2020 has been a year to remember and Trust meetings have certainly been impacted with the restrictions in place to keep everyone Covid safe.

Mr William Ingham became chair of the trustees back in March, but it was only at the first meeting this year, in October, that the official handover was made.

Bill has been a member of the trust since the 1990s and this year is certainly unmatched in usual trust activities and traditions.

Whilst meetings have been curtailed, grant applications are being considered as and when they come in and local causes and individuals are encouraged to apply here.

Horbury Common Land's Trust met in June. 
Grants were awarded as follows:
£1000 Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary club for Horbury Show
£800 The Senior Citizen's Support Group Choir
£705 Spice Colourguard
£250 The Royal British Legion, Horbury, Ossett and Sitlington Branch

At the quarterly meeting in March, the Trust approved two applications for grants made by local organisations. 

Horbury Carers were granted £400. The Carers group meet monthly at the Cluntergate Centre to offer friendship to those caring for other people. Horbury Craft & Street Fayre were granted £1000 to assist in the administration of the Fayre, this great annual event which attracts hundreds of people to enjoy our lovely town.

If you are involved in a cause local to Horbury which you think may benefit from a cash grant, please get in touch. The deadline for applications to be considered at the next meeting is May 31st 2019. Please see the 'Grant Applications' page for an application form.

2018 Chairman, Mike Adams, handed over the reins to Mark Turner at the Trust's Annual General Meeting in March. William Ingham will take over as vice-chair.

​Mr Turner said 'It is always good to support the life of the town through our grant making. We encourage voluntary efforts to help people who want to help the town'

St Peter and St Leonard is a Grade 1 listed building built by the Architect John Carr, at his own expense. It was completed in 1794 and dedicated to the people of Horbury.
The original 6 bells were cast in 1792 at the Whitechapel Foundry in London. An additional 2 bells were cast in 1899 and the bells were rehung in 1900. Since then, the bells have faithfully served Horbury for more than 117 years, but following specialist advice they now need replacing at a huge cost of £91,000.
Courtesy of Horbury St Peters Church Bells

Horbury Common Lands Trust donated £9k which has purchased Bell Number 3, pictured above.

In 2018, Horbury Community Centre Trust, trustees of The Cluntergate Centre, secured funding from several sources to begin a transformation of the tired and neglected community centre. Horbury Common Lands Trust have been consistent supporters of the Centre and were happy to approve two grants toward the building works totalling £19k of an £180k+ total project spend.
​The Centre is open seven days a week, employs two staff, enjoys the contribution of multiple volunteers and currently offers approximately 40 activities each week. Take a look at their website www.cluntergate.org.uk for more info