Category: Parklane Foundation

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.

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.

This year at The Parklane Foundation we have three chosen Charities of the year, which all support the same cause. They are Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Leeds Hospitals Charity. The family and the Parklane Group are dedicated to supporting those who are directly impacted by these illnesses and supporting the sufferer’s family and friends.

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity, their nurses are known as Admiral Nurses they offer continual support and develop, provide life-changing care for families affected by all forms of dementia – including Alzheimer’s disease. The Admiral Nurses are dementia specialists, they can help families manage complex needs, consider the person living with dementia and those around them and can advise healthcare professionals. They are able to give control back to those who are struggling, and help people living with dementia to stay independent for longer.

Alzheimer’s Society is a virtual source of support and a powerful force of change for everyone affected by dementia. While dementia is such a varied disease, the Dementia Advisers have a wide depth of knowledge combined with dedication and passion to help provide personalised solutions for those who need it, making a real difference for them and their carers. They offer everyone that Adviser on the other end of the phone.

Leeds Hospitals Charity supports Leeds Teaching Hospitals to make a real difference for patients, families and staff. Their mission is to support the Teaching Hospitals in their aim to to deliver the best care to patients and their families, this is done through working together with everyone involved. One of their areas of work is Yorkshire Brain Appeal, they are dedicated to funding research into brain diseases with a particular focus on Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Dementia and Alzehemier’s.

We are excited to work alongside these charity partners in 2022-2023, not only raise money but awareness for the work they carry out and the cause they are doing it for. Watch this space!

We recently shared with you how we had donated £4000 to Barry Brindley and The Zikomo Trust to help build a classroom over in Malawi, and we’re pleased to receive an update from Barry and the team on the progress.

Work has begun on digging the foundations, and materials have been bought and transported. It’s great for us to see the progress and we can’t wait to see the end result.

The possibilities are endless for this classroom when it’s built, the number of children it will benefit moving forward is huge, and something the Foundation is super excited to see and proud to be a part of.

The Zikomo Trust have already completed some amazing work over in Malawi and it’s an honour to be able to help them continue this.

The Parklane Foundation will continue to work alongside the Zikomo Trust in the Future and help benefit the lives over in Malawi, with its pledge to donate £250,000 over the next 5 years.

Here at the Parklane Foundation we are pleased to have hosted our inaugural Parklane Foundation Dinner on Thursday 17th November. We welcomed friends, family, supporters and guests to help reflect on the past year of fundraising but also to launch our new goals for next year.

While the Foundation has been running for many years, working on a number of projects, this was the first dedicated evening to celebrate the difference being made by the Foundation locally, nationally and internationally.

The evening involved key speakers, including ambassadors from a selection of our charity partners. Kicking off with some videos to showcase the work that has been done previously, with many not believing how much we have done and currently are doing for charities around the globe.

We welcomed Jenny from Young Lives Vs Cancer, our 2021 – 2022 Charity of the Year. We showcased the vast array of fundraising initiatives undertaken by The Parklane Group colleagues which raised a staggering £28,000 – truly amazing effort!

The evening was filled with some mouth-watering food! MyLahore started the evening with a picturesque grazing table and canapes, followed by a sit down three-course meal and an amazing dessert station. No one was disappointed or left hungry!

While Barry Brindley from the Zikomo Trust couldn’t attend as he was in Malawi, we were able to present his colleague Orla with a cheque for £4000. This money will enable a school to be built in Malawi meaning 240 children can now be taught in a proper classroom as opposed to under a tree (and dependent upon dry weather!) Barry was able to send a lovely video message which helped to inform the audience exactly how the money would help. The Parklane Foundation will continue to work with the Zikomo Trust in the future to help improve life over in Malawi.

Entertainment for the evening consisted of a magician performing some close-hand magic to our guests as they arrived, while Mark Ostyn and his two sons played some wonderful orchestral songs to welcome everyone, real Bridgeton Style. Before the mains were served it was time for the auction, tables went head to head to purchase some amazing prizes which went towards the 2022 – 2023 Charity of the Year fundraising initiative 60 for 60 – more below on our chosen recipients! To see the evening in we had a great band who manged to get everyone up and dancing – ending the evening with a real bang.

The evening saw the launch of our new Charity of the Year – Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Leeds Hospitals Charity. The chosen charities are very close to home with Mrs Ahmed unfortunately suffering from Dementia. The family and Parklane Group are dedicated to supporting those who are directly impacted by these illnesses and support their family and friends. With the total raised for last year’s chosen charity exceeding all expectations, the goal this year is to strive for £60,000 hence 60 for 60! (Our Managing Director Naveen Ahmed turned 60 earlier this year!)

We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who attended the evening, to those who have supported the Parklane Foundation this year and many years before. The money raised continues to make a difference, we will continue with initiatives and partnering with charities to help build better futures.

Barry Brindley is the Chairman and founder of the Zikomo Trust, a charity devoted to helping grass roots projects in Malawi, funding educational scholarships and helping the most vulnerable in society.

Barry and his wife worked in Central Africa in the 1970s and 80s, over this period of time they were grateful for the welcoming and hospitality from those in Zambia and Malawi, making many life long friends along the way. They returned to the UK in 1987 and as Thank you to those who made their time so great they have continued supporting projects in Malawi.

The Trust was formed in 2011 with the following objectives. They want to promote activities which have aim of improving the conditions of life and/or education. While also collecting, dispatching and distributing education, medical and relief goods throughout Malawi. Help to fund organisations and institutions actively involved in the relief of poverty and provision of education. And finally, the provision of grants and bursaries for identified children to attend an educational establishment up to and including tertiary level.

The Parklane Group has strong links to Malawi as their family moved over to UK in 1976, they have always wanted to give back to those who were less fortunate and have be able to do this in many ways. From housing project donations to providing several villages, and thousands of people, with clean drinking water, The Parklane Foundation is passionate about creating a better life for those living in poverty in Malawi.

Upon hearing of all the great work Barry had been doing, The Parklane Foundation wanted to help, they have donated £4,000 to Barry and his trust which will be able to transform and build a classroom over in Malawi. Upon receiving the cheque Barry was overwhelmed, he was then able to explain the impact this would have. It would be able to build two classrooms which can fit 60 children in each, he also explained they have two school schedules, morning and afternoon school. This means that 240 children will be able to use these facilities, which is amazing!

For more information about Barry and Zikomo visit http://zikomotrust.org/

The team at Hive have been on a 48-hour mission to transform a space at the Hunslet Club. They are a not-for-profit organisation which is helping to serve the young people of Leeds a safe space. They aim to serve these young people to reach their full potential despite financial circumstances, they do this through a wide range of sessions including dance, sport, youth workshops/intervention, and various educational workshops.

The Parklane Foundation heard that their creative arts space needed some rejuvenation, so they sent down their team at Hive to help transform the room. Following the 60 Minute Makeover format, the work was underway to complete this project in a timely manner. The team got straight to business, giving the walls and fresh lick of paint and laying down a new carpet. While also decorating the room to make it welcoming to children and young people who will be using it.

The team at the Hunslet Club were massively grateful and pleased on the work the Parklane Foundation has managed to organise for them. Their CEO, Dennis Robbins took to twitter to express his gratitude. “Amazing work from your team, thank you so much for the support, our members will love the transformation of this tired room into a creative art and textile space”

Seeing the difference these projects make to these small community groups is massive, and The Parklane Foundation will continue to help build better future for those in the community.
For more information about the Hunslet Club visit https://www.hunsletclub.org.uk/