Partnership inspires young people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate to spread the kindness by ‘Looking out for each other’

Over 22 local organisations working alongside young people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate have signed up to support a new #SpreadTheKindness campaign.

In September, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) launched an exciting new phase of the ‘Looking out for our neighbours’ community campaign. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the campaign had inspired over 49,000 people to get involved by making a positive difference to their neighbours’ lives through acts of kindness.

#SpreadTheKindness is reaching 15–24-year-olds living, in education or working across the area.  It aims to encourage young people to check in and share positive messages with friends either online or in person.

WY&H HCP wants to thank all organisations who have already signed up to the campaign and who are sharing it with local young people.  This includes: Coop Member Pioneer and Calder community cares, North Yorkshire County Council, The Brunswick Centre, Wakefield Youth Justice Services, Kirklees Council, Good News Yorkshire, Healthy Futures Calderdale ,Leeds University Union, Barca-Leeds, 12th Leeds Boys: Brigade, Joint Activities & Motor Education Service, Newground Together, The Holy Family Catholic School, The Youth Association, Calder Community Cares, Leeds College of Building, Young Lives Consortium, Healthwatch , Crofton and Sharlston Medical Practice, Children Inspired by Yoga, The Kindness Hub and North Huddersfield Trust School.

As more organisations continue to sign up each day it’s not too late to join them. If you work alongside local young people, you can sign up to the campaign today. It takes two minutes to complete an online form at: ourneighbours.org.uk/eachother/

The simplicity of the #SpreadTheKindness campaign means organisations can adapt the campaign to suit them and the young people they work alongside. Once organisations sign-up they receive a supporter’s pack containing the campaign materials and one of the campaign ambassadors will be in touch to talk you through some ideas of how you can use the pack. There’s lots of ways to work with young people and showcase how they are spreading kindness, this could be through a short video, taking photographs or sharing their activity online.

The Brunswick Centre provides community-based services across Calderdale and Kirklees and are actively supporting the campaign. The young people from the LGBT youth group created a video about how they are spreading kindness with each other and this can be viewed online .

Kate Ribchester a LGBT Youth Worker from The Brunswick Centre said: “At the Brunswick centre our young people have really embraced spreading kindness, from small gestures of making toast to listening and being there for each other. As a worker we are constantly seeing young people struggling with their mental health. Spreading acts of kindness, we know helps improve mental health and spreads happiness”

Beate Wagner, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services at Wakefield Council and Joint Senior Responsible Officer for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Children, Young People and Families Programme, said: “Looking out for each other has never been more important. A huge thank you to the broad variety of organisations, schools and settings working alongside young people that have so far signed up. Services in daily contact with young people such as the community groups, justice services and universities are already making such a positive difference and even more so by sharing this simple but important message”.

Dr Adam Sheppard, Chair of NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group, and the urgent and emergency care programme board, said “The many local organisations signing up gives this campaign the platform to make a real difference. Increasing the connectivity and personal resilience of young people are factors that can have a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing. It’s great to know that so many local young people will be seeing it and inspired by it.”

Saleem a campaign ambassador for #SpreadTheKindness said “It has been great speaking to lots of different organisations and discussing how they can get involved with the campaign. Sign up today by visiting the website ourneighbours.org/eachother.”