Barry Cryer in Utopia
Howard Lake | 24 July 2006 | Newswire
On Saturday, July 15th, the beautiful grounds of Broughton Hall, near Skipton, provided the setting for a fabulous fundraising evening on behalf of national charity for people with learning disabilities, HFT.
Variety entertainer Barry Cryer OBE, who was born in Leeds and educated at Leeds Grammar School and University, was guest speaker at the event which was attended by over eighty guests. Barry’s national television and radio appearances have featured many panel games including Radio 4’s hugely popular I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue “and “Just A Minute”.
He is also famous for having written gags for comedy legends including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Sir Harry Secombe, Dick Emery, Dave Allen and Les Dawson.
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Canapés and Champagne were served before supper in the Michael Hopkins award winning Utopia pavilion which overlooks the stunning two acre Victorian walled garden recently given a contemporary design by internationally acclaimed landscape and garden designer, Dan Pearson. Guests also had the opportunity to view a special display of classic cars and to take part in a grand auction.
As a special thank you for speaking at the event, Barry Cryer was presented with an old desk lid from Leeds Grammar School where he was once a pupil.
Over £3,000 was raised which will go towards Café Bella, a smart mobile catering trailer which is being run by people with learning disabilities. The mobile trailer is a new social enterprise from HFT Leeds which will operate at venues and events such as exhibitions and fairs throughout West and North Yorkshire. The trailer will next be in action at the British Legion National Annual Event in Roundhay Park on Saturday 19 August.
Café Bella will give local people with learning disabilities an opportunity to experience the world of work and will add a new dimension to other work projects in Leeds such as the Ink Cartridge recycling enterprise and the Job Club which has so far involved 27 individuals.
HFT has been active in Leeds since 1997, providing a range of services for people with learning disabilities which includes residential and day services as well as supported living accommodation.
ENDS
Issue Date: 17 July 2006
Notes to editors
HFT
HFT is a registered national charity for adults with a learning disability. Previously known as The Home Farm Trust the charity was re-branded and adopted the more modern name HFT which maintains its links with the past whilst emphasising its development and progression into the future.
HFT provides services for over 1,000 people in supported living, registered care homes, advocacy, supported employment and day services. HFT also provides a support service for thousands of carers of people with a learning disability, and runs a National Family Carer Network (NFCN) which links groups and organisations that provide support for family carers of adults with a learning disability.
HFT provides a network of services for people with a learning disability in the south west area of Sheffield and Grindelford in Derbyshire. This includes residential, supported living and day services for 45 people.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.