MALA BALL
Features of the Ball
Speeches
The Annual Ball doesn't do awards and MALA tries to allow guests to enjoy the ball in each other's company. While we're not big fans of speeches, we always have one short speech from a special guest. This is usually a BAME member of the legal profession or judiciary and past speakers have given thought-provoking, memorable and short speeches recounting their experience in our great profession.
MALA is very proud to count among its special guest speakers Imran Khan QC, Nazir Afzal OBE, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, Her Honour Judge Dhir QC, His Honour Judge Hammond, His Honour Judge Mota Singh, District Judge Afzal OBE and in 2019, Lord Justice Singh; the first BAME Judge elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Charity
MALA strongly believes in giving back to the local community and the Annual Ball is designed to raise money for charity through both ticket sales and fund-raising such as auctions, raffles and other activities at the ball.
Every year, MALA chooses one or two local charities as partners and raises money in their support. As of 2019, MALA has raised and donated almost £60,000 to charities based in the Midlands area.
In 2018, MALA raised over £7,500 for The Laura Centre in Leicester and in 2019, MALA raised over £8,000 for True Honour and Midland Langar Seva Society.
MALA itself is also a charitable organisation run through volunteering and self-funding.
This is both a testament to the generosity of our guests, lawyers and sponsors, but also to the founding purpose of the Annual Ball: to celebrate diversity and support local charities.