Picture Caption: Sophie Root from Fair and Funky (left) & Jimmy Dickinson from Longley Farm (right)

Giving back to the local community has always been one of Longley Farm’s core values since establishment in 1948 and today is no different. On Wednesday the 28^th of February 2024, local community groups gathered at the Holmfirth Tech to receive grants of up to £1,000 from the Longley Farm Fund and the Jimmy Dickinson Fund.

“It is a real joy every year to hear about all the amazing projects going on and it is a great privilege to be able to play a small part in helping these groups continue to do their excellent work” said Katie at Longley Farm.

Both funds are managed by One Community, who have been instrumental in facilitating these contributions and have enabled us to reach a diverse range of local groups, all working to address various needs and causes within our community.

“Longley Farm have been such a great supporter, we’ve had a great relationship with them for a long time and Jimmy has been fantastic in supporting us with other funds as well” added Emma at One Community "It's all about local businesses coming together to create the biggest impact, we’ve seen it here tonight, it’s amazing because it’s that funding on your doorstep, you’re likely to drive past an organisation and think, we’ve funded them"

Picture Caption: Jimmy Dickinson from Longley Farm (left) & Viv Jebson from Holme Valley Sharing Memories (right)

The recipients of these donations encompass a wide spectrum of causes; the Longley Farm fund supports artistic, cultural and voluntary activities within the Graveship of Holme and the Jimmy Dickinson fund supports mental health projects across Kirklees. The total list of the groups we supported this year are shown below.

Jimmy Dickinson Fund

1. Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice- awarded to provide pantomime tickets for the siblings missing out on activities. “This funding is going to make a huge difference. Thank you very much”
2. Dewsbury & District League of Friendship (Howlands)- funding given to combat loneliness and isolation through arts and crafts. “We really appreciate the funding and like others have said we could not do what we do without it. Thank you very much”
3. The Crescent & Co Yorkshire CIC- allocated funds to lift up community spirit and wellbeing through music. “I would like to say a massive thank you for this fund”
4. Youth matters Kirklees CIC- Granted money for youth clubs to reduce anxiety and isolation in the younger generation. “Children come out of the clubs making friends, increasing their wellbeing and having life skills to take away”
5. New Direction Services CIC- awarded to support vulnerable women through a “kick depression to the kerb” mindset and fitness course. “We have funded the first lot of 6 week kick boxing for women over 50. Its all about helping people in the community to reduce isolation with the skills I have in Irish dancing and kick boxing”
6. Yorkshire Brian Tumour Charity- funding given for wellbeing walks for everyone impacted from a diagnosis. The walk will be renamed to “peer support” walks shortly. “There is no substitute for talking to others going through the same thing. These walks allow people to connect with each other and get people out into the fresh air”
7. Umbrella Yoga CIC- allocated funds for accessible community yoga sessions. One of the participants said "This class has helped me in so many ways, my mood and sleep have improved, and I love catching up with the other ladies. I look forward to these sessions so much, and I even do some of the yoga at home now, before bed."
8. The Peer Talk Charitable Foundation- Granted money to train up more volunteers and rent out further spaces to provide weekly sessions to vulnerable people giving a safe space for people to talk. “People turn up to these groups and give each other the support they need in a safe environment. We feel privileged to share members stories”
9. Holme Valley Sharing Memories- awarded for the “Sing your Soul Sunny” project to combat rural isolation and loneliness in the elderly through music. During a series of workshops, the group wrote their own song which they then performed alongside local choirs at a concert at Holmfirth church. The concert featured on Look North and over 400 people attended. “We really appreciate the funding; it is getting harder and harder to raise funds”

Longley Farm Fund

1. Friends of Wooldale- funding given to create some allotment raised beds at New Mill Junior School, to allow all year groups to experience the joy of growing food
2. Holmfirth Festival of Folk- allocated funds to contribute towards the festival’s costs
3. The Hepworth Band- granted money to go towards the Hepworth Band’s “Music in the Holme Valley 2024” concert series. “We are grateful for this funding and have many concerts coming up, thank you once again”
4. Fairy and Funky CIC- awarded to deliver workshops on global action, climate change, recycling, the environment & fair trade. Fair & Funky empower people to take their own little steps to change the world. “People end up feeling like they can have an impact on climate change”
5. Hepworth Pre-School & Out of school Club- allocated funds for weekly Makaton classes
6. Holmfirth Art & Musical Ltd- funding given to support local community talent at the Holmfirth Arts Festival 2024
7. Arts for Health C.I.C.- awarded for a local history themed film making project, using a cache of historical documents from the old Hinchliffe Mill

Every group who received funding, spoke about the impact of the donation: “It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to get money like this to keep doing what we love and provide a positive impact to our community” said Lewis at Youth Matters.

David from Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity added “We would not be able to do what we do without the funding so thank you so much.”

Ross at the Holmfirth Festival of Folk also said “The funding is so important. Longley Farm and One Community have been so supportive and contributed every year. Thank you so much, this makes a massive difference as it does to all members here tonight”  

Applications for the Longley Farm and Jimmy Dickinson funds reopen on the 2^nd of September 2024.  If you are a local charity or community group looking for funding, or a local business wanting to donate to good causes in your area, One Community may be able to help you. You can apply for funding here or find out more about local giving here.