Stranger Than Summer ’26 gala raises £165k to support the industry
NABS annual Stranger Than Summer fundraising gala has raised £165,000 to support the mental wellness of people working across advertising, marketing and media.
Our annual Stranger Than Summer fundraising gala has raised £165,000 to support the mental wellness of people working across advertising, marketing and media.
Despite a challenging tube strike, 880 people made the effort to come together at City Central at the HAC on Thursday 4 June in support of our work. The funds come at an important time, as demand for our services continues to grow while people across the industry face ongoing pressure and uncertainty. Every pound raised will go directly towards providing vital support.
A night to come together
The night was hosted by The Globe Girls, with entertainment from the Spice Girls Experience. This year’s ‘candyland’ theme added to the atmosphere, with sweets and chocolate woven throughout the evening, creating a sense of fun alongside a shared purpose.
Why this matters now
Our CEO, Sue Todd, said: “The support for Stranger Than Summer comes at a time when more people across our industry are struggling and turning to us for help. Nights like this show just how strong the appetite is to come together, support each other and make a difference. Every pound raised will go directly towards helping people across the industry.”
Partners powering the night
Helping to power the party with purpose were our Gold Partners, Channel Factory and Active International. Channel Factory sponsored the photobooth, while Active International stocked the bar and provided prizes for the silent auction, with all funds raised on the night going directly to support our services.
Thank you to our committee
We’re hugely grateful to the Stranger Than Summer committee for their hard work and dedication in bringing the event to life. Special thanks to co-chairs Gill Huber (Ingenuity) and Kelly Parker (WPP Media), alongside James Appleby (Conquis), Ed Couchman (Netflix), Simon Daglish OBE (ITV), Rachel Forde (TheZoo.London), Katie Grosvenor (50 Feet Tall), Kathryn Jacob OBE (Pearl & Dean), Krane Jeffery (RAAS LAB), Liz Jones (Conker), Jonathan Sturdy (PHD UK), Theo Theodorou (Microsoft), Darren Thompson (AdLook), Fergus Waddell (72andSunny) and Glen Wilson (Outsider Communications)
