Park and Warley Weekly Digest 9.12.22

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Hello!  Here is a quick update of some of the latest opportunities in Park and Warley that you might be interested in.

Latest News

Creations Christmas Event flyer attached

Join staff and families at Creations Children’s Centre for an action packed Christmas event on Tuesday 20 December

10am – 12noon at Albert Road, Pellon HX2 0QD

Facepainting, Xmas crafts and a visit from Santa!

Warm Space at Halifax Elim Church flyer attached

Halifax Elim Church are delighted to be opening a Warm Space at their church building Every Tuesday (except 27th Dec) 1pm – 3.30pm.

Hot Drinks, Toast, Phone chargers, Friends, Table Tennis, Study Desks FREE for Everyone and it will be warm!

HOT Social

Join Halifax Opportunities Trust at Elsie Whiteley Centre on Wednesday 14th December for a seasonal get-together!

Meet fellow business owners at our warm, friendly and informal social event.

Places are filling fast, so book your free place now  http://ow.ly/UFw150LPOf9

Halifax Opportunities Trust’s The Outback celebrates Community Spirit Awards win!

Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT) is thrilled to announce it has won the Great and Green Community Spirit Award 2022 for the vast work The Outback Community Kitchen and Garden undertakes and delivers, in Park ward’s very own 1-hectare of green space. The inspirational Awards, co-ordinated by Community Foundation for Calderdale, took place on 24th November….  more here…. https://www.regen.org.uk/calderdale-charity-wins-great-and-green-community-spirit-award-for-the-outback-community-kitchen-and-garden/

Know the signs of Strep A

Parents and carers in Calderdale are being encouraged to learn the symptoms of Strep A so they know what to look out for if their child begins to feel poorly. 

Cases of Group A streptococcus (GAS), sometimes known as Strep A or scarlet fever, occur every year, although it’s more common to see them in late Winter and Spring rather than this time of year.

Symptoms include a bad sore throat which makes eating and swallowing difficult, a headache, fever and a fine, pinkish or red body rash which feels like sandpaper when touched. On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually.

For more information on scarlet fever please watch a video message from Calderdale Director of Public Health, Debs Harkins or visit the NHS website

Energy Saving Tips
Many more people are struggling this year with the increases in the cost of living. If you struggle to heat your home and it is cold and damp, your health is likely to suffer. Children who grow up in them are more likely to have health issues when they are older.
Ofgem energy advice hub: Ofgem have launched a central hub for advice, support and information about energy bills. It also includes links to other resources such as Citizens Advice and Energy Savings Trust, and to webpages where eligible consumers can apply for financial support. You can access the page here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-advice-households
The energy section on the Council’s Cost of Living support web page offers lots of useful advice if you are struggling to pay your bills this year. 

Winter Wise: Staying Warm
Our Winter Wise guide has lots of advice to keep you warm this winter. Including:

  • Move furniture away from radiators – obstructing radiators stops the heat flow around the room.
  • Turn appliances off at the wall, including microwaves, ovens, TV, gaming components, mobile phone charger, anything that still uses electric when switched “off”. Standby energy can use 10% of your electricity, so for every £10 spent, £1 is wasted!
  • Draw the curtains before it’s completely dark, tuck them behind the radiator if it is under the window. Keep the warmth in, keep the cold out.
  • Fit draught proofing around your doors and windows, you’d be surprised how much heat can be lost.  

If you can, try and heat your home to at least 18 degrees to keep warm and healthy. We have various schemes running throughout the year that could support you with the cost of insulation and heating measures. Each scheme will have different qualifying criteria and for the majority of schemes you don’t need to be claiming a benefit to qualify. Plus, even if you have not been eligible before, this may change with different schemes, so get in touch to find out what’s available. If you are interested in any of our schemes, and meet the qualifying criteria, please email HEAT@calderdale.gov.uk, or call 01422 392199 and a member of our team will get in touch. 
There’s lots more advice for winter on our Winter Wise page.

What’s On – Activities and Events

This weekend!  Thriftmas fun day
North Halifax Partnership is holding a Christmas event where you can enjoy some festive fun, craft and refreshments and get hints and tips on ways to save money whilst enjoying a greener Christmas.
Come along to Forest Cottage, Cousin Lane, Halifax from 1-4pm on Saturday 10 December. This is a free event – just bring an unwanted gift to ‘swish’ if you wish. For more details, click here.

This weekend!  Christmas ‘Comfort & Joy’ concert

At the Halifax Minster on Saturday 10th December.
All proceeds will go to Healthy Minds! We’re so lucky to be involved in this wonderful event.
Everyone is welcome. This promises to be a glorious and uplifting evening of festive music and carols. Enjoy the sounds of Christmas performed by talented local performers of all ages. The inspirational Elland Silver Youth Band will be there along with the award-winning Bradshaw School Choir.
Young choristers from the Minster choir will also be making an appearance, filling the Minster with their good cheer. Supporting these young performers will be the joyful and amazing performances from other musical locals.

This heartwarming ‘Comfort & Joy’ concert is organised by Rotary Club of Halifax and they have chosen to support Healthy Minds.

Come along with the family, this is a concert for all ages.

Tickets are £5available on the door or online.
Entry FREE for under 16 years.

This weekend!  Mayor’s festive fayre
Come along to Halifax Town Hall on 10 December to join in some festive fun and help raise money for the Mayor’s Charities – Andy’s Man Club and Elland Silver Band. There will be beautiful stalls selling unusual gifts and delicious food, musical entertainment and tombola. Santa is also visiting and will have his very own grotto! 10am until 3pm, free entry. Click here to see the flyer

Community Activities in Pellon and Mount Tabor flyer attached

Gentle exercise including Tai-Chi and social activities, arts and crafts, singing groups and coffee mornings for residents of Pellon and Mount Tabor.

Take a look at the attached flyer to see what’s on.

Book to avoid disappointment… more….http://halifaxnorthandeast.com/…/community-activities…/

Free or low cost Festive activities throughout Calderdale

The team at Staying Well have outdone themselves yet again in bringing you tidings of comfort and joy for the festive period!

The attached Christmas Guide is packed full of festive events and celebrations, all the way up to the big day and more!

Don’t be alone this Christmas. With many events, including community meals, you have options.

All these activities are either free of charge or have a small cost entry fee.

Take a look and see what you may find.

Feel free to spread the word and promote so more people can enjoy the festivities.

Alone over Christmas?

Staying Well may be able to help you by putting you in touch with someone who can be there for you.

Staying Well Calderdale call 01422 392767 or email stayingwellproject@calderdale.gov.uk

Greener Together FREE practical workshops from Halifax Opportunities Trust

Learn how to create and make your own items ideal for the garden including: bird nesting boxes, hedgehog habitats, insect habitats, and planters at he Workshop, Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre.

You can take items home or install them in the allotment.

Workshops run on Mondays throughout the year. Please contact for next available dates.

Limited places available so booking is essential. Call Lisa on 01422 763813 or email lisa.connelly@regen.org.uk

Get Involved/Have Your Say

Healthy Holidays Calderdale 2023 – Applications now OPEN

Calderdale Council is launching its third year of the ‘Healthy Holidays Calderdale’ programme. We are looking for groups who can create fun, active and creative school holiday schemes for children eligible for free school meals.

We’re also looking for organisations who think they could provide a venue to host holiday schemes. We can match providers to host venues and there are funds available to cover cleaning, locking/unlocking services and energy costs.

 Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) will be supporting the Council with the delivery of the programme which launched on Monday 14 November. All information on how to apply for the 2023 programme can be found here: Healthy Holidays Calderdale 2023. Please take time to read the Guidance before applying as it changes each year.

You can also learn more about ‘Healthy Holidays Calderdale’ from the council website. Keep refreshing as the information changes with each school holiday.

St Augustine’s Christmas Appeal 2022

People seeking sanctuary in Calderdale need your help this winter.

This year we have been reminded how people’s lives can be turned upside down overnight, forcing them to flee their homes in search of safety. The cost of living crisis and the hostile environment have only compounded fear and anxiety for people fleeing war and persecution. We want to ensure that the individuals and families we support don’t have to face an isolated and bleak Christmas, and you can help make that a reality.

Show refugees in Calderdale that you care – visit our website to find out how you can help.

The Mayor’s Innovation Prize

The 2022 Mayor’s innovation prize is here calling all passionate, creative young people of West Yorkshire – join us to develop ideas to address the key challenges facing us all, including waste reduction and sustainable travel. Gain support, skills, resources and the chance to win a share of the £10 000 cash prize to turn your idea into a business. Applications are now open until 22 January 2023

For more information please click the link https://www.the-lep.com/the-mayors-innovation-prize/

West Yorkshire Prepared

The Community Grant Initiative provides communities across West Yorkshire with funding for projects, which help to boost emergency resilience and preparedness in the region.

Whether for flood prevention and protection, essential communication devices or emergency response equipment, our aim is to enable more to be done at a local level before, during and after an emergency incident by providing small, one-off grants where communities need it most.

We will be awarding amounts of up to £5000 to community groups and voluntary organisations for small community initiatives and projects, which will provide a direct benefit to local communities.

This initiative is open to all, but we would particularly welcome applications from community and voluntary groups working in more deprived communities and/or areas in which there are clear and present risks.

For full details on the entry criteria, or to download an application form, visit www.westyorkshireprepared.org.uk/community-grant. The closing date for applications is 31st December 2022.

Cost of Living

Simply Veg

Worried by the increasing cost of food? Simply Veg is packed full of tips, hacks, advice and giveaways to make it as easy as possible for you to serve affordable veg-packed meals that your family will love.

100% free 100% simple. You’ll find Simply Veg packing useful tips, interesting guests, and fun you can share with the kids on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

And you’ll find the ideas and resources you need to succeed here…https://simplyveg.org.uk/

New fund provides cost of living support

Community groups and other voluntary and faith organisations can apply for funding to help them support people affected by the current cost of living crisis. Calderdale Council, the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Cost of Living Emergency Fund, and the Community Foundation for Calderdale have come together to help Calderdale residents this winter. The three organisations have pledged over £225,000 to support voluntary and community organisations to provide practical help to people affected by increases in the cost of living.

The Calderdale Cost of Living Fund is focused on three main areas – Emergency Support; Prevention; and Resilience. 

Organisations interested in applying for funding should visit https://cffc.co.uk/calderdale-cost-of-living-fund/ for more information about the requirements and to submit an application for funding.  The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 9 December 2022  Please contact rachelb@cffc.co.uk or call 01422 349700 for further help with an application.

Read more here https://hxcentralblog.com/2022/11/30/major-new-fund-provides-cost-of-living-support/

NHS Healthy Start Scheme
You can get help to buy food and milk with the digital NHS Healthy Start scheme prepaid card, which now replaces the paper voucher scheme. You can join Healthy Start if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and you or your family get certain benefits, or if you are aged under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any other benefits.
You can use your card to buy plain liquid cow’s milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses or infant formula based on cow’s milk. You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins at the Calderdale Children’s Centres or by asking your Health Visitor or Midwife.
To join or to find out more visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk or call 0300 330 7010 (please note call charges do apply) You can also speak to your Midwife or Health Visitor. 

Social broadband tariffs

Did you know four million people on benefits are eligible for discounted social broadband tariffs, but 97% of those eligible are missing out – are you one of them?
See here if you can get a cheaper broadband deal with Money Saving Expert, here mse.me/3RH45Hu

Worrying about money? Support is available in Calderdale

Please see attached flyer for a step by step guide to find options and places to get help.

Employment and Training

Employment Drop ins

Halifax Opportunities Employment Team is joining forces with  North Halifax Partnership to offer fortnightly advice and guidance drop-ins, for registered families at their Children’s Centres.  

We can support you with

  • Finding a job or training opportunities
  • Universal credit applications
  • Linking you with specialist support services such as mental health, debt and life skills.

Call Sanah Asghar on 07784240653

New website aims to recruit more adult care workers

Locally and nationally, care homes, home care and supported living providers are struggling with staff shortages and this is putting a massive strain on their services. Next week, we are launching a new recruitment website which aims to increase the quality and quantity of applications and match adult social care workers with their perfect role so they can support vulnerable people in Calderdale and make a real difference to their lives.

Calderdale Cares Careers will promote the variety of jobs and training available to those contemplating care work as a career and serve as a dedicated platform for Calderdale providers to post their vacancies. There will be a marketing campaign to support the launch, which will include targeted social media, billboards and bus shelters.

Take a look at the new website here: www.CalderdaleCaresCareers.co.uk 

Green Warrior Workforce Development Programme Flyer attached

What does the Green Economy mean to you and your customers?  Do you want practical ideas on how to include green skills in your customer sessions, as well as practical ideas on how you can become Greener yourself?

The Greener Together project is running 7 unique sessions for community workers, youth leaders and anyone involved in delivering community sessions for residents of Calderdale. These will run in conjunction with Todmorden

Green Skills College.

  • 7th December – Reduce | Repair | Re-use | Re-purpose | Recycle
  • 14th December – Sustainable Fashion
  • 18th January – Plot to Plate
  • 2nd December and 25th January – Reducing energy consumption in the built environment

Sessions are FREE and run from 10am-3.30pm. Lunch will be provided

Please see attached flyer for more information or call 0300 330 5535 /email: hello@newgroundtogether.co.uk

Business Support

Cost of living support for businesses and organisations in West Yorkshire

At West Yorkshire Combined Authority you’ll find the latest information on upcoming support schemes that could benefit you as a business or organisation in West Yorkshire. These include the recently announced Mayor’s Cost of Living Emergency Fund, a new multimillion-pound fund to support charities and voluntary organisations which provide a vital lifeline to our communities and the new Energy Price Crisis Emergency Grants Programme for businesses, as well as existing support available such as our Business Growth and Enterprise schemes.

Click here for more info https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/helping-west-yorkshire/support-for-businesses-and-organisations/  

Join us at our December HOT Networking Event

One of the main objectives of HOT Networking is to bring together creative and strategic thinkers to meet minds and share ideas, to create strong professional links in Halifax (and beyond) through a relaxed and informal networking setting.

It takes place on every second Wednesday each month at Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre and unlocks opportunities for a range of businesses to come together and learn something new, or share best practices.

To register for this event please click the link below.

HOT Networking Tickets, Wed 14 Dec 2022 at 08:00 | Eventbrite

Business Growth Calderdale

If your business has been trading for 3 years or less, there is Cost of Living support available through the Start-Up programme.

Speak to Calderdale’s Start-Up manager and find out what help is available for you. Email start-up@calderdale.gov.uk

Voucher scheme to help with energy bills

WYCA is launching a £1 million fund which will help businesses towards their energy bills.

There is a registration form on the link below to find out more info once it’s launched. By completing this form, businesses are not applying for the programme – just registering to be notified when the programme is launched. It is for capital projects across West Yorkshire and across all sectors (B2B and B2C).  The company has to be the energy payer and must have a business premise so it can’t be a business working from home or where the energy bills are paid by a landlord. For SMEs 50 employees or less

50/50 match funding so a minimum of £500 (£1000 project total) to max £5,000 (£10,000 project total).  It can be part of a larger project.

The scheme will go live around mid-November so in the meantime, please ask businesses to register for more info on the website.

https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/helping-west-yorkshire/support-for-businesses-and-organisations/the-energy-price-crisis-emergency-grants-programme/

Xmas Markets!

Halifax Borough Market is looking for traders who would be interested in trading with them over the Christmas period. We know it’s early but Christmas markets require some planning!

Interested? Then send your details to us at marketsd@calderdale.gov.uk or give the office a ring on 01422 393584

Latest Vacancies

WomenCentre Volunteer Coordinator

Based in the WomenCentre Halifax Office

Fixed term contract until March 31st  2025 18.5 hrs per week – SCALE 6 SCP18 – 22    (£24,982 to £27,041 per annum – pro-rata)

As a large women’s centre, we support over 2,000 women and girls in Calderdale and Kirklees, aged from their early teens into their 80s. We offer a women-centred, integrated ‘one-stop shop’ service which recognises the links between the different problems and challenges women face in their lives, within a safe, involving and empowering space.

Closing Date: Tuesday 10th January 2023

Applicationpacks are available on our website: www.womencentre.org.uk

DaizyBell Housing Service Manager

Are you passionate about supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse?  Do you have housing management experience?  Do you have the leadership skills to mould a developing service and take it to the next level?

We would love to hear from you if you believe that every woman deserves a safe and decent home in which they can reach their full potential, and if you have the knowledge, skills and experience to make this project a success. We are especially keen to hear from high impact individuals that have the determination to make a significant and sustained contribution. 

You will provide high quality, proactive and confidential tenant focused housing management services to enable vulnerable women escaping Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence to maintain a confidential tenancy and achieve independent living in dispersed units of accommodation located across the Bradford district. You will supervise staff, raise the profile of Daizybell Homes and liaise with funders and partners in Bradford and Hull

Daizybell’s journey is just starting, our vision is bold and ambitious so if you want to be part of a dynamic team that will help change lives: this is exactly the right time to join us.

The salary for this post is NJC scale 29 (currently £33,486) for 35 hours per week (full-time). Annual holiday entitlement is 30 days + 8 days Bank Holidays per annum.

For informal enquiries and to request an application pack, please email jobs@brcg.org.uk

To download an application pack please visit: www.bradfordrapecrisis.org.uk

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 7th December 2022 at 9am

NHP Sure Start Children’s Centres recruiting now

North Halifax Partnership (NHP) Sure Start Children’s Centres are excited to be recruiting for qualified and unqualified early years practitioners to work in our Children’s Centres in Calderdale. We have a variety of roles available.

Our Children’s centres are exciting places to work. All the staff are committed to supporting their local communities to provide high quality learning for children. We provide an excellent working environment where children and staff thrive.

We are currently recruiting staff for the following posts:

  • Senior Early Years Practitioner Posts – Innovations Children’s Centre
  • Advanced Early Years Practitioner – Elland Children’s Centre
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus posts – Wellholme Children’s Centre
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus – term time only – Creations
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus – Creations
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus – Innovations Children’s Centre
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus – term time only – Innovations
  • Early Years Practitioner Plus – Elland Children’s Centre
  • Site Supervisor – Creations Children’s Centre

Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 11th January 2023

For an application pack visit our website www.surestartchildrenscentresnhp.org.uk

Or contact Julie Jones in our recruitment team on 01422 251090

Staying Well Worker North Halifax Partnership

Based in the Neighbourhood team at Kevin Pearce Children’s Centre – 37 hours per week – £26,045 per annum, pro rata / part time

The role involves:

  • Working with individuals to help find their own outcomes and solutions
  • Working with communities to develop local, sustainable social opportunities
  • Developing and maintaining partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders

It is essential that you have:

  • Experience of working 1:1 with vulnerable people.
  • Skills in working with voluntary and community groups – developing activities and building capacity
  • Excellent time management of own timetable, including experience of managing a caseload

If you are interested and want to know more, we encourage you to get in touch and ask us about the role, all enquiries welcome. Contact Nicola Webster on 07951 941 091. For an application pack please visit our website https://northhalifaxpartnership.org/

Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 5th December

Vacancies! Calderdale College

Have a great weekend!

Inclusive Economy Team