Dalton Ward Councillors alongside Dalton Together (a community partnership organisation …Read More »
Latest News and Info
Meet the Community Plus Team
21st January 2021
The Community Coordinators work across Kirklees supporting children and adults of all ages, by jointly exploring their current situation and helping them to pursue a healthy and positive lifestyle for the future.
Many of the local community groups remain closed at this time, but some are beginning to reopen and many have been exploring other ways of connecting community’s. At Community Plus they want to focus on what they can do, there is many different ways that they can connect people, online and telephone options can be explored, and they can support/signpost individuals into volunteering, training opportunities and work programmes.
They can also support groups to look at the options of reopening safely, so if you feel that you may benefit, get in touch.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail or for one of their co-ordinators to attend a team meeting contact Tracy McMohan on 07814 924 578 or email tracy.mcmahon@kirklees.gov.uk. Alternatively you can complete the online introduction form Community Plus here.
Community Plus are continuing to accept introductions. Just a little reminder, that Community Plus work with individuals in our communities, to achieve positive outcomes and help them to remain independent and in control of their lives.
Hopeful Families Programme continues through the pandemic
18th January 2021
The Hopeful Families service is continuing to take referrals through the pandemic.
The programme provides people who come onto this programme with a Mentor, who works with them in a holistic way to help them access employment, training & education. They work with people over long periods of time to support them with whatever barriers they may have to gaining employment, and work hard to help people improve their health and wellbeing in the long term.
If anyone would like further information contact the Hopeful Families Service Manager, Ruth Bristow at ruth.bristow@yccuk.org.uk or visit the website Hopeful Families.
Has your household got the most ‘rad’ radish growing skills in Huddersfield??
Why not find out and join in with this year’s most anticipated community challenge, the virtual ‘Radish Race 2021’.
From Hud with Mud bring this unique opportunity to have a bit of fun, to help raise spirits and stay connected through light-hearted but slightly competitive sense of togetherness.
In addition to the above outcomes, ‘growing something green’ can help represent and provide a sense of hope, so a combined community wide effort with this challenge would be incredible!
Growing support/ guidance will be available plus, there will be other creative and fun activities to complete too which will be great for the younger ones to shine with. There may even be some prizes up for grabs.
How to register
Entry is ‘FREE’ so if you are ready to ‘embrace the race’ and would like to take part and/or get more info, please email fromhudwithmud@gmail.com.
Participants will receive**: A windowsill growing kit inc: 1 pot, soil, seeds A welcome & activity pack Access to fun zoom sessions
*̲*̲P̲l̲e̲a̲s̲e̲ n̲o̲t̲e̲: Growing kit only available to Dalton Ward areas including Dalton, Kirkheaton, Rawthorpe, Moldgreen, Waterloo, Lakes, Standiforth, Leeds rd area, and is subject to availability. If you live outside the Dalton Ward, you will need to provide your own growing kit. In addition to this the welcome & activity pack will only be available digitally via email fromhudwithmud@gmail.com. Dalton Together may be able to help you find funding for printing, contact us at info@daltontogether.co.uk.
The NHS are now looking for support from community volunteers as part of the vaccination programme. They are asking for help with stewarding, ushering and post-vaccination observation at John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield. If you or anyone you know would like to support the roll out of the vaccine by fulfilling one of these roles, please email Tamsin Macdonald (Tamsin.macdonald@kirklees.gov.uk) providing your written consent for her to share your contact details with the NHS in this regard.
Covid-19 Community Response helpline
The Kirklees Community Response helpline is still active, supporting vulnerable residents to access the help they need. This might be support from a council service or staff member, a Community Anchor organisation or a community group such as a Mutual Aid Group. People can request help with accessing food, personal care or befriending services, amongst many other things. You can contact the Community Response helpline on 0800 4561114 or 01484 226919, or online at:
If you’re part of a Mutual Aid Group who had wound down since the end of the first lockdown but are now becoming more active again, please let us know by replying to this email: luc.bride@kirklees.gov.uk. It’s also really helpful if you can let your local Anchor Organisation know.
Community Response blog
The Community Response blog is a great resource for accessing information around support services, community activities and all things related to the Community Response.
There have been reports of a new scam where a person receives a text saying they need to book a vaccination appointment and it takes them to a fake NHS form which then asks for their bank details to prove their identity. The NHS will never ask for people’s banking information. There is a texting scam information leaflet you can download here:
This winter Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have launched a Let’s Talk Loneliness calendar that each day will share practical advice, inspiring stories, and support routes to encourage people to take the first steps to alleviate loneliness in themselves and others. They welcome your support with this by joining in on your own channels, using the #LetsTalkLoneliness hashtag.
They are sharing daily stories on DCMS social media channels throughout December (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube). The calendar is hosted the Let’s Talk Loneliness website, which also has advice and guidance for those struggling with loneliness or who want to help someone else.
If you have your own content that you’d like to create and share on these days (videos, photos, case studies) or at any point throughout the calendar, they would really encourage you to do so. The toolkit on the Let’s Talk Loneliness website contains the campaign branding pack which you are more than welcome to use.
The Great Winter Get Together: 14 December to 18 January
The Great Get Together is inspired by the late MP Jo Cox, who was killed on the 16th of June 2016. Jo was passionate about alleviating loneliness, and before her death she set up the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission to ‘turbo charge the public’s awareness of loneliness’.
This year, the Great Winter Get Together wants to take forward Jo’s vision of a less lonely, more connected world. The campaign will run from 14 December – 18 January, finishing on ‘Blue Monday’. This day will be marked by a huge online celebration to bring people together. The campaign is also suggesting five practical ways for people to connect to reduce loneliness.
The first campaign event, The Grateful Winter Get Together, is 7pm on Thursday, December 17th. Campaign ambassador Kim Leadbeater and BBC presenter, Nihal Arthanayake will be joined by local heroes from around the UK who will tell their stories from this year and share their hopes for 2021.
Join in! Let’s face loneliness together: one connection at a time.
Coronavirus Emergency Funding
15th December 2020
One Community – the Community Foundation for the people of Kirklees – has re-opened its Coronavirus Emergency Fund to local voluntary groups and charitable organisations and is inviting applications from them as quickly as possible.
Grants (up to £5K for individual groups and £10K for hubs or anchor organisations) are being awarded for the period up to 31 March 2021 and monies must be spent by this deadline. One Community cannot accept applications for loss of income due to the pandemic. Projects must focus on Coronavirus-related need. Priorities for immediate relief:
Organisations that support the on-going needs of vulnerable people to ensure that their health and wellbeing is maintained
Organisations in support of activities that relieve pressure on local statutory services, particularly emergency or health and social care provisions, or compliment their repose
Groups and activities that support vulnerable people self-isolating (the elderly, people with pre-existing medical conditions, those contacted by track and trace)
Support for food banks/food and hygiene provision and organisations working to combat hardship caused by the pandemic, including child hunger
Additional support as required for emotional support, mental health and bereavement support
They are particularly keen to receive applications from organisations that support BAME Communities.
What can you apply for?
The cost of food and hygiene products, delivery costs, for example, petrol, PPE and additional cleaning costs, volunteer costs responding to the effects of the crisis, staffing cost relating to the project, equipment costs etc.
Who is eligible to apply?
Voluntary and community organisations, including but not limited to:
registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations, community benefit society
constituted organisations and non-registered charities
community interest companies and community benefit societies
Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs)
Religious organisations (if the funded activity is not deemed to be proselytising).
