Focusing Minds Celebrates Community Spirit at Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

Focusing Minds CIC — Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds was proud to take part in the annual Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade.

The event brought together local organisations, businesses and families. It was another fantastic celebration of one of the area’s longest-standing community traditions.

As an Ossett-based Community Interest Company, we were delighted to get involved. The parade also gave us an opportunity to raise awareness of the support available through Focusing Minds.

We provide mental health, wellbeing, counselling, SEND and personal development support across Ossett, Wakefield and the wider West Yorkshire area.

The history of the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

The Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade, also known as the Gawthorpe Maypole Procession, has a history stretching back more than 150 years.

Gawthorpe is one of the few places where a permanent maypole remains an important part of the community.

Records show that a maypole was standing in the village as early as 1840. The first recorded permanent pole was then purchased in 1850.

The tradition continued to grow during the 1870s. A new pole was erected in 1874 with help from public donations and voluntary labour. The first procession followed in 1875.

Since then, generations of local people have helped to keep the tradition alive.

Today, the event brings together the May Queen and attendants, decorated vehicles, businesses, community organisations and local families.

For Focusing Minds, it was a privilege to be part of an event with such a strong connection to the history of Ossett and Gawthorpe.

Focusing Minds wins third place at the Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

There was even more reason for us to celebrate on the day.

Focusing Minds achieved third place in the Class 1 Commercial Advertising section of the parade.

Taking part and supporting our community was always our main aim. However, receiving third place was a fantastic bonus.

It was also great recognition for everyone who helped to prepare our entry.

Most importantly, the parade gave us another opportunity to showcase Focusing Minds and our commitment to helping people “to make progress”.

Supporting the Ossett and Wakefield community

Being part of our local community is extremely important to Focusing Minds.

Our work goes beyond the support we provide in schools, therapy spaces and individual sessions. We want to be a positive and recognisable part of the communities we serve.

That includes supporting local events and community initiatives whenever we can.

Events such as the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade show what can be achieved when people come together.

They also allow us to meet local families and raise awareness of our services.

These include support with mental health, wellbeing, counselling, SEND and personal development.

Thank you to our Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole team

Our involvement would not have been possible without the people who gave their time and energy to support us.

A huge thank you goes to Andy, our personal trainer and coach Mark, and Focusing Minds director Nick, who all helped make our involvement in the parade possible.

We would also like to give a special thank you to the children who joined us and enthusiastically handed out Focusing Minds flyers along the parade route. Their help was very much appreciated and played an important part in helping us introduce Focusing Minds to even more people across the local community.

Finally, thank you to everyone involved in organising and delivering the Maypole celebrations and to the many people who lined the streets of Ossett and Gawthorpe to support the parade.

Focusing Minds: proud to support the Ossett community

Focusing Minds is proud to have a base in Ossett, Wakefield.

We are also proud of the relationships we continue to develop with schools, families and organisations across West Yorkshire.

Taking part in the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade gave us another opportunity to support our community.

It also allowed us to raise awareness of the services available through Focusing Minds.

Achieving third place in the Class 1 Commercial Advertising section made a fantastic day even more memorable.

We look forward to supporting more local events in the future.

We will also continue our work with children, young people, adults, families and schools across Ossett, Wakefield and West Yorkshire.