In light of the current “roadmap” for lifting lockdown, and the Stage 2 COVID-19 regulations that will still apply around the early May Bank Holiday, the Northowram Scarecrow Event Committee have concluded that the protection of the village, its occupants and visitors is paramount. The risk of allowing the NSE to take place this year in the current COVID-19 environment are deemed to be just too great.
It is with great regret, therefore, that it has been decided to cancel the Scarecrow Event in 2021.

THE EVENT WILL HOWEVER RETURN IN 2022

This will be a huge disappointment for the members of our community who each year enjoy creating their scarecrows, for those in the community who join the hundreds of visitors walking through the village to see them and join in all the fun. It is also costing the pubs, clubs and other businesses who benefit from the additional footfall, as well as the many beneficiaries of the NSE grant scheme.

Sorry for such bad news, but we believe it is the right decision, please keep a check on our website, Facebook and Twitter pages for further news and updates in the next few days.

NORTHOWRAM SCARECROW EVENT FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Following the cancellation of both the2020and 2021 NSEs we have lost 2 years of valuable funding for community projects that would have continued to contribute to the life of the village. Projects such as the “Light up Northowram Christmas Lights” and “Northowram in Bloom” floral displays both enhance the look and feel of the village and have been enabled through funding and support provided by the NSE over the last 9 years.

With this in mind we are setting up a “GoFundMe” page to raise the funds which will enable us to continue our support of the village. With this support, we hope to add to the £17000 already distributed to good causes within the Northowram community. Beneficiaries have included our Churches, the Community Centre, Light up Northowram annual Christmas Lights show” and “Northowram in Bloom”, the newly formed tennis club and the potential lifesaving defibrillator sited in Northowram Library.

The grants provide valuable financial support to these small community groups that have limited access to funds. They also add to the appearance, atmosphere, community spirit and feeling in the village that is of benefit to all our residents. Despite the cancellation of this year’s event we are committed to the tradition of supporting these and other community projects, and also to making the 2022 event, which is the celebration of our 10th anniversary, even bigger and better. We hope you will feel able to support this initiative aimed at backing our community with vital funding in these challenging times.

If everyone in Northowram gave £1 instead of buying an Event ticket, or £2.50 instead of buying an Event programme, this would significantly help towards our target.

You can find details and pledge your support here:   https://gofund.me/c11264d6

THANK YOU – THE NSE COMMITTEE