A round-the-clock campfire party is set to raise money for a charity which provides services for young people and families around Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: A previous campfire party at Whitlingham campsite. Pictures: Eliza Boo Photography.A previous campfire party at Whitlingham campsite. Pictures: Eliza Boo Photography. (Image: Eliza Boo Photography)

Tickets are selling fast for the 25-hour family friendly mini-festival at Whitlingham, on the eastern outskirts of Norwich, in support of The Benjamin Foundation and other charities.

Live music, family activities, food, drink and stalls will all feature at the event, which has been organised by the Norwich-based 25:am breakfast business group with a fund-raising target of £10,000.

Kicking off at midday on Saturday, September 7, eight fire pits will burn across the campsite for 25 hours for people to sit by, chill out and chat while tucking into gourmet burgers, Merguez sausages and veggie food while listening to bands ranging from the Dog Days of Summer to local ceilidh band Whirligig.

Most of the money raised will go to The Benjamin Foundation, which helped nearly 2,000 people in Norfolk last year with its wide-ranging projects, and the rest will be shared between the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind, Clic Sargent and Nelson's Journey.

Ticket holders are welcome to pitch a tent and camp overnight for free or attend for any part of the event.

Steve Finney, 25:am chair, proposed the campfire party as an alternative to a black tie ball fundraiser. Mr Finney said 'I stole the idea from fellow 25:am member Craig Neald, who held a campfire party to launch his new range of shepherd huts, and I was bowled over by how successful it was and thought we could do one on a grander scale as a big fundraiser.

'Whitlingham has donated the site and we are hoping for between two and three hundred people.'

The Benjamin Foundation's marketing and fundraising manager, Chris Elliott, said 'We support the needs of children, families and young homeless adults across the county and the funds from the Campfire event will help us continue this work.'

Among the activities built up by the charity over the last 18 years are seven accommodation centres for homeless young people, parent support advisers working with families, one-to-one support in schools, a day nursery, after-school and holiday clubs and three stores selling donated furniture and electrical goods to raise money.

Mr Elliott continued: 'At the moment we are refurbishing our North Walsham accommodation for homeless adults and in King's Lynn we are looking to acquire a mini bus for our three different services there – two with homeless young people and one with college students with different learning difficulties who we support.

'We don't have our own transport so a mini bus would help these young people have more freedom.

'There are always other areas that would benefit from funds. It is a tough time to fundraise at the moment so having the support of a business group like 25:am is a real asset and it also helps grow awareness of who we are and what we do.'

Tickets for the charity campfire party cost £20 for adults, with under-16s going free and camping at the event also free.

For tickets, email mark.thair@reefrecruitment.co.uk or call Steve on 01603 256892. For full details of the event, go to www.25am.co.uk

Editors note: This article initially said between two and three thousand people were expected to attend but this was a mistake and should have said between two and three hundred people.