at least £100,000 to help disadvantaged and disabled children in Northern Ireland by directly funding a number of projects sponsored by The Lord’s Taverners, The 'Energy for Children' Charitable Trust, and The Mayor of Castlereagh’s nominated charity.

The Lord’s Taverners are privileged to have HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, as their Patron and ‘twelfth man’. In Northern Ireland, the TV personality Gerry Kelly is the Regional President.