An annual fundraising event founded by a Cleckheaton company has raised more than £10,000 to help place homeless and recently re-homed people from Kirklees and Leeds back into employment.

HR, employment law and health and safety consultancy, Howarths, raised the funds at its fifth Music Extravaganza at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield.

The money will help support the firm’s family-run charity, The Howarth Foundation, which works with a network of businesses across Leeds and Kirklees to secure employment and training opportunities for individuals who have experienced addiction and homelessness.

Over 200 guests attended the event, which was headline sponsored by marketing agency The Design Bank and housebuilder, Erris Homes, with additional sponsorship by Sovereign Wealth Huddersfield, Jigsaw Commercial finance brokers, Aura Print and RRG Toyota Huddersfield.

Tracey Hopkins, finance and operations director at Howarths and Trustee at The Howarth Foundation, said:

“Our fifth annual Music Extravaganza was an overwhelming success. This year’s total is our largest amount raised to date, smashing our fundraising target for the evening by over £2,000.

“This year’s fundraising will ensure we can continue to support more people back into work over the next 12 months and extend the reach of our programme even further to continue changing people’s lives for the better.”

Andy Howarth, founder and CEO at The Howarth Foundation, added:

“Since launching our charity in 2017, we have secured employment for nearly 20 people, placed 16 into training and referred 13 into housing assessment. This gives them an important sense of purpose and the means to make a positive contribution to society after experiencing the grip of addiction and homelessness.

Howarths was recently named winner of the Community Award at the 2019 Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards for its work through The Howarth Foundation. The Howarth Foundation was also named winner of the Big Heart charity award at The National Family Business Awards 2018.