Huddersfield’s legendary music venue The Parish has raised another £5,000 for their charitable fund with the One Community Foundation in memory of staff member Sam Wilcock.
Last year, The Parish hosted a concert to raise money for a fund set up through One Community. The Parish wanted to remember Sam Wilcock, a Parish staff member, and Charlotte Coy, a familiar face to everyone at The Parish who both passed away in 2019. The concert raised £5,000 for organisations supporting people with mental health and cancer.
On 5th August, The Parish hosted Wilstock3, a concert to raise additional funds to support Kirklees organisations. With 20 live acts across 3 stages, the concert included Indie, acoustic, rock, reggae, metal, hip-hop, soul, and ska music. Unlike many events, Parish decided that all proceeds would be added to the total raised. From selling tickets, t-shirts, and drinks, Parish raised another £5,000 for charities in the Kirklees area.
“Wilstock is a special event for us all at Parish, over the 17 years we’ve been here we have lost too many friends too early, this is our way of making sure we remember & honour their impact in our lives and in our community. We want their memories to help as many people as possible, which is why we have set up the Parish charitable fund with One Community. To facilitate the amazing generosity of our customers & community to the charities that need some help.
Wilstock 3 was the biggest yet, with over 20 acts all donating their time and their talent to everyone who attended, it was an amazing day, and we promise that next year will be even bigger. Sam was a huge part of our Parish history and Wilstock means he & so many others we have lost too soon will be remembered for being amazing for the rest of time!”
Tom Simpson, The Parish
Last year’s success
The Dewsbury Young at Heart Project looked to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation experienced by the ageing population. With regular and reliable opportunities, older people in the Dewsbury area had a safe place to discuss their mental health concerns through arts and crafts.
Ruddi’s Retreat allows families affected by cancer a much-needed break. They applied for funding to replace their desktop computers, which were prone to breaking down. Thanks to the Parish Fund, they acquired 2 new laptops, allowing them to allocate holidays to 300 families.
“We are immensely grateful for the generous donation of £5000, which will empower us to make a tangible impact on local charities and community projects. With this funding, we’re not just giving financial support, but we’re nurturing the seeds of positive change within our community. These grants will ripple outwards, touching lives, and fostering growth where it’s needed most. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for those we serve, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this journey of transformation with partners like The Parish.”
Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO, One Community Foundation Applications for this fund are through Community Grants Programme. To find out more about the work of the One Community Foundation visit www.one-community.org.uk.
