Exchange Chambers hosts Annual Charity Ball in Manchester

November 14, 2025

Exchange Chambers last night hosted its Annual Charity Ball, raising thousands of pounds for the Rooprai Spinal Trust (RST), the set’s charity partner.

The black-tie event took place at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in Manchester and was attended by 230 guests.

Fundraising activities included an auction featuring a range of prizes generously donated by members of Chambers and clients.

Exchange Chambers announced RST as its new charity partner in October 2024.

Founded in 2005 and inspired by Marrianne Rooprai, who was paralysed from the shoulders down following a devastating car accident in 2004, RST is an entirely voluntary charity that sponsors individuals paralysed by spinal cord injury to access much-needed neuro-physiotherapy rehabilitation programmes.

Commenting on the evening, Exchange Chambers’ Chief Executive Jonathan I’Anson said:

“On behalf of everyone at Exchange, I’d like to thank all those who attended our Charity Ball and helped make the evening such a great success. Their support has helped us raise vital funds to support RST’s life-changing work.

“As a full-service barristers’ chambers, one of our areas of specialism is complex personal injury work. Our barristers and staff are very aware of the profound impact of spinal cord injury and the importance of shining a light on post-paralysis support.”

Andy Uttridge, co-founder of RST and Marrianne Rooprai’s partner, says Exchange’s support has helped the charity immeasurably over the past 12 months.

Andy commented:

“The support we’ve received from Exchange Chambers over the last 12 months has been genuinely transformative for RST. Their fundraising helps us provide vital support for people living with spinal cord injury, and we couldn’t do that without partners who truly believe in our mission. We are hugely thankful to everyone who contributed last night.”

Thanks to its partnership with Exchange Chambers, RST has been able to offer meaningful, life-changing support.

One example is Tucker, a man in his 70s living with tetraplegia after a fall down the stairs left him paralysed and with limited support. RST fully funded Tucker’s intensive four-week course at The Rehab Physio in Wirral, rehabilitation that would otherwise have been out of reach.

Beyond one-to-one rehab, Exchange’s support has also helped launch RST’s new Back to the Gym initiative in collaboration with VIM Health in Brighton. The programme is designed to help wheelchair users regain confidence and strength through gym-based exercise and is set to be rolled out to other areas across the UK.

RST has also been able to expand its Physiotherapy Scholarship Programme, welcoming ten additional individuals, including a young mum from Manchester paralysed after a fall, a dad from Cheshire injured in a surfing accident, a teenager from Doncaster injured in a cycling accident and a proud Welshman from Cardiff also injured in a cycling accident.