Chris and Covid We help people who are, or have recently been homeless find employmentHow does the Foundation Work?Find Out MorePeter Howarth - copyPeter Howarth – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (Unplugged)Our Ambassador Peter Howarth, lead singer of The Hollies supports The Howarth FoundationOur Ambassador Peter Howarth of The Hollies supports The Howarth FoundationListen NowNext StepWe help people who are, or have recently beenhomeless find employment Can you help someone take the next stepBecome an Employer FundraisingBecome a Fundraiser ... it’s easier than you think! Raise money and make a difference to peoples lives Become a Fundraiser We’ve secured employment 27 previously homeless people We’ve placed 34 into training We’ve successfully referred 18 people into housing assessment Remain in meaningful employment We’ve successfully got 2 people on the road to recovery. We’ve placed 9 people into volunteering work Become an Employer Give the gift of employment Become a Fundraiser It’s easier than you think Become a Volunteer Do something incredible Latest News HomepageLetter of Endorsement from Leeds City CouncilThe Howarth Foundation/Hidden Owls The Howarth Foundation (charity registered no 1171635) is a valued and trusted partner of Leeds City Council, and we have sought to support their development in Leeds over the last couple of years as part of the city’s work on rough sleeping and the wider homeless agenda. This support, also includes the establishment of their initiative Hidden Owls. As a small but valued charity they provide a person-centred, caring, and compassionate response to individuals who are homeless or at risk and have demonstrated positive outcomes for people they work with. Ending rough sleeping is a key strategic priority for Leeds and this ambition has the support of senior officers and elected officials across the Council, as evidenced by the recent ‘City Conversation’ that took place (supported by the MHCLG) to discuss how the city can better address people who rough sleep, address their needs and support them into sustainable accommodation as part of a collective transition and recovery framework. There is a strong multi agency partnership in Leeds working on this agenda to reduce rough sleeping and the wider homeless agenda. Delegated governance for Rough Sleeping sits within the Street Support Improvement Board (Gold) chaired by myself. During the pandemic, The Howarth Foundation approached the local authority with an ask to support them in finding, securing, and offering reduced costs with the use of connected retail units, in the district town centre of Armley. The Council moved at pace and worked closely with foundation to enable them to move forward on their ambition. The Howarth Foundation have since launched its training and fund-raising arm ‘Hidden Owls’ to order to become financially self-sufficient. This retail outlet is in the heart of the Armley Town Street and not only offers a service to local people but also provides a safe space for people in need, as part as of their personal recovery journey and reintegration into the community. Hidden Owls currently has several volunteers that fit the criteria, receiving work experience and training within the retail outlet, and has structured a system of referrals with third sector agencies, all who are connected to the Leeds Street Support Partnership. This initiative of preparing individuals to be ‘work ready’ is welcomed and will enable people to ‘move-on’ in their lives and therefore reduce the risk of becoming homeless again in the future. The work of The Howarth Foundation is well respected locally and we wish them well in the endeavours, plans and work going forward.... Read more...THF Quiz NightThe Howarth Foundation would like to invite you to the quiz night at Revell Ward Suite, The John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield on Thursday 14th October 2021 at 6pm. Teams of 6 will go head to head in this ‘pub style’ quiz which will test your general knowledge and ability to work together as a team. The night will be one of fun but have you got a competitive streak to be crowned the 2021 winner. All money raised will be in aid of The Howarth Foundation and the homeless clients who are supported into employment across Kirklees and Leeds. Price: £250.00 per team of 6 Complimentary food on arrival and a paid drinks bar will be available in the evening.... Read more...THF Newsletter September 2021The last 18 months have provided a challenge like no other. Like all other charities, and indeed many businesses, here at The Howarth Foundation, we have had to pull together as a team, innovate and keep pushing on. I’m delighted to say that we have done just that… Read More..... Read more...Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear opens fashion fundraiser to support homeless into employment Leeds United will host a special fundraising event that will support people who have experienced homelessness across Leeds and Kirklees back into employment. CEO at the club, Angus Kinnear, will open the Hidden Owls ‘Spotlight Collection’ fashion show, organised by The Howarth Foundation, at Elland Road on Thursday 16 September (6pm). The fashion show will feature models currently working or volunteering at The Howarth Foundation’s Hidden Owls community project in Armley, all of whom have previously been homeless or spent time sofa-surfing due to drug addiction, mental health issues and domestic violence. Andy Howarth, CEO at The Howarth Foundation, said: “Angus and the team and Leeds United Football Club are long-standing and hugely valued supporters of The Howarth Foundation, having provided work experience and employment to a number of our clients following our Business Building Futures – Street to Feet programme. “We are delighted to be working with the club again for this year’s Spotlight Collection fashion show. The event will help raise vital funds to help us continue supporting people who have experienced homelessness back into skills training and employment. “It’s going to be a fashion show with a difference. All our models come from a variety of colourful backgrounds with many recovering from street homelessness, drug addiction, mental health issues, sofa-surfing and fleeing domestic violence, and they will be modelling pieces from our Hidden Owls pre-loved store, based in Armley.” Hidden Owls was launched in July by The Howarth Foundation as a community-led re-integration and recovery programme designed to support people who have experienced homelessness to learn skills to get back into employment. Natalie Wells, general manager at The Howarth Foundation, added: “As part of the project, clients can choose to develop customer service and interpersonal skills working in a live retail environment at the Hidden Owls store, learning what it takes to run a shop, interact with customers and deliver excellent levels of service; all skills that are essential when it comes to securing long-term employment.” Since launching in 2017, The Howarth Foundation has placed 30 people into employment, 34 people into training, referred 17 people for housing assessments, and supported other individuals into addiction recovery programmes. Tickets for The Howarth Foundation Spotlight Collection fashion show can be purchased by emailing natalie@howarthfoundation.co.uk... Read more...Hidden Owls Hidden Owls 🦉 is an absolute gem of a shop selling new and preloved clothing, hand made craft items, bric a brac, children’s toys and clothing in a warm friendly environment and all at reasonable prices. There is no shop like this in the area. Hidden Owls 🦉 is also a community programme supporting those that have previously been homeless, at risk of homelessness, suffering from mental health issues, fleeing domestic violence and in recovery from substance addiction.... Read more...Hidden Owls Diary“How much is this?”, I asked. “What do you think its worth?” “You can’t put a price on something like this.” “My thoughts exactly! So pay what you want.” I counted the change in my pocket. There wasn’t much there but it’s all I had on me. I handed over every penny and dashed home to explore my find in more detail. Second Hand shops are magical places, treasure troves, portals in time. Objects in these shops have a story to tell. What I brought home from Hidden Owls in Armley that day was something particularly special. It was a tangible and genuine gateway into the past; the year 1929 to be specific. My grandma will have been 18 in 1929. I wouldn’t be born for another 34 years. L. Brearley will have been a schoolboy. Who’s L. Brearley? It was his invaluable 1929 Charles Lett’s School-Boy’s Diary that I’d just bought from Hidden Owls. Bound in leather cloth, with a back loop into which one could store a pencil, the diary had cost 1s. 6d. You could also buy it bound in “Fine Quality Leather with pencil and pockets gilt edges” for 3s. 0d. Both versions of the diary came with a £1000 Accident Insurance policy, and there it was, the actual policy, hanging on to the back page by the tiniest fragment of original gum. The policy was a sheet of fine folded paper. I gingerly opened it up but immediately closed it again, terrified that I might be the straw that finally broke the adhesion. There was no pencil in the back loop, but I did find the remains of some tear-out “Ford’s Blotting” paper. It was on the page beginning Sunday 20th January (the diary had a-week-to-a-page format). There was a narrow strip of the blotting paper still attached to the spine, with a perforated edge where the paper had been meticulously removed. The most magical part of the diary was the fact that it had been filled in. I could read L. Brearley’s entries, written in longhand. Most were in pencil, although some small sections of prose were in ink. I suspect L. Brearley had once blotted those words with the missing sheet of Ford’s paper. Before I got to L. Brearley’s entries there were printed pages devoted to career options, and pages with tables of verbs in several languages. There were more pages, with tables of a scientific and mathematical nature, and an almanac of various sports statistics. There was a list of statistics from various Universities and Schools, and two blank “memoranda” pages with no memos written on them. And then I eventually got to meet L. Brearley, in writing at least, and learn a bit more about him. As well as his first initial and his surname, I discovered he was a size 4 in boots and a 13 collar and wore a 6 ½ hat. I knew that his birthday was January 24th but had no year from which I could work out his age. I found out that he weighed 6st 0lb in August and was 5’ 0” tall in September. I suppose we’ll never know why he didn’t have his height measured at the same time he was weighed. The biggest clue to L. Brealey’s identity, however, had to be the fact we had his home address. BINGO! The internet can be a wonderful tool sometimes and I was determined to find out more about this rediscovered schoolboy diarist from the past. But first I needed to check out some of those entries. I held the diary in my palms and it fell open at the page where the blotting paper had once been. I read the entry for Sunday 20th of January, 1929. “Got up late. Stayed in all day. Listened to the wireless. Played at cards. Heard foreign stations. Father poorly”. I carried on reading. “Monday 21st January, 1929. Got up early. Went to school. Fine day. Went to The Palladium and saw Marguerite de la Motte and Malcolm McGregor in ‘Her Sister’s Honour’. Fetched the supper. Father poorly” I gently went through the diary, read the entries, spotted patterns of behaviour, met members of an extended family (Hello, Auntie Lottie, hi, Harold, whoever you are), started to piece together a rough sketch of L. Brearley. He definitely enjoyed visiting the cinema and listening to the “wireless”. He also played the piano, as did his father, who I’m pleased to say recovered from whatever was ailing him in the entries quoted above. I showed the diary to a friend, which brought out the private detective in her, and within minutes she had more information for me about L. Brearley. Not least was the fact that his first name was Leslie. The aforementioned “Harold” was one of Leslie’s two brothers. Their mother was called Annie, and she was a widow when she died in 1949 (further research revealed that the “poorly” father must have recovered, because he lived for a few more years before passing away). Annie left her three sons effects valued at £1305 19s. 9d. We also found out that The Central Cinema in Elland, which Leslie visited frequently according to his diary entries, is still screening films to the public to this day, albeit under a different name, and that an organ has been installed in The Rex (as it is now known) so that patrons can share the same kind of cinematic experience that Leslie enjoyed all those years ago. The diary is here on my desk as I type and I wonder what is going to take place in the next chapter of its story. It has not only survived all these years but it still looks good for its age. I’m amazed how the insurance policy has clung on for so long. I’ve asked for the diary to be valued, but how can you put a price on such a treasure. I have ideas about what I might do with it. I could try to trace any surviving family members for a start, but I found this diary in a second hand shop. How long has it been abandoned in a box, forgotten? How did it end up being donated? Why wasn’t it left to a surviving family member? Are there any surviving family members? Did someone donate the diary to charity because they didn’t care about it? So many unanswered questions. I suspect I might contact The Rex cinema in Elland and ask them if they would like to take care of the diary. Maybe they could have it on display, accompanied by enlarged prints of entries where the cinema has been mentioned. Perhaps they could include posters of the films that Leslie saw there, and headshots of the actors who starred in them. All I know for sure is that second hand shops are magical places. They’re places where writers can stumble across golden nuggets and lost treasures and take up forgotten stories where they’ve been left off. I paid for the diary with every penny I had on me that day, and yet I bought a priceless artifact. If I do sell this diary I will, of course, be sharing any proceeds made with Hidden Owls.... Read more...Looking for a Electrician and could give Wayne a chance?This is our client Wayne, who was referred into THF by his recovery program Spacious Places. Wayne came to us when he was ready for the ‘next step’ back into employment, to ensure that he was truly ready we worked in close partnership with his support worker and probation. Over a number of months we spent time getting to know Wayne who has led a previously chaotic lifestyle of addiction and prison, but has since turned his life around by engaging in recovery, anger management, developing healthy relationships and now having full custody of his daughter. THF even provided Wayne with work on our Hidden Owls project. Since then, THF has supported Wayne into training to gain a City & Guilds 18th Edition qualification (which he passed with flying colours!) and are now looking to match him with a suitable employer. Are you looking for a sparky and could give Wayne a chance? Contact us on natalie@howarthfoundation.org.uk... Read more...The Howarth Foundation meets with The Lodge Of FriendshipMembers of The Lodge of Friendship met with the Howarth Foundation after sponsoring a grant for £3000 from the PGM Fund to help set up a social enterprise to help former homeless citizens in Leeds, hearing first hand of the benefits.... Read more...Oldest shopper in town This week we had a visit from our oldest shopper so far, 94 years old Joan Toulson, mum of Helen Howarth, one of Hidden Owls 🦉 founders. Joan, who lives in Birkenshaw, absolutely loved the shop and spent a good time browsing before leaving a donation towards the charity. ... Read more...Gold and silver for Howarth Foundation ambassadorsOur lovely ambassadors Jack Laugher and Lois Toulson won gold and silver respectively in Tokyo in the world championships last week. They have both been selected for the British team for this year’s 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.... Read more... Lacie’s Story Dominic’s Story “Scott is a very positive member of the team and although he is still working through some of his previous experiences this has not affected or has been a concern to the business in anyway. I am delighted with Scott and proud to have taken the decision to move out of my comfort zone for the greater good.” Steve Russell Managing Director The Howarth Foundation 5 2019-09-06T11:38:25+00:00 “Scott is a very positive member of the team and although he is still working through some of his previous experiences this has not affected or has been a concern to the business in anyway. I am delighted with Scott and proud to have taken the decision to move out of my comfort zone for the greater good.” Steve Russell Managing Director https://howarthfoundation.org.uk/testimonials/ringways/ “We have worked closely with The Howarth Foundation during Gavin’s first three months at LUFC, and following a successful review, he will become a full-time team member in 2019” Leeds United Foundation The Howarth Foundation 5 2019-09-06T11:39:52+00:00 “We have worked closely with The Howarth Foundation during Gavin’s first three months at LUFC, and following a successful review, he will become a full-time team member in 2019” Leeds United Foundation https://howarthfoundation.org.uk/testimonials/leeds-united-foundation/ “The Howarth Foundation (charity registered no 1171635) is a valued and trusted partner of Leeds City Council, and we have sought to support their development in Leeds over the last couple of years as part of the city’s work on rough sleeping and the wider homeless agenda. This support, also includes the establishment of their initiative Hidden Owls. As a small but valued charity they provide a person-centred, caring, and compassionate response to individuals who are homeless or at risk and have demonstrated positive outcomes for people they work with”. “The work of The Howarth Foundation is well respected locally and we wish them well in the endeavours, plans and work going forward”. Leeds City Council The Howarth Foundation 5 2021-10-12T08:31:11+00:00 “The Howarth Foundation (charity registered no 1171635) is a valued and trusted partner of Leeds City Council, and we have sought to support their development in Leeds over the last couple of years as part of the city’s work on rough sleeping and the wider homeless agenda. This support, also includes the establishment of their initiative Hidden Owls. As a small but valued charity they provide a person-centred, caring, and compassionate response to individuals who are homeless or at risk and have demonstrated positive outcomes for people they work with”. “The work of The Howarth Foundation is well respected locally and we wish them well in the endeavours, plans and work going forward”. Leeds City Council https://howarthfoundation.org.uk/testimonials/leedscitycouncil/ “Endorsed and Supported by Tesco who kindly supply hundreds of coat hangers and size guides essential to the daily operation of Hidden Owls”. Tesco The Howarth Foundation 5 2021-10-12T08:38:42+00:00 “Endorsed and Supported by Tesco who kindly supply hundreds of coat hangers and size guides essential to the daily operation of Hidden Owls”. Tesco https://howarthfoundation.org.uk/testimonials/tesco/ 5 4 The Howarth Foundation Our Ambassador Our Wonderful Partners Natalie and I were so proud to be a part of the National Family Business Awards held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 14th July and… we won two awards; Family Business of the Year and, for our charitable work helping the homeless and guiding them back into employment and or training, the Big Heart Award. Natalie and I are passionate about our work and genuinely don’t look for reward so it was such a shock for us to be presented with such a prestigious award in the National Arena. A big thank you to all of you who believed in us and have supported us on our journey.