Park and Warley Weekly Digest 06.01.2023

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

Latest News

Digital Access Drop In

Do you need somewhere to access online services?

The HOT Employment team hosts a free digital access drop-in every Friday from 9.30am – 12.30pm, at Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre, where you can login to your online accounts.

No need to book, just drop-in.

2023 Calderdale Residents Survey
The 2023 Calderdale Residents Survey is now open! If you live in Calderdale, please take a few minutes to take part here. Residents’ views of our place really matter. They change where we’re going and how we get there.
We want people from all walks of life to take part, can you help us reach even more people? The survey is open everyone aged 16 or over and living in Calderdale. It only takes a few minutes to complete and you could be in with a chance of winning great local prizes. We are sticking by our Vision for Calderdale in 2024 – a place of hope and kindness, where everyone can realise their potential. Be quick – the survey is only open in January.

Calderdale Cares Careers Recruitment fair flyer attached

This career’s fair is open to job seekers, secondary schools, and further education students from across Calderdale to explore career opportunities in the Health & Social Care sector. The event will allow people to learn about career options directly from employers and professionals. In addition, this event will showcase the educational pathways and explain the skills needed to pursue different careers in the sector.

The event will promote a range of careers linked to the care sector. There will also be an opportunity to meet employers, get support with interviews, CV and apply for live vacancies.

This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a career change, career development and those who are finishing compulsory education.

Events

  • The Orange Box 1 Blackledge, Halifax HX1 1AF on Wednesday 25th January 10am – 2pm – Register here
  • Todfellows Space Oxford St, Todmorden OL14 5PU on Thursday 2nd February 10am – 2pm – Register here

For more information about the event, please contact growyourfuture@calderdale.gov.uk, You can also visit the Calderdale Cares Careers website for live vacancies

Problem debt and tips for paying off credit card debts
Christmas can be expensive, and the cost of living crisis has added extra worries. An average household in the UK spends £740 more in December than any other month of the year, not just on presents but also on food and drink. The start of a new year is a good time to sharpen up your budgeting skills. It doesn’t need to be time consuming and there are lots of tips and tools on Money Helper here. 
If you’ve maxed out your credit cards over Christmas you can also find out how best to manage your cards and avoid fees and charges as well as know if you should transfer your credit card balance here and more useful advice on managing your credit card here, and avoid fees and charges.  
Find out more on our Cost of Living support web page.

Voluntary Sector Open Day – 23 Jan

The VSI Alliance is holding an Open Day at the Resource Centre, 8b Hall Street, HX1 5AY on Monday 23rd January between 1 and 6pm.  The event is designed to showcase the work of the VCSE sector in Calderdale and highlight vacancies, volunteering opportunities and trusteeships that are available throughout the sector.

If you are interested in attending as an organisation to showcase your work, volunteering opportunities and job vacancies, please email engagement@cvac.org.uk by 12th January.

They are also hoping to make time and space to support guests with the completion of job applications for vacancies at VAC as well as holding first interviews where appropriate. 

If you are interested as an organisation in following this approach, please contact to ensure that there is space available for you to do this.

Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration Event
Calderdale College is hosting this year’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day event, working in partnership with Calderdale Council, Calderdale Interfaith, Holocaust Centre North, and the Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association.
Confirmed speakers include:

  • Trude Silman MBE – Will give her testimony as a child that survived the Holocaust
  • (The Worshipful) the Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Angie Gallagher
  • Reverend Canon Hilary Barber

The event will take place from 6-8pm on Wednesday 25 January and there will be free parking and refreshments available. For more information, email paulwat@calderdale.ac.uk

Join the Big Sleepout at Dean Clough

Happy Days invites you to spend a night with them as they focus on the challenges people can face when they experience homelessness and crisis.
The Big Sleepout at Dean Clough is an opportunity to reflect, learn and come together to raise awareness and fundraise so that their services can continue to bring hope in times of need.
The invitation is open to individuals, groups and businesses. The event starts at 8pm on Friday 24th March and finishes at 7am on Saturday 25th March. There will be access to a toilet and buskers will perform throughout the evening.
Interested? Fantastic. Just send an email at events@happydaysuk.org and they’ll send you more details. 

Next Thursday – learn more about fostering for Calderdale at our live Q&A
Join our online fostering Q&A, ‘Fostering a new beginning’ at 7pm next Thursday 12 January to find out everything you need to know about fostering for Calderdale and have your important questions answered.
Diane Drury, the Council’s Assistant Director of Children and Young People’s Services, will be joined on the panel by Kate Duffy, Fostering Team Manager; Beverley Janes-Hurst, Recruitment and Assessment Practice Manager; and Jo Dye, a Calderdale foster carer.
The Q&A will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel and on Facebook via Foster4Calderdale. You can also sign up for email reminders. In this short film from our last online Q&A in May 2022, Jo describes her most special moment as a foster carer.

Grants to boost community projects

Calderdale community groups running events and projects to support local towns, people and the environment are invited to apply for grants from a £70,000 Council funding pot.

Local voluntary, community and faith organisations can seek up to £3000 from the latest round of Calderdale Council’s Community Small Grants Scheme.

Grants will be awarded to projects that help achieve the Council’s priorities to create strong, thriving towns and places, reduce inequalities and tackle the climate emergency.

The Council is looking for events and projects that:

  • Help increase jobs and skills, mainly through volunteering and community involvement.
  • Support more people from diverse or deprived communities to access events and activities.
  • Help to boost people’s health and wellbeing.
  • Back the drive to save energy, improve the local environment and promote healthy, affordable, sustainable and local food.

For more of the Small Grants Scheme’s aims and to apply, please visit www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/community-and-living/grants/grants-voluntary-organisations/small-grants-scheme

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 6 February 2023. The grants panel is due to meet in March and the successful organisations will receive their funding shortly after.

HOT Apprenticeships

Halifax Opportunities Trust Apprenticeships team is piloting a project that boosts apprenticeship uptake through levy transfers.

Establishing Collaboration Opportunities with Covea Insurance plc; the pilot supports local Early Years apprentices and businesses through levy transfers.

This project has so far given three apprentices (Early Years Practitioner Level 2, Early Years Educator Level 3 and also Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5) the opportunity to build their Early Years Careers.

Learn more: https://www.regen.org.uk/hot-learning-pilots-levy-transfer-project-to-boost-early-years-apprenticeships/

Looking for a new role in 2023?

The Halifax Opportunities Trust Employment team is working with several local employers and has a range of vacancies in various roles; take a look at https://www.regen.org.uk/employment/current-vacancies/

Winter Wise: Mental Health
It’s normal to experience low mood, anxiety or stress, but talking to people is an important way of dealing with these things. Plan and make regular phone calls, instant message and text friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. Children should be encouraged to share their feelings too. The NHS website gives you good ideas on what you can do to look after your emotional health and wellbeing – take a look here for more information. 
There’s lots more advice in the Winter Wise booklet on how you can help yourself and others and contact details on where you can go for additional support. 

The Better Living Service
Would you like to improve your health and wellbeing? Do you feel you need some support to get started? The Better Living Service (BLS) supports Calderdale residents (aged 18+) to lose weight, become more active and reduce alcohol consumption.
If your BMI is over 25 (check it here), you may be eligible to access 12 weeks free at Slimming World. If you would like to become more active, BLS can support you to take the first steps and provide the motivation and advice to keep going! They can also support you to reduce your alcohol intake if you feel it’s time to cut down.
For more information, please see the website or email blt@calderdale.gov.uk

Get involved

The Locala Community Fund 2022/23 is now open for applications!

Every year, The Locala Community Fund donates at least £10,000 to community, third sector and charity organisations in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Stockport and Tameside who apply for up to £1500 to support their projects. The Community Fund is part of our social enterprise commitment investing any profits back into services or community projects and helps projects that support Locala’s Better Lives Strategy and contribute towards one or more of our Social Value Pledges.

If you know of any groups in the five areas we work in who could benefit from a Community Fund grant then let them know that applications are now open. More information and the application form can be found here: https://www.locala.org.uk/get-involved/community-fund

Please note submissions to the Community Fund will close on 27 January 2023 at 5pm.

In January 2022, The Locala Community Fund donated over £43,000 to 30 community groups. 

Facilitators needed for family cooking workshops

Healthy Holidays Calderdale will be delivering a series of Family Cooking Workshops to support parents, carers and families of children attending the programme during the school holidays.

The four weekly workshops will be delivered in schools across Halifax between February and Easter 2023, during term time, and will focus on creating healthy tasty family meals on a budget.

The workshops will each be two hours and will take place after lessons have finished.

Two training sessions for facilitators will take place in February 2023.

We are looking for enthusiastic food lovers to facilitate these workshops.

If you have cooking experience and passion and would like to share your food skills with families in Calderdale, please get in touch for more information and to register interest by Wednesday January 11th.

(Please note – a current valid DBS check needs to be in place)

Please contact Jess Heald Jess.Heald@calderdale.gov.uk or Áine Douglas.    aine.calderdalefoodnetwork@gmail.com

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.

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

Cold Weather Payments and the Priority Services Register
Cold Weather Payments are one of the ways that you can get a bit of money back to offset the additional expense brought on by a harsh winter. If you’re eligible for them, you can use these payments to help you afford to heat your home or buy warm clothes or extra bedding. Find out here if you are eligible to apply. You can also find out more here.
The Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations. There is also advice on the help available if you’re struggling to pay for energy.

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

Free apprenticeship training and support for employers in Calderdale and its surrounding areas 
Would you like to introduce apprenticeships into your business? Or do you already offer apprenticeships but would like to make them even better? If this sounds like you, Calderdale College is encouraging you to get in touch to find out how your business can benefit from its fully-funded Collaborative Apprenticeships project.
Available to SMEs across Calderdale and its surrounding areas, Collaborative Apprenticeships aims to help employers hire new apprentices, improve existing apprenticeship provision and increase the number of apprenticeships that they offer. It will do so through offering a wide range of FREE training courses, services and support for employers. Covering everything from an introduction to apprenticeships, to green and sustainability training, the courses are designed to either help employers understand how they can introduce apprenticeships into their business, or how they can take advantage of additional training opportunities that will upskill their existing workforce.
The college will also be offering apprenticeship levy transfers, supporting SMEs in the area to offer new apprentices by transferring funds from larger, levy-paying businesses. 
Collaborative Apprenticeships is managed by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC) and funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). To find out more, please visit the college website, or email apprenticeships@calderdale.ac.uk.

Calderdale College – January Open Event

Hoping for a new start in 2023? Visit us in the NewYear and explore your options!

Book your place and unlock the chance to:

  • Discover college life (and what makes it different to school)
  • Tour our workshops
  • Hear about our University Centre courses

Tuesday 17 January 2023, 16:30 – 19:00

Book here: https://bit.ly/3uO4EGn

Looking to develop your Maths or English skills? Apply now!

Start 2023 by learning a skill new! Calderdale College’s Maths and English courses are designed to give you the skills that are useful in work and everyday life.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3FzhNJo

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

Business Support

Green Warrior Workforce Development Programme

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.

  • 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

For more information call 0300 330 5535 /email: hello@newgroundtogether.co.uk

Skills Connect – Training Offer for Employers
West Yorkshire Combined Authority are pleased to let you know that for a limited period, they are offering employers with a direct offer of training to upskill their staff. The training can be co-designed with employers and flexible to meet their skills needs. We know that businesses are struggling with retention and recruitment, upskilling the workforce is a great opportunity to increase productivity in the workplace

The training offer is heavily subsidised for SMEs and there is a wide range of courses that could be developed including Computer Aided Design, Digital Marketing, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Management, Green Business & Industry and many more. 
Large employers (250+ employees) would be required to contribute 30% of course costs and SME’s would be required to contribute 10% of course costs. We currently expect this to be no more than £1,444.95 (30%) or £481.65 (10%) per participant, but this is subject to confirmation.
Any employers who want to discuss the options or help co-design a course should contact frances.burkinshaw@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Calling all Yorkshire businesses

Finance Yorkshire’s Fund provides flexible investment packages to eligible SME’s based or locating to areas within Yorkshire & Humber with the ambition to expand, create jobs and improve productivity.
Loans from £5,000 to £250,000 to assist with the following:

•        Hiring new staff
•        Sales & marketing activity
•        New product development
•        Entering new markets
•        Exporting abroad
•        Purchasing new equipment
•        Working Capital
•        Asset acquisitions
Please get in touch if you are interested in applying. Email microloans@finance-yorkshire.com

Latest Vacancies

Vacancy! Food Poverty Co-ordinator

The VSI Alliance is recruiting for a Food Poverty Co-ordinator to support the Voluntary Sector in tackling the growing challenges across many of our Calderdale communities in accessing food.

£25,922 per annum, 30 hours per week

Permanent Contract

Closing date 10th Jan 2023

More here – https://www.vsialliance.org.uk/post/weeks-update/vsi-alliance-food-poverty-coordinator-closing-10th-january

Vacancy! Cost of Living Coordinator

The VSI Alliance is recruiting for a Cost of Living Coordinator to help ensure that people and families in Calderdale can access support during the cost- of- living crisis

£25,922 per annum, 30 hours per week

Fixed term for 1 year

Closing date 10th Jan 2023

More here – https://www.vsialliance.org.uk/post/weeks-update/vsi-alliance-cost-living-coordinator-closing-10th-january

Vacancy! Specialist Mental Health Worker – St Augustine’s Centre

We are looking to recruit to a brand new, 2 day a week role: Specialist Mental Health Worker and thought you might help spread the word.

We’re looking for someone qualified in mental health work or a related field, with experience in the voluntary and/or statutory sectors of working directly with people experiencing mental health issues. Someone passionate about our work with people seeking sanctuary who believes, like us, that by working collaboratively with partners and people with lived experience of the asylum process we can make important (sometimes life-changing) shifts for people facing challenging issues.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday 10th January.

Here is all the info:  https://www.staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk/blog/714/job-vacancy-specialist-mental-health-worker

Vacancies! 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

Vacancies! Calderdale College

Have a great weekend!

Inclusive Economy Team