Our village festival is based on the story of our village which is that during the civil war, the locals from the village collected lead shot from the surrounding hillsides where the Cavaliers and Roundheads were doing target practice, to sell this to supplement their meager incomes. They had to disguise where the lead had come from, they wanted to melt it down, but they tried doing this by boiling it in water, which of course was not hot enough to melt the lead. Hence the name Leadboilers! We aim to put this story with a modern Robin Hood twist to provide a free-to-attend village festival, organised and run by unpaid volunteers, being aware of the number of families living on or in poverty in the Colne Valley, and supporting our local food banks through donations from attendees that are collected in a huge cauldron. We aim to use the festival to bring people from the whole community together, giving a local identity and celebrating all that Linthwaite and Cowlersley have to offer.

What we'll deliver:

• Local groups and businesses who have been engaged and collaborated with to promote their activities and services.
• Visible presence of security and medical care to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
• Friendly competition through no cost participation in the dog show, run-the-hill challenge and/or tug of war.
• Inclusivity - All ages, demographics and abilities included and considered throughout.
• A reason for people to come together and have a sense of belonging to the village.
• People improving their skills in organising and delivering an event.
• Improved mental wellbeing from being outdoors in nature, socialising and physical activities.
• Social cohesion, all local groups coming together with a common theme and celebrating it's diversity.
• Singing, artistic performances and dancing from schools, local community groups and other artists.
• Creative arts such as music, arts, poetry and craft activities.

Why it's a great idea:

Linthwaite was the only village in the Colne Valley without a local identity-based festival, even though it had a local folklore tale. Linthwaite has lacked a village identity, not having a focussed village centre, and has a depletion in village resources such as the town hall, youth club, community centre, etc. The festival gives a sense of community, identity and belonging, and increased pride in what we do, and what we offer. It also encourages increased revenue for local businesses, community groups and facilities. We provide a free stall space for information giving, such as Andy's Mans Club, the police, and Kirklees Place Standards. This year, this will be for the local scouting group. For individuals it promotes getting outdoors, meeting friends and neighbours, enjoying social events, improved mental and physical health for all. It will support local residents struggling with the cost of living through donations to our 2 local registered food banks.

Steps to get it done:

• Deliver festival on 6th July 2024

We collect for foodbanks that provide for the local area by promoting a 'bring a non-perishable food item' initiative widely in the weeks and months before the event, collecting these on the day of the event, and delivering these to the food banks.