This was far more than a fundraising event—it was a profound philanthropic mission with the power to transform the life trajectories of young people with physical disabilities.
By Jian Ping Sun
Held inside London’s historic Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, the charity evening on November 21 welcomed more than 200 distinguished guests from Britain’s art, business, financial, legal, technology, and education sectors. Co-organized by Pencil Tree CIO and Treloar’s—one of the UK’s oldest and most respected special education institutions—the event showcased exceptional artworks created by students with significant physical disabilities, culminating in an inspirational charity auction.
The night opened with a breathtaking light installation titled “Life” by the Luxmuralis team, transforming the Mansion House’s grand hall into an immersive display of brilliant landscapes and historical scenes. The artwork vividly illustrated the fundamental interdependence and psychological connection between humanity and nature, setting a reflective and uplifting tone for the gala.
Guests were deeply moved by the 50 paintings on display, each created by Treloar’s students living with a range of complex physical disabilities. These young artists demonstrated extraordinary creativity, vision and perseverance. Four standout works—“Colourful Earth,” “Fresh Air,” “Water’s Symphony,” and “Burning Passion”—were selected as auction highlights, drawing intense interest from attendees eager to understand the artists’ unique and profound interpretations of life, nature, and resilience.
Treloar’s provides comprehensive educational, therapeutic, and nursing support for around 170 children and young people with physical disabilities aged 4 to 25, empowering them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. Many have complex needs and may require significant support for daily living and personal care. Acceptance into Treloar’s represents a life-altering opportunity. With over 800 professional staff offering 24-hour support, the school utilises a bespoke multidisciplinary approach towards education and care, with a strong focus on art and music programs. Their goal is to work with students to gain confidence, independence, life skills, and to achieve their individual aspirations.
As a charitable institution, Treloar’s relies on substantial fundraising every year to provide specialist equipment, enhanced therapies, and life-enriching programs—areas not fully covered by statutory funding. Donations play a crucial role in improving students’ quality of life and expanding opportunities beyond the essentials supported through government and local authority placements.
Pencil Tree CIO co-organised this remarkable charity art event together with Treloar’s, and also undertook the publication of Beyond the Frame, Art at Treloar’s, a collection of artworks created by the students themselves. From selecting each piece to choosing paper textures and printing materials, every stage of the book’s production incorporated the students’ own preferences and artistic intentions.
According to Dr. Xianyan Chen, representative of Pencil Tree CIO, the collaboration aimed to create a platform where students could express their imagination through art and music, while ensuring their voices were reflected not only in their paintings but also in how their work is presented to the world. With the dedication of teachers and specialist therapists, the students were able to pursue their creative visions and produce artworks that reveal both artistic depth and profound life philosophy.
The auction atmosphere was electric as bidders enthusiastically competed for the featured pieces. Guests who did not secure a winning bid were invited to participate through a raffle or by purchasing artworks from Pencil Tree Foundation’s publication, Beyond the Frame: Selected Works by Treloar’s Students. All proceeds from the live auction, raffle, and forthcoming online bidding will go directly to Treloar’s.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Chen praised the evening’s success in raising both funds and awareness, emphasizing that Treloar’s students represent a vulnerable yet inspiring community. She shared that Huaicun Zhang, founder of Pencil Tree CIO and a renowned British Chinese artist, has even postponed her planned solo exhibition to channel more resources into Pencil Tree’s charitable initiatives. These funds helped to produce high-quality publications and future charity events that showcase the exceptional talents of Treloar’s young artists.
By giving these students platforms to create, express, and shine, the Pencil Tree Foundation and Treloar’s demonstrate how philanthropy can support young people with physical disabilities to live with dignity, achieve dreams and transform lives.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas
