A CHARITY in urgent need of funding is celebrating after being given the green light to hold money-making functions.

Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust was successful in its second bid for a licence enabling it to hire out its historic barn building and serve alcohol, despite objections from residents.

The Mirfield-based charity’s director Tom Taylor, said the decision made yesterday by Kirklees Council’s Licensing Panel, meant that the Trust would be able to make up for the thousands of pounds it will lose in funding this year.

The charity, which helps young people with mental health problems, expects to receive £7,500 less a month from central government funds from April.

Funding for the Trust’s child and youth counselling service is also being axed by the council and PCT, which means an additional loss of £5,900 a month.

Mr Taylor said after the decision: “It’s a relief and I’m pleased; this has been a really hard time for us.

“Last year we worked with 550 children in Kirklees and have provided 10,000 hours of support.

“We are making a real difference to the lives of these young people but we can’t survive on our own so we’ve had to look at other ways of raising money to continue our work.

“If we can get two functions a month we could raise something like an extra £12,000 a year and that would be fantastic.”

The council’s panel last November rejected the charity’s bid for a premises licence so it could hold events like weddings and parties in the listed building and barn.

The application was turned down on the grounds of noise nuisance and public safety after residents living nearby the hall at Northorpe Lane complained.

But a fresh panel was called to reconsider it after Mr Taylor appealed, claiming he had not been given the chance to respond from a late representation from a member of the public.

Neighbours yesterday packed into Huddersfield Town Hall to show their support both in favour of and against the charity’s plans for late-night events.

Objectors argued that previous functions had been disruptive, due to the increase in traffic and noise caused by music and revellers.

Beverley Sullivan said: “People have had some horrific evenings of unsupervised weddings before.

“We can’t get away from the noise and we don’t want to be in that situation again.”

Leslie Hirst, a resident since 1964, said he was concerned what would become of the hall if the charity ever changed hands.

He said: “I have nothing against charity and the supporting of children.

“But I’m concerned as to what would happen if the charity went or, if a licence was granted, that the residents of Northorpe will be left to pick up the damage that will be caused.”

But Mr Taylor said the hall would only host a couple of functions a month on Fridays and Saturdays.

He said lessons had been learnt from past problems and that more people were on hand to ensure people left quietly and parking signage had been improved.

Councillors granted the charity permission to hold functions and sell drink from noon until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The building can be open for other activities like films, plays and indoor sports between 9am and 11pm every day of the week.