News

11 Dec
Crafting Christmas Magic at Howlands

Crafting Christmas Magic at Howlands

At Howlands we’re crafting Christmas magic with handmade festive decorations.

We believe in the magic of coming together and embracing the festive spirit. This year, we’ve taken our celebrations a step further by crafting our own Christmas decorations with love and creativity.

IMG_7886 Crafting Christmas Magic at Howlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to join us this Friday for our Christmas dinner, where you’ll get the chance to see these handmade decorations up close and personal. Each decoration carries a piece of our community’s heart and represents the joy of the season.

It’s not just about the decorations; it’s about the warmth, unity, and the sense of togetherness that this season brings.

We can’t wait to share this special season with you.

11 Dec
Join us for a delightful Christmas lunch at Howlands on Friday, December 15th, at 1:00 pm!

Join us for a delightful Christmas lunch at Howlands

Join us for a delightful Christmas lunch at Howlands on Friday, December 15th, at 1:00 pm!

It’s the perfect opportunity to get into the festive spirit with friends and loved ones. Our Christmas lunch promises to be a memorable occasion filled with delicious food and joyful camaraderie.

Event Details:

  • Date: Friday, December 15th
  • Time: 1:00 pm
  • Location: Howlands
  • Tickets: £8.50 per person

Indulge in a scrumptious meal, share laughter and good conversation, and relish the magic of the holiday season.

To reserve your spot at this heartwarming event, please call us at 01924 463693. Tickets are limited, so be sure to secure yours soon!

Celebrate the joy of Christmas with us at Howlands on December 15th.

We can’t wait to share this festive occasion with you!

 

6 Nov
2023 Christmas Fair

Howlands Christmas Fair 2023 – Date for your Diary

DON’T MISS THE HOWLANDS CHRISTMAS FAIR!

Join us on the 15th November between 9.30am and 2.00pm and sample the delights on offer.

From homemade gifts, to mince pies and a tombola, there will be plenty to keep your interest.

If you like hand made creations  you can buy  sets from one of our stalls – now wouldn’t that be a unique Christmas decoration!

Our Christmas Fair is a wonderful way to help us rase funds, have fun, chat and laugh whilst helping us reduce loneliness and increase social confidence.

Tickets are only £2.50 each and include a tea, coffee or cold drink and a mince pie or biscuit.

Please come and celebrate the festive season with us  and help us raise funds so we can keep doing the good work we do with the amazing people we support.

Can’t wait to see you! Merry Christmas, Ho-Ho-Howlands!

 

2023 Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22 Oct
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Did you know you can support Howlands by raising money every time you shop online? – and it doesn’t cost a penny!

We’re using easyfundraising, a free fundraising platform that allows us to earn money when we all shop online. easyfundraising works with over 7,000 online retailers, everyone from Tesco, eBay, Sports Direct, M&S, Boots, Just Eat, Booking.com, and everything in between.

Once signed up all you need to do is start your shopping journey at the easyfundraising website, use the browser extension or app (information will be provided when you register) and the retailer you shop with will send us a free donation based on how much you spend

With the cost of living impacting everyone, this isn’t about asking you to spend more, but to make you aware that if you are making an on-line purchase anyway that by using easyfundraising you can give to us at the same time and at no additional cost to you.

So please support us if you can by registering yourself today at http://efraising.org/9llffK6o22 it only takes 2 minutes and all you need is your email address. Please also share with your friends and family if they would also like to help!

Howlands (1) copy

 PLUS – to help us get up and running, for a limited time only, we have been offered an additional incentive!

For the next two weeks easyfundraising will give us £1 for every new supporter if we can get a minimum of 10 signed up WITH NO UPPER LIMIT, so 10 = £10, 20 = £20 and so on so now is the ideal time to do it. 

Register here today: http://efraising.org/9llffK6o22

4 Oct
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AGM – Everyone Welcome.

Dewsbury & District League of Friendship
Annual General Meeting
Thursday 26th October 2023
1.00 p.m.
At Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury  WF13 1LD
Everyone is Welcome !
11 Sep
Screenshot 2023-09-11 at 09.53.41 copy

Mark and Sam’s tandem paraglide in aid of the Howlands Centre

Great news!

Mark Eastwood and Sam Cullingworth have completed their hair-raising trip into the skies with a tandem paraglide, raising money for Howlands.

Screenshot 2023-09-11 at 09.53.41 copy

Watch Sam and Mark run off the edge of hill here on YouTube 

After some unavoidable delays due to poor weather conditions, Mark finally strapped in and took flight in the safe hands of experienced paraglider Sam Cullingworth, who himself has a long personal connection to the Howlands Centre.

 

Donations have been coming in thick and fast to the pair’s Just Giving page and directly to the Howlands Centre. You can still donate here at: justgiving.com/campaign/howlandstandemparaglide to support this great local cause.

 

30 Aug
pexels-photo-2882634

Welcome Back to Howlands!

Dear Friends of Howlands,

I hope this message finds you well and rejuvenated after the summer break. As the rustling leaves signal the onset of September, we’re excitedly gearing up to welcome all our old and new friends back. September always brings a special charm to ‘Howlands’ – the buzz of new faces, renewed energies, and the promise of thrilling activities lined up for the months ahead.

The hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic was a challenging phase for many institutions, including ours. Our financial reserves took a hit, leading to the tough decision of possibly suspending a few classes till our financial situation stabilises. But despair not! We are proactively exploring various avenues to seek grants, sponsorships, and other funding opportunities.

Speaking of sponsorships, here’s some exciting news. Our local MP, Mark Eastwood, is taking to the skies with a sponsored paraglide! Every contribution to sponsor him will directly benefit ‘Howlands’, donate here. This is a golden opportunity for us to boost our funds. If you can rally around and encourage friends, family, or acquaintances to support this daredevil endeavour, it would make a world of difference.

And, as the year rolls on, we’re also gearing up for our Annual Xmas Fair, slated for the 15th of November. Do consider contributing goods for the stalls and rallying your friends and family to do the same. Together, we can make it the most memorable fair yet!

At the heart of Howlands is a community that thrives on mutual support. We promise to continue supporting you and the broader community as best as we can. Your continued trust, support, and encouragement, especially for our fundraising efforts like the sponsored paraglide, are pivotal during these times.

Stay safe, stay connected, and here’s to brighter days ahead at ‘Howlands’!

17 Aug
Soaring High for Charity: Dewsbury's Unlikely Tandem Makes Headlines

Soaring High for Charity: Dewsbury’s Unlikely Tandem Makes Headlines

It’s not every day you see a Member of Parliament and a world champion bodybuilder soaring through the sky together. But, when it comes to supporting a good cause, it seems the sky is literally the limit!

Helping us create a buzz about our amazing charity event is The Dewsbury Reporter who shared our exhilarating story about  Dewsbury MP Mark Eastwood and World champion bodybuilder Sam Cullingworth taking part in a unique tandem paragliding venture. The reason? To raise much-needed funds for Howlands .

 

Soaring High for Charity: Dewsbury's Unlikely Tandem Makes HeadlinesRead the full story here

Already we have raised an impressive £500. A feat that demonstrates the power of community spirit and the lengths people are willing to go to ensure the welfare of their fellow citizens.

So, whether you’re an avid paragliding enthusiast, a firm believer in the power of community, or someone who just loves to see unique collaborations for a cause, this story undoubtedly warms the heart.

Please donate and help this dynamic duo touch not just the skies but countless lives as well.

Remember, sometimes, it’s not just about reaching new heights but lifting others up as you do. Let’s soar together for Howlands! 🪂

15 Aug
rain stopped charity tandem paraglide

Mother Nature Hits Pause On Charity Paraglide

Mother nature hits pause on charity paraglide but there’s a silver lining.

 

Bad weather may have grounded Mark Eastwood and Sam Cullingworth’s thrilling tandem paraglide adventure, but the skies have opened up a golden opportunity instead!

It’s the PERFECT time to back our heroes on our SPANKING NEW “Just Giving” page!

Click the “Donate Now” button on the top left and bottom left of the home page? Click on it and be part of the magic. Simple, swift, and so satisfying to support a good cause!

Your support is not just about thrill-seekers in the skies; it’s for the noble mission at Howlands. With each donation, you’re uplifting the disadvantaged and making waves of change.

Join us, and let’s make this rain delay the best thing that happened!

1 Aug
Sam and Mark's Big Jump: A Tandem Paraglide to Support Howlands

Sam and Mark’s Big Jump: A Tandem Paraglide to Support Howlands

On August 14th (weather permitting), an extraordinary event is set to occur on the rolling hills of Yorkshire. The local community of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, is buzzing with anticipation for a tandem paraglide featuring two prominent figures – Sam Cullingworth, former World Champion Body Builder and Howlands’ resident fitness guru, and Mark Eastwood, Conservative MP for Dewsbury. This thrilling endeavour aims to raise much-needed funds for Howlands, a revered independent charity and community hub.

Sam and Mark's Big Jump: A Tandem Paraglide to Support Howlands

Howlands, known for its tireless efforts in supporting disadvantaged adults, plays an essential role in our community by tackling loneliness and social isolation. The organisation holds a rich history spanning over 70 years of service in Dewsbury Town Centre, making it the largest and only fully accessible community centre in the area.

 

Daring Sam, fondly known as ‘Sam the Man’, is no stranger to challenges. As a fitness enthusiast and celebrated bodybuilder, he’s setting his sights on the skies this time, promising an adventure that’s bound to “scare the life out of” our local MP, Mark Eastwood. The duo’s jump off a Yorkshire hill (TBC) is expected to generate much excitement and, more importantly, valuable contributions for Howlands.

Speaking about the event, Sam shared, “In the world of paragliding, we believe it’s better to be up there wishing you were down here than vice versa. Mark is showing incredible courage by joining me on this venture. While there’s a fair bit of banter about whether I’ll let go or bring him back down safely, the crux of this event is about making a significant difference for Howlands. This charity holds a special place in my heart, and the incredible work it does benefits countless individuals. I urge everyone to donate generously if you can.”

We wholeheartedly echo Sam’s sentiments. Howlands needs our support now more than ever. This community hub is a lifeline for many, offering a sense of purpose, a safe space, and the opportunity to feel part of something greater.

As one of our regular attendees puts it, “Coming here in the morning gives me a reason to get up and gives me purpose to the day, instead of watching TV all day.” Another long-term visitor shared, “We have been attending the coffee morning for around forty years, met many friends and we have a lovely morning out. We would be devastated if this place closed.”

Mark Boocock, Development Officer at Howlands said: “What a fabulous gesture by Sam and Mark. Howlands is a wonderful place doing amazing work to help people, I’d urge anybody who can to donate to this amazing charity. Your generous contributions will help ensure that Howlands continues to make a difference to the people it supports and to our wider community. Let’s stand together, or tandem paraglide if you’re brave enough, to keep this wonderful place going.”

For more updates on Howlands’ future events and fundraisers, stay tuned. In the meantime, those wishing to contribute can do so via the JustGiving page:

Remember, every little bit helps in making a big difference in our community!