Brighouse and Huddersfield Oddfellows funding gives support to four West Yorkshire charities

A total of £1,500 has been shared with Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which flies two specialist helicopters, providing five million people across two million acres with a rapid response emergency service.

YAA need £12,000 every day to keep both helicopters ready and available, should they be required.

Overgate Hospice in Halifax, Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield, and Wakefield Hospice have each received £1,000, to support their provision of respite and end-of-life care to their residents.

Despite government restrictions preventing Brighouse and Huddersfield Oddfellows members from getting together to fundraise in person last year, the group turned to raising money through their online events.

Lynn Bradbury, Branch Secretary for the Brighouse and Huddersfield Oddfellows, said: “Lockdown has been hard on charities in the area, with regular fundraising activities being unable to take place.

"We’re pleased to have been able to help these local organisations in this small way, and hope that as restrictions begin to ease, community fundraising can once again take place. We know they all heavily rely on this to keep going.”

The Brighouse and Huddersfield Oddfellows provides social, care, and welfare support to its 1,300 local members. While face-to-face meet ups were postponed during lockdown, the Society hosted many online events, including coffee mornings and quizzes.

The local group is now hoping to organise a range of small, outdoor meet-ups and walks, with indoor events hopefully due to return from mid-June.

New members are always welcome. To find out more and to receive their latest events diary, contact Lynn Bradbury on 01484 324929 or email [email protected]. Future events are also listed online at www.oddfellows.co.uk/events