Bingo Call for a Cause: MP Alex Barros-Curtis Joins £20K Charity Celebration

_{MP Alex Barros-Curtis (centre) joins Castle Bingo staff in Cardiff to mark a £20,000 donation to Variety. (Image: Castle Bingo / Courtesy)}

A routine Friday bingo session turned into a community celebration when MP Alex Barros-Curtis joined Castle Bingo’s New Canton club to mark a milestone donation to Variety, the Children’s Charity.

On 2 August, Barros-Curtis was on hand as the Bingo Association presented a £20,000 cheque to Variety, funds raised through bingo players and clubs across the UK as part of the trade group’s long-term partnership with the children’s charity.

The Labour MP for Cardiff North mingled with staff and customers, posed for photos, and even called a round of bingo. Castle Bingo staff described the event as “a fantastic moment” for their club and a reminder of bingo’s power to bring communities together for good causes.

A Nationwide Effort Pays Off

The £20,000 donation is part of a larger initiative by The Bingo Association, which has supported Variety since 2015. Over that time, member clubs have raised more than £1.9 million to help children and young people living with illness, disability, or disadvantage.

The funds help pay for specialised equipment and experiences, such as mobility aids and accessible transport, that are not typically covered by the NHS. Variety’s Sunshine Coaches, which provide transportation to schools and care centres across the UK, are one of the most visible results of the partnership.

Barros-Curtis praised the initiative for its community roots and direct impact:

“It was a real pleasure to visit the New Canton Castle Bingo club and see firsthand how bingo players and clubs contribute to important causes like this,” Barros-Curtis said. “The work that Variety does is extraordinary.”
 

More Than Just a Game

Castle Bingo, which operates eight clubs in Wales and England, is part of a tradition of community gaming that dates back to the 1960s. While the digital age has transformed gambling, land-based bingo still plays a significant role, especially in towns and suburbs where clubs serve as local gathering spots.

“Alex took the time to chat with our brilliant team and customers and even got behind the mic to call a game of bingo,” the company said in a statement posted on social media.

“A huge thank you to everyone who plays bingo for helping make moments like this possible.”

The Bingo Association, which represents nearly all licensed bingo clubs in Great Britain, has said that partnerships like this one help shift public perceptions of the game from just entertainment to community support.

Highlighting Positive Role of Bingo Clubs

The visit from Barros-Curtis brought visibility not just to the donation, but also to the positive role bingo clubs play in local communities. With the UK government exploring reforms in gambling regulation and local venues facing economic pressure, events like this can help emphasise the social impact of the industry.

Castle Bingo and the wider association say they’ll continue to raise funds for Variety throughout the year. Meanwhile, Variety continues its mission to support the 1 in 20 children in the UK living with a disability, many of whom benefit directly from the charity’s work.