From the outset, we knew this event needed to do more than look spectacular – it needed to make people feel something.
The foundation’s story is built on opportunity, community and empowerment. Our job was to bring that to life in a way that felt authentic, emotional and immersive, while delivering a premium gala experience worthy of the brand.
And of course, the night needed to drive significant fundraising results.
After exploring multiple options, one venue stood out: Diecast.
A repurposed industrial factory with a strong urban edge, it felt completely aligned with the DNA of the foundation. It had character. Texture. Story.
It was the perfect canvas to transform into an immersive fundraising experience.
We built the creative around one powerful idea:
Music became our narrative device, using lyrics, performance and live orchestration to tell the story of the past 10 years, celebrate the present and look boldly to the future.
Every segment of the evening was structured like a track on an album – building emotion, energy and momentum as the night progressed.
Celebrating young people wasn’t a side note- it was central to the evening.
We partnered with Untold Orchestra to create a 16-piece orchestra that not only supported the storytelling but also provided a platform for young talent to perform on a major stage.
It was powerful. Emotional. And completely authentic to the foundation’s mission.
One of the most powerful moments of the evening was a segment we created called SPOTLIGHT.
Through pre-recorded, hard-hitting films, we showcased individuals and community organisations whose lives had been shaped by the foundation’s work. Each film was followed by a live on-stage Q&A, creating a raw and honest moment with the audience.
To bring the foundation’s journey to life, we layered digital and physical storytelling throughout the space.
Guests entered through a 10-metre immersive LED tunnel, showcasing highlights from the last decade and transporting them into the future vision of the foundation. It was impactful, emotional and impossible to ignore.
Inside the main space, we designed and built a dramatic multi-layered digital stage with satellite performance platforms woven into the audience. No static ballroom setup. No “back-of-the-room” experience.
Driving fundraising success was a critical objective.
To ensure a seamless and sustainable approach, we developed an app-based platform that served as both an attendee management tool and a live auction hub.
Guests could:
The night kicked off in style with a lively drink’s reception, where guests were immediately immersed in the foundation’s story. Our young talent DJ set the tone, while stunning digital displays celebrated a decade of impact, bringing the foundation’s journey to life before a single word was spoken.
Guests then stepped through a 10-metre LED tunnel, a dramatic entrance that transported them into the heart of the gala. Inside, the atmosphere was electric: young performers joined the 16-piece Untold Orchestra on stage, blending classical music with fresh, contemporary energy, while real-life stories from people whose lives had been changed by the foundation took place on stage.
The evening opened with a powerful spoken word performance, performed to a specially commissioned live orchestra track that immediately set the tone. Emotional, bold, and unforgettable. Guests were drawn into the story of the JD Foundation from the very first moment, feeling the impact of ten years of life-changing work
The evening unfolded like a storybook- immersive performances, interactive moments, and unforgettable music seamlessly interweaving with live storytelling. Hosted by Paddy McGuinness, with a show-stopping headline performance from Beverley Knight, the energy never dropped.
By the end of the night, the dancefloor was alive, the fundraising results were remarkable, and every guest left feeling connected, inspired, and part of something truly extraordinary.
Client feedback:
Thank you Neil, Matty and the whole Square Fish team, we were thrilled with the event and the absolute passion everyone brought to making it so successful! You absolutely met the brief and more!
