THE success of West Yorkshire’s first coffee festival, held in Otley at the end of April has allowed the organisers to give a pot of money to charity.

The presentation was made, appropriately in Otley’s iconic Market Square last week.

The Otley Coffee Culture finance director, Stuart Jobbins, and the festival director, Richard Hughes, were delighted to be able to hand over the money to representatives from the four charities supported: Ian Agnew from Farmers’ Voice Radio, Lesley Noble and Elaine Shuttleworth from Hug on a Tray, Alex Leggat from the Otley Oxfam shop, and Clare Deacon from Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Farmers' Voice Radio was chosen as the 2022 main Festival charity as it enables farming communities, including many coffee farming communities to access and share the knowledge they need to succeed. Radio is the most affordable and accessible media in developing countries: it is trusted, inclusive and has a rapid, wide reach. Ian Agnew, from the Lorna Young Foundation, which runs Farmers’ Voice Radio, was grateful for the cheque and complimented the Otley Coffee Festival on being: “A great event, with a lovely, warm feel to it, very relaxed and friendly. You all did a fantastic job, and you had a brilliant team of volunteers.”

The other charities were chosen for their spread of activity. Hug on a Tray is a charity mobilising the goodwill of Otley to support it. It provides tea, snacks and TV to haematology patients and their families in St James’s Hospital, Bexley Wing.

The Oxfam shop is a great addition to the Otley shopping mix and helps relief and development work worldwide. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance saves lives across Yorkshire.

Richard Hughes said: “Whilst the main aim of the festival was to give people a great day out in Otley, we are delighted to have achieved our other aim of supporting charities, both by giving them free exposure at the festival, but also by giving them this money today.”

Stuart Jobbins added: “As a not-for-profit Community Interest Company we keep back enough money to fund the up-front costs of our next events, but are pleased to distribute surplus monies, £300 in this case, to good causes associated with Yorkshire and developing country farmers.”