IT’S time to grab your betting chips for a casino night of fundraising for two Dorset charities.

Local companies and businesses are urged to lend their support for the black tie event, on March 1 at Haven Holiday Park on Preston Road, which will raise money for Preston Pre-School and the Dorset Deaf Children’s Society.

Organiser Jacqui Atkinson, 33, lives in Sutton Poyntz and has three children.

She said: “The night will be at the Haven Holiday Park in Preston Road, Weymouth Bay, and we have been given free use of their ballroom.

“We’re asking local companies to cover the cost of a casino table through sponsorship, and the company name would then be displayed on and around the casino table and on all marketing material in the run up to the event.”

“A live band will be performing, there will be a professional photo booth and guests will get a complementary drink – all included in the ticket price.

“We are aiming to get more than 200 people there and I don’t estimate sponsorship costs being more than £200 per casino table.

“I am calling for local businesses and companies to get involved and lend their support as we would love to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic Dorset children’s charities.”

Jacqui is organising the event with the help of Jo Withers, manager at Preston Pre-School.

Jo said: “We’re aiming to raise over £1,000 to help the pre-school and the deaf children’s society.

“When I took over the pre-school there were six children here and we were struggling to stay open.

“Now there are 35 children we care for.”

Tickets to the event are £10 per person.

Call Jo on 07595 536748 or visit the Black Tie Casino Night page on Facebook.

Jacqui and Jo say that fundraising inspiration came from three-year-old Joe Cartwright who attends Preston Pre-School.

Joe is severely hard of hearing and had cochlear implants – an implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing – fitted when he was 18 months old.

Preston Pre-School is a registered charity providing care for children from two-years-old until school age.

The school is run by an elected committee which ensures that the major decision making is in the hands of the parents who use the school.

Joe is also a member of the Dorset Deaf Children’s Society, a charity which provides grants, equipment and information for hearing impaired children and their families.

Membership is free for all families with a hearing impaired child living in Dorset or for supporters of hearing impaired children and their families in Dorset.