Amy Winehouse Charity Holds Fundraising Ball

A foundation created in memory of singer Amy Winehouse to help disadvantaged young people has held its first major fundraising event.

The Amy Winehouse Foundation Ball at The Dorchester hotel featured performances from Jamie Cullum, Matt Goss and Tyler James.

Speaking at the event, Amy's father Mitch Winehouse said early intervention was key to preventing young people falling into the alcohol and drug problems which blighted his daughter's later life.

"We need to do as much as we can to raise as much money as we can for disadvantaged young people," he said.

"The key is early intervention, which means getting into schools and speaking to young people at the earliest opportunity. Giving them all the information they need and allowing them to make the appropriate decisions for them.

"It's not going to help everybody. There's still going to be people who still turn to drugs.

"But if people know that legal highs might be legal but they're not safe, they are not stupid, they'll be able to make the appropriate decisions for themselves."

The Amy Winehouse Foundation raised £230,000 on its first anniversary, with the money going towards such charities as the New Horizon Youth Centre and Fitzrovia Youth In Action.

Both organisations provide charitable activities for disadvantaged young people.

The foundation also supports scholarships for underprivileged pupils at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where Amy, who died in July 2011 at the age of 27, was trained.

Tyler James, who found fame on BBC One talent contest The Voice, was living with the troubled star when she died of drink abuse.

He said his performance at the ball was in memory of Amy, who he called his "soulmate".

"I had alcohol problems in the past, I went to rehab, I'm lucky to be here. I was taught quite a lot about drugs in school, but no-one really talked about the dangers of alcohol," he said.

"I'm still grieving, but something like this helps me because it's a really positive thing. She'd be so proud of her dad and her family.

"Amy was my soulmate, I think about her all the time. Part of me feels like she's still here."