Wakefield was Closed For Business on Thursday 11th December when the WACCL came to town, raising £23,500 for Wakefield district Children and young people.

Launched in 2013, the Wakefield Annual Charity Christmas Lunch (WACCL) provided much needed funds to support the Theatre Royal Wakefield Performance Academy providing bursaries for those who would not ordinarily be able to attend.  The charities remit is to support dis-advantaged children from the Wakefield District.  In 2013 WACCL raised £13,500 for Theatre Royal Wakefield’s programme of work with young people.

This year business leaders and their guests from across the district enjoyed an amazing performance by the children from Theatre Royal followed by a lunch and charity auction. Local businesses donated very generous prizes to both the auction and the raffle.

“This years WACCL was amazing with business leaders and their guests giving generously to support our young people. We had some fantastic auction and raffle prizes from local companies and business people took time out to support WACCL whilst meeting up with colleagues and friends. We smashed last years total raising £23,500 for the two charities” said Ian Taylor, Chair of WACCL.

Ian goes on to add, “This is a team effort with fellow trustees Tim Welton and Andy Turner. Tim and Andy have also promised to do a 10K run in 2015 to raise additional funds for the WACCL.  We co-opted on to the committee some great local business people who created a real buzz including Pat Langham, ex Headmistress of Wakefield Girls High School, who gave us some great support and direction along the way.

Theatre Royal Wakefield Performance Academy is just one of the beneficiaries of WACCL. This year the Community Foundation for Wakefield District was also a beneficiary. The Community Foundation supports projects and groups as diverse as mum’s and toddlers groups, riding for the disabled and anti-bullying puppet shows for primary school children.

Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Executive Director said:

“We were delighted to be chosen as the joint beneficiary of this year’s fantastic event in Wakefield, along with The Community Foundation, a very worthwhile partner and cause. The monies raised will go to further the excellent work we do across the district, and in particular with young people. I’d like to thank the organisers for putting together such a marvellous event, and also the young people from our Performance Academy who provided entertainment on the day. Here’s hoping that WACCL goes from strength to strength for next year and beyond!”

Shona Walsh Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Wakefield District said:

“The Community Foundation are delighted to be chosen as a beneficiary of the 2014 WACCL.

The proceeds will be used to create a ‘WACCL Grant Fund’ enabling us to help even more small charities and community groups who provide vital services to those most in need throughout our district”

The 2015 Christmas lunch takes place on 10 December at Cedar Court Hotel.   To find out how you can get involved, please email ian@waccl.co.uk or to book a table for the Christmas Lunch go to www.waccl.co.uk

The WACCL was set up by Chadwick Lawrence Partner, Tim Welton, Ian Taylor MD of Media Displays Ltd and Andy Turner MD of First Choice Recruitment Ltd at the beginning of 2013. The first lunch was in December 2013 and raised 13.5K for the Theatre Royal Wakefield Performance Academy, giving bursaries and scholarships to kids who will not be able to afford it otherwise.

The three founders act as the trustees with a committee made up of others helping out including:-

Ian Parsons – Parsons and Co

John Horvath – JH Hospitality

Murray Edwards – Theatre Royal Wakefield

Shona Walsh – Community Foundation for Wakefield

Jon Ingham – Theatre Royal Wakefield

David King – The Energy Desk

Pat Langham – Ex Headmistress of Wakefield Girls High School and trustee at Theatre Royal Wakefield.

James Eaglesfield – Bonner and Hindley

This year the event sold out, with 300 local business people attending, the general feeling now is that Wakefield shuts for business on the afternoon of the WACCL.

Chadwick Lawrence have sponsored WACCL since its inception and always donate raffle prizes, including corporate hospitality tickets for Leeds Rhinos and HTAFC.

Thank you to everyone involved.