Charity pub aims to rock the world of fund-raising

FUNDRAISERS are in a froth over their new venture – Yorkshire’s first “charity” pub.

The Echoes Foundation, which supports families with children with special and additional needs, hopes their new pub – the Wassand Arms, on Hessle Road, Hull – will provide a major new source of funding.

The charity’s founder Claire Stockton was offered the use of the pub after owner Sue Perkins heard her speaking about its work at a business event.

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Since then optics, glasses and casks of real ale – including a beer named after Claire’s six-year-old son Finley who suffers from a rare genetic condition – have been donated for its opening on Friday.

Claire, who also works as an operating department practitioner, said: “I’m quite nervous – the pub trade is really struggling – but other pubs we have spoken to are 100 per cent behind us. People have been incredibly generous.”

The pub is already booked for the next two months on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. She said: “A lot of my friends are rockers and Friday nights are going to be dedicated to them. We are going to hire it out for private functions; we already have parties, birthdays and christenings booked. Everyone is buzzing about it.”

Ms Perkins, who owns two other pubs and a boutique hotel, will pick up all the bills until it turns a profit.

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She said: “I am just thrilled it is going to get used and I hope it raises a lot of money for them. I am busy with my other businesses and if they get something out of it I will be really pleased.”

The pub will run the first of its regular rock nights on Friday, with three bands on Saturday and a fundraiser by Jonny Allo on Sunday.

The Foundation, which helps around 250 families across Hull, the East Riding and North East Lincolnshire, has a state of the art sensory room and also takes mobile sensory equipment to children in hospital.

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