International tenor, Peter Auty, soprano, Verity Parker and highly acclaimed pianist, Charlotte Forrest all performed at the Thornton Manor event in aid of the National Youth Advocacy Service

A gala opera evening held in Wirral has boosted the coffers of a national youth charity and  helpline to the tune of £24,000.

The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), which has its head office in Birkenhead, hosted the gala evening at Thornton Manor on the Wirral, inviting guests from across the private sector to attend in a bid to raise funds for its dedicated helpline.

NYAS is a rights-based charity operating across England and Wales for children, young people and adults, providing them with advocacy and legal representation when important decisions are being made about them.

The children and young people NYAS works with might be in care, have a disability or special needs, be subject to child protection plans, have mental health difficulties or have parents who are separating.

The NYAS helpline lies at the heart of the charity and receives more than 25,000 contacts each year from children, young people and children’s service professionals.

The service gives thousands of children access to the help they are in desperate need of but it costs £170,000 to run each year and is completely unfunded.

The evening was sponsored by Miton Group plc (Miton) an organisation which has donated £78,233 to NYAS as part of a three-year partnership which saw the asset management group hold a series of events dedicated to raising funds for the NYAS helpline.

Entertainment was provided by international tenor, Peter Auty, soprano, Verity Parker and highly acclaimed pianist, Charlotte Forrest.

Rita Waters, chief executive of NYAS said, “Our charity felt very privileged to have hosted this event set in the magical surrounds of Thornton Manor and featuring such magnificent performances from Peter, Verity and Charlotte.”