Author: Amy Louise

Celebrating Generosity and Impact: The Annual Parklane Foundation Dinner

Posted on by Amy Louise

On a crisp evening on Thursday 30th November, the doors swung open once again to welcome cherished guests, family, and friends to the second annual Parklane Foundation Dinner. Despite the frosty weather, attendees arrived dressed to the nines, ready to embrace a fabulous evening at the iconic Headingley Stadium.

As guests stepped into the Howard Suite, they were greeted with an array of delightful canapes and invigorating mocktails, courtesy of the exceptional MyLahore. A beautifully curated grazing table brimmed with delectable nibbles, complemented by the melodious strains of orchestral music performed by Mark Oysten and his talented sons. The suite glimmered with the soft glow of Christmas trees and enchanting tree centrepieces, casting an inviting aura over the gathering.

Promptly at 7pm, everyone took their seats as the evening commenced with a poignant video, illuminating the Parklane Foundation’s impactful endeavours. The Parklane Group’s remarkable efforts over the past year culminated in an astounding achievement: raising a staggering £80,000! This substantial sum was dedicated to our esteemed Charity Partners; Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and Leeds Hospitals Charity—each receiving a generous cheque of £20,000. The surplus funds will continue to bolster the Parklane Foundation’s support for local charities and communities, including initiatives like Footgolf sessions benefiting inner-city school children.

The evening unfolded with inspiring speakers, notably Barry Brindley from The Zikomo Trust. Last year, the Foundation contributed £4,000 towards building a school in Malawi for 240 children—a cause deeply resonant with the Parklane Foundation Family, rooted in Malawi. In recognition of Barry’s unwavering commitment to charitable work in Malawi, he was honoured with The Parklane Foundation Annual Award. Another cheque of £4,000 was presented to aid in furthering educational infrastructure in Malawi.

The latter part of the evening was dedicated to unveiling our Charities of the Year for 2024, focusing on the theme of homelessness; Crisis, St George’s Crypt, and Simon on the Streets. The Parklane Foundation also pledged to donate a self-care package for every single guest who attended the dinner to the two local charities; St George’s Crypt and Simon on the Streets. The packages include beanie hats, dental kits, shampoo, soap plus other hygiene products – a little festive gift for the cold winter months.

A heartfelt acknowledgment was extended to MyLahore for their exceptional catering, delighting guests with a sumptuous spread ranging from a tantalising grazing table, canapes, and mocktails to an exquisite plated starter, a selection of curry mains, and an opulent dessert spread. Their impeccable service left an indelible mark on the evening, with guests still reminiscing about last year’s feast.

Musical talents added an extra layer of charm to the night, with an orchestral trio and Mark Osyten and his sons setting the perfect ambiance. The latter part of the evening saw the enchanting performance of Holly, a talented singer whose renditions of classic tunes ignited the dance floor and filled the room with infectious energy.

It was a night of warmth and inspiration, an opportunity to showcase the incredible impact of The Parklane Foundation’s work. Gratitude overflowed as heartfelt thanks were extended to all supporters whose generous contributions make this meaningful work possible.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who graced the event, and we eagerly anticipate reconnecting with you next year for another unforgettable evening!

To find out more or register your interest to sponsor the event/packages or contribute to auction prizes next year, please contact us through the enquiry form online https://parklanefoundation.org/

Self-Care Care Packages Make a Meaningful Impact

Posted on by Amy Louise

At our annual Foundation Dinner we opted to assemble self-care packages instead of the customary favours for our guests. This decision not only aligned seamlessly with the core spirit of our event but also echoed the profound mission championed by our Parklane Foundation.

In alignment with our 2024 charity theme spotlighting homelessness, we take great pride in announcing the donation of these thoughtfully curated packages to two local Leeds charities: St George’s Crypt and Simon on the Streets.

Each meticulously prepared pack contains essential items such as beanies, dental care products, shampoo, body wash, and soap. While these may seem like everyday items, they carry immense value for those in need, providing access to fundamental hygiene and care facilities that are often taken for granted.

On Friday 15th December the team delivered the packages to the two very grateful charities. The Parklane Foundation left with a feeling of hope and anticipation for the positive impact these packages would make in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in the city over the cold, winter months.

The indispensable work undertaken by organisations like St George’s Crypt and Simon on the Streets in Leeds plays a pivotal role in supporting our homeless community. It is a profound honour for us to stand in solidarity with them, offering support to ensure the continuity of their remarkable efforts.

We cannot wait to work together during 2024 and help together with these charities to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives – all together campaigning and fundraising to combat homelessness.

HIVE’s 60 Minute Makeover at Junior Sports Hub!

Posted on by Amy Louise

Monday 6th November saw the start of HIVE’s transformation at Junior Sports Hub in Harehills.

Junior Sports Hub are dedicated to improving the lives of people in need and having a positive impact on their neighbourhood. They are actively trying to improve lives and promote a stronger, more compassionate society by means of their committed efforts.

Based in an old factory building, they had a corner of the building which they wanted to create a breakout for their members to use. A relaxing space.

Work started by ripping up the current flooring and laying down carpet tiles. The walls were given a fresh lick of paint along with the movable walls which were constructed by HIVE. The space where the new breakout room will be, may be needed for other purposes, which is why HIVE built the moveable walls. JSH will be able to condense the size of the room if needed for events held there. The walls are on wheels and very easy to move.

Once the foundations were set up, it was time to move in the furniture. This included desks, sofas, chairs and a secure storage unit. Everything they required.

Wednesday the team handed the space back over to Junior Sports Hub, who were highly appreciative of the work HIVE had carried out.

“Excellent communication throughout the project from Lizz, we were kept fully updated, and overall quality of the work was outstanding. It’s so great that you can be left to do the work and know the end result will exceed expectations. The time, effort, dedication and commitment given from Hive Property Repairs is a true example for others to follow.” Kamran @ JSH.

Huge thank you to the HIVE team for carrying out this amazing project!

Annual PLG Golf Day 2023

Posted on by Amy Louise

What a superb day!

 

Our annual Parklane Group golf day was held on Thursday 6th July. It was a fantastic turnout with over 80 golfers taking to the Wike Ridge course and over 20 players on the footgolf course on The Oaks.

 

The day teed off with breakfast pastries in the Red Kite restaurant whilst registration took place.

 

Two of our PGA Pros Ellie Robinson and Joe Feather then took the golfers out to the practice facilities to run some golf clinics. Joe ran clinics working on the short game and Ellie headed out to The Hollies and ran clinics on the long game.

 

Following a delicious buffet lunch, the golfers prepared for the shot-gun start. All 80 golfers headed out on the Wike Ridge course in the summer sun.

 

Prizes were up for grabs for nearest the pin and longest drives.

 

Over 20 people headed out to The Oaks course to play footgolf – it was an hour of lots of fun and laughter!

 

As the golfers returned to the clubhouse, the fundraising part of the evening commenced. Our auction is always super popular and this year it was no different!

 

Thanks to all of our supporters and attendees, we raised over £11,000! The funds raised will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Leeds Hospitals Charity and will have a profound and lasting effect on the individuals and communities we serve.

 

The atmosphere was full of camaraderie and friendly competition. It was a joy to see everyone enjoying themselves while supporting a common goal.

 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who supported this fantastic golf day – until next year!

Golfathon 2023

Posted on by Amy Louise

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Managing Director, Naveen Ahmed and his fellow golfers in completing the epic 72 hole golf challenge on 20th June at Leeds Golf Centre.

Naveen and his golfing friends raised over a whopping £13,000 which will go towards our three chosen charities. These are Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Leeds Hospitals Charity, all with the chosen theme of Dementia.

The weather conditions were not on their side, with it raining for most of the day but that didn’t dampen their spirits and they managed to push through and complete the challenge.

They were joined by the Yorkshire Muslim Golf Society for their final round, which definitely helped them to complete this mighty challenge. They celebrated the achievement after with some delicious food.

The day was a huge success in the amount of money raised but also awareness for the work these charities carry out.

It’s back, The Apprentice Challenge 2023!

Posted on by Amy Louise

It’s back!

Following in the footsteps of our previous year, the departments went head to head to raise the most money across one week for our chosen charities for 22/23 Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Leeds Hospitals Charity. The teams stepped up the ideas and the competition was on!

We had fundraising across all areas of the business, including Leeds Golf Centre, our Roomzzz locations and our Iconinc sites to name a few. While also running fundraising initiatives centrally from head office. The competition was on!

Our Parklane Properties City Office smashed it out of the park with a total of £1705.70, taking the top spot! They raised the money through two raffles which included a signed Manchester City shirt and a signed Leeds Rhinos shirt, they vinted clothes to generate extra money and also collected general donations. The efforts of the team were definitely reflected in the total amount!

Coming in a close second was Leeds Golf Centre, they were able to use the facilities available to them to raise the money. They had a silent auction with sports memorabilia and also a raffle with some amazing prizes, including lessons, golf buggies and golf balls for the driving range. Joe Feather also raffled off 5 hours worth of lessons, sending this to all his current database, this was so popular Joe offered the prize twice and this brought in a massive £1130, along with the raffle squares and silent action, their grand total was £1,666. A great effort from the Golf Centre.

Third place was HIVE, our maintenance team, they really got stuck in! Down on site they had a bake sale, car boot sale, car wash and a table tennis tournament. They managed to raise a fantastic £930.40, using their initiative to fundraise a massive amount of money. The team should all be super proud!

The other teams also came up with some amazing ideas, our Roomzzz hotels had a summer fete style day, which had stalls such as tombolas and hook a ducks. The central team hosted a Monopoly tournament, which was carried out over the week. Our Iconinc teams were at the residents’ beck and call, they offered to do random acts for a small donation, this included tasks like cleaning their rooms or taking their bins out. They also were making the students smoothies and toasties to help raise money. Parklane Properties Headingley had a raffle which included Live At Leeds tickets, along with other musical goodies. Another Raffle was held by Rentinc for the chance to win a bottomless brunch at SkyLounge at the Hilton. Our Fiance departments raffled off a car parking space in a prime position in the basement car park. Development and Design raffled off a massage and also sold ice cream for the whole of Northgate. Marketing managed to bag a free Haven Holiday and sold raffle tickets for the chance to win the caravan stay. Our HR department teamed up with central Iconinc to make barista style coffee and hot chocolates for a small fee in the office, along with a selection of lovely sweet treats. Alongside this they also held two raffles for The Garden Party Tickets and a table with a £50 bar tab at Chow Down.

Everyone did an amazing job in raising a substantial amount, with this year’s final total being £7011.71. The effort from everyone has been much appreciated. We want to say another massive thank you to all those involved and to everyone who donated! This money means so much to our chosen charities and this is a huge stepping stone in reaching our goal of 60K for 60.

Hive is back at it!

Posted on by Amy Louise

February saw Hive head down to help PHAB at the Prince Phillip Centre, PHAB is an all-age club for people with and without a disability. Members live in all areas of Leeds. Volunteer drivers collect members from their homes in PHAB’s own specially adapted minibuses. Friday night is PHAB night with a variety of activities, including sports, crafts, discos and bingo, they give those who don’t often get the opportunity to leave their homes a chance to socialise with others.

Their garage doors were in need of some TLC. Being exposed to the weather they were covered in rust and not appealing to the eye. The group uses them to house their mini-buses which are used frequently by all members at the centre.

Starting on the 14th February the team made their way down to start the project which will be completed over three days. Due to the high amounts of rusts on the door they needed to be sanded down before any paint could be used on them. The team got straight to work. When this first step was finished the team were able to apply a primer to the doors which would be ready to paint on day two. Luckily the weather held off and the painting began, with several coats of green paint the garage doors looked brand new, they were left to dry overnight and the team arrived on day three for the finishing touches. Making sure everything was ready to hand the keys back over.

The team at PHAB were incredibly pleased with the work completed, Ann Hart had this to say “”What a transformation. Thank you so much, first of all for giving us ‘the prize’ of completing this work, and the efficient way it has all been carried out this week…the finished ‘product’ is just amazing.” The positive feedback is one of the many reasons we continue to help those in the community.

Here at the Parklane Foundation we’re constantly on the lookout for small scale projects which will help the community. Small jobs such as painting garage doors can make such a huge difference for these small donation funded community groups.

All Hallows Church Food Bank

Posted on by Amy Louise

This year our winter appeal was to collect non-perishable goods to donate to the less fortunate, we did this across The Parklane Group. Due to the current cost of living crisis we thought this would be the most helpful option to the wider community.

The staff collected a large amount of food and the Foundation added to the collected items, we headed down on the 23rd December to deliver the items. The volunteers at All Hallows Church were super grateful for the donations which benefit their members.

When we arrived, their Owls Christmas lunch was in full swing, with lots of their members turning up for their Christmas Dinner, they also offer lunch on Christmas Day which is open to everyone. They offer a range of different events which again, are open to everyone, as they are an all-inclusive church.

Within the church there is Rainbow Junktion, they are on a mission to tackle food poverty, fight food waste and build community. They offer a Café, which is a pay-as-you-feel/ can donation basis and also a food share which is food surplus and bought as many in the community are struggling, this all on non-referral and no judgement basis and again, open to everyone! The café will benefit massively from the donation from The Parklane Foundation.

They also offer weekly and monthly classes from outside organisations to benefit the community including money classes and basic English classes. They have lots of opportunities to volunteer within the church, including in the café and drivers for collecting surplus food.

We were pleased to be able to help those who are less fortunate over the festive period and donate to such an amazing cause.

The Classroom is Complete!

Posted on by Amy Louise

We have the final update for the school in Malawi, and it’s great news, the classroom is finished! The Zikomo Trust has been working hard to ensure all the construction is completed, ensuring it’s ready to get the children in and learning.

As we mentioned before, many of the children’s education is weather dependent as they learn outside under a tree, when it rains it means no lessons for the children. This classroom will ensure the children have access to an education rain or shine. This classroom will ensure that 240 children have access to learning everyday.

The pictures are amazing and the school looks fantastic! The transformation is unbelievable.

Here at the Foundation we’re pleased to have been a part of such a rewarding project and this is not the end of our partnership with the Zikomo Trust. The work Barry and team have carried out in Malawi has been life changing for those involved, giving the children a stepping stone to achieve their dreams.

St Georges Crypt

Posted on by Amy Louise

On Friday 16th December we headed down to St Georges Crypt to donate 300 “self-care” packages, which included shampoo, conditioner and body wash to help those using the facilities. These were carried over from our Foundation Dinner, the guests would usually receive these as a favour on the tables, however we made the conscious decision to donate to those who need it much more.

During the visit we were given a tour round the facilities and given an insight into the amazing work they’re able to carry out for the homeless and those in need. They offer care, compassion and hope. The facilities include 72 bed spaces which are available 365 days a year, which cover their residential projects and Overnight Centre; Regent Lodge, Growing Rooms and emergency bedrooms. They provide practical support in terms of getting fed, cleaned up and clothed which is where the self-care packages will be beneficial. They also offer opportunities for the residents to gain skills, self-confidence and a sense of achievement.

The Crypt had a really successful previous year and we’re sure will continue to offer out help and support. They provided 10,920 beds for occupants needing a warm and safe place to stay. While also providing 12, 382 hot showers to occupants and guests, and also 65,700 hot meals to their residents and others in need, courtesy of their catering team.

Our work with St Georges Crypt has been ongoing for many years and we will continue to support our charity partner in any way we can as it benefits the lives of many in Leeds, being a safe space which many can rely on.