The very first Teapots and Twirls was run completely for charity, raising a fantastic £512 for The Prince of Wales Hospice. Lots of very awesome people gave up their time and energy for free and we were bowled over by how well the event went – so much so that we decided to keep on going!

Whilst we’d love to run every event for charity, each one requires a lot of overheads: hall hire, live bands, workshop teachers, promotion, cake-baking, PayPal fees, etc, etc. Unfortunately, there are only so many favours we can call in, so doing each event completely for charity isn’t really workable.

We do, however, always run a charity raffle, which over the years has raised more and more at each event. We’ve supported a whole array of charities, both local and global – here’s a rundown of them and the money raised. Huuuge thanks to everyone who has donated prizes, sold tickets – and of course, bought them! You guys rock.

26th May 2012 – the very first Teapots and Twirls!
Charity: The Prince of Wales Hospice, a Yorkshire-based hospice that provides palliative care and support for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Amount raised: a whopping £512

29th September 2012 – September Swing
Charity: Candlelighters, a children’s cancer charity based at Leeds General Infirmary who support children and their families through this terrible illness.
Amount raised: £63.50

25th November 2012 – Christmas Countdown
Charity: Simon on the Streets, a Yorkshire homeless charity who provide street-based help and support to those in need.
Amount raised: £57

16th March 2013 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Benjamin Cook
Charity: Yorkshire Air Ambulance, an invaluable charity that provides life-saving emergency services throughout Yorkshire
Amount raised: £96.80

12th October 2013 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Scott Cupit
Charity: Ovacome, a charity supporting women with ovarian cancer
Amount raised: £75

24th November 2013 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Mikey Pedroza
Charity: Movember, a global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health (and encouraging people to grow awesome moustaches!)
Amount raised: £60

1st February 2014 – February Fandango
Charity: PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), a local charity that works with refugees, asylum seekers and the wider community to counter the effects of enforced destitution on vulnerable migrants.
Amount raised: £75

13th April 2014 – Easter Extravaganza
Charity: BARCA, a Bramley-based charity that helps children, young people and adults overcome a range of health and social issues. Among the many services they provide are drug and alcohol treatment, sexual health advice, counselling and community development.
Amount raised: £80

28th June 2014 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Benjamin Cook (our SECOND BIRTHDAY PARTY!)
Charity: The Real Junk Food Project, an ever-growing social enterprise (started in Armley, Leeds), that aims to bring about a radical change in our food system by reducing edible food waste. The charity intercepts perfectly edible food that would otherwise be thrown away and serves it as meals in their pay-as-you-feel cafe and also distributes it through their food boutique.
Amount raised: £97

4th October 2014 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Simon Bressanelli
Charity: Exceed (formerly The Cambodia Trust), an overseas charity that works in countries affected by conflict, disaster and poverty. Their expertise in prosthetics and orthotics builds a better future for people with disabilities through training, rehabilitation, education and projects.
Amount raised: £110

29th November 2014 – The Woop-Woop-It’s-Nearly-Christmas! Tea Dance
Charity: NSPCC, the leading children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands.
Amount raised: £116

21st February 2015 – February Frolic
Charity: SARSVL (Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds), an invaluable resource for women in Leeds affected by sexual abuse and rape.
Amount raised: £102

7th November 2015 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Kevin and Jo
Charity: St Gemma’s Hospice, Yorkshire’s largest hospice, providing the best possible care and quality of life for local people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
Amount raised: £110

23rd July 2016 – The Teapots and Twirls Summer Shindig
Charity: Alzheimer’s Society, a fantastic organisation that supports people with dementia, helping them stay connected to their lives and the people who matter most.
Amount raised: £92.95

8th October 2016 – Teapots and Twirls hosts Jim and Nicky
Charity: The Fostering Network, an amazing charity devoted to transforming the lives of fostered children.
Amount raised: £115