The Success Story of Honley Business Association | By June McLean

Endless Support for the Community She Loves

When June McLean was asked to talk about Honley Business Association (HBA) to another local group, her first thoughts were where to start.

It was only when June sat down and put pen to paper that she realised just how many projects and community events she has helped.

Many of you will recognise June. Alongside running her successful jewellery and gift business, Zebra, June is a founding member and tireless supporter of HBA.

As HBA’s secretary, June has always been an active member, dedicating countless hours to help set up and support local projects and community events.

Her unfailing support is matched by committee chair Sylvia Sellen and treasurer Philip Lofthouse. They are joined by dedicated committee members, Rachel Valli, owner of Redress Boutique, Oliver and Katie Schofield from Wired Coffee and Cake and Lynne Green, of Creating Memories. 

June said: “Zebra is my paid job and what pays my bills. The rest I do voluntarily because I feel so passionately about enhancing our village and supporting the businesses within it.”

The Success Story of Honley Business Association

HBA is run entirely by volunteers who feel equally as passionate as June does. With 123 business members from across the retail, manufacturing and leisure industries, as well as home businesses, there is always a lot to oversee.

June has shared some of the projects that, through HBA, she has worked on:

• HBA raised funds and secured grants for CCTV in Westgate and Eastgate, as well as a satellite hub near Queens Square Business Park.
• HBA paid for our village website – Honley Info – which continues to be updated and maintained by HBA funding.
• HBA is responsible for the Honley Community Facebook group that has amassed 8,800 followers, as well as the What’s Happening Around Honley Facebook page which has more than 3,600 followers. Then there is the private HBA – Members Only Group Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
• HBA has supplied the life-saving defibrillators you will find outside Taylors and Queens Square Business Park, near Magdale. The Allied pub provided another outside their own premises through fundraising, and collaborated with HBA to provide yet another near to Jagger Lane Recreational Ground.
• HBA organises the volunteers that put up our village flags.
• HBA organises the annual Christmas lights and trees throughout the village.
• HBA organises the Christmas Street Market in Church Street on the first Saturday in December.
• HBA organises the colourful display of hanging baskets you see attached to the businesses throughout our village. These baskets are paid for by generous local businesses. So alongside Friends of Honley’s fabulous efforts our village looks loved.
• HBA has a strong partnership with Friends of Honley. It helps to support monthly litter picks, painting, gardening, staining benches, and general village tidy-ups on the first Sunday of every month.
• For the last two years, HBA has organised the popular Honley Park Summer Markets.
• HBA supports the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ family Christmas activity in Honley, alongside Kerry Sykes of Holmfirth, as well as a family Easter egg hunt which are supported by local businesses.
• HBA is responsible for managing Honley’s bag dispensers that are provided by Holmfirth Parish Council to help discourage dog fouling.
• In response to complaints about anti-social behaviour, HBA set up Honley Youth Club. The scheme is now run by Friends of Honley.
• HBA secured £5,000 of funding from Holme Valley Parish Council (HVPC) to go towards a much-needed refurbishment of Jagger Lane Recreational Ground and Honley People’s Park.

A Village to be Proud of

June said: “I help to motivate our volunteers. I help to organise the village clean-ups and I am on the committee for the management of the Honley Youth Club. I have also been heavily involved in a grant application to get a ‘Youth Hub’ in Jagger Lane Recreational Ground.

“I do it because I want our village to thrive and for our community to want to keep spending locally as they feel that their businesses support the village as well.”

If you feel as passionate about our village as we do, then let us know. We always love to welcome new members to our team. Join us today.