Looking Back, Looking Forward

Last Thursday evening, guests gathered at Nostell Priory to celebrate the Community Foundation’s birthday, and what an evening it turned out to be.

When we began planning the event, we expected around 30 people. As invitations went out and conversations spread, the guest list continued to grow. By the time the evening arrived, we were delighted to welcome more than 100 people from across the Wakefield district, representing businesses, community organisations, supporters and local leaders who all share a passion for the place we call home.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Nostell Priory and blessed with glorious sunshine, the evening reflected on what can be achieved when people come together around a common purpose. We are incredibly grateful to Lord St Oswald and the team at Nostell for hosting us in such a wonderful setting, and to Sir Rodney Walker for his generous support in making the event possible as he prepares to retire from the Foundation as our esteemed Patron.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from football legend and broadcaster Chris Kamara. With his trademark warmth and humour, Chris shared stories from a remarkable life that has taken him from the Royal Navy to professional football, management, television and beyond. He spoke openly about the challenges he has faced in recent years following his diagnosis with apraxia of speech, while never losing the positivity and resilience that have made him such a popular figure with the public. His honesty, humour and outlook on life struck a chord with many guests.

Local Vocal’s choir performance further underpinned the uplifting atmosphere and rounded off a fabulous evening. The feedback we’ve received since the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people commenting on the warmth of the evening, the opportunity to make new connections, and the chance to learn more about the work taking place across our district.

The Foundation exists to support people who find themselves facing difficult circumstances, often at a point when they need help immediately. Many of the people we assist don’t neatly fit the criteria of larger funding programmes or statutory services. They may be escaping domestic abuse, experiencing financial hardship, dealing with illness, facing homelessness or simply trying to navigate a crisis with very little support around them.

The Foundation is made up of a small team with limited resources; despite these limitations, we work hard to ensure help reaches local people when it’s needed most. Whether this is through care packages, practical support or community projects, our aim remains the same: to help people move forward and create opportunities where they may otherwise not exist.

The evening at Nostell was a reminder that there are many people across the Wakefield district who care deeply about their communities and want to see them thrive. Looking around the courtyard, seeing conversations taking place between people from very different backgrounds and sectors, it was difficult not to feel optimistic about what can be achieved when that goodwill is brought together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. We look forward to building on those new connections and continuing to support local people across the Wakefield district for many more years to come.