Kirklees Council are working alongside citizens and local organisations who are helping others during Covid-19. See our blog for the latest updates, mutual aid stories and advice for anyone who is helping others.
A heartfelt thank you to all the local groups and volunteers who are helping to build confidence in Covid-19 community testing and the vaccination programme in local places across Kirklees.
List of useful information for anyone who is helping others during the coronavirus outbreak. Our pages can be easily shared via social media, email or messaging services.
Dozens of local projects have already run successful crowdfunding campaigns through our Growing Great Places programme. Together they have raised over £380,000 in pledges, helping to get some great ideas off the ground in local places. Take part in a free online workshop to find out how to join them.
Got a great idea for making your local place even better? Want to connect with others who can help make it happen and raise funds to get going? Growing Great Places, run by Kirklees Council in partnership with Spacehive, can help you to get that great idea off the ground.
Online workshop, 1st December 2022
We’re running a free online workshop where you can get advice and support. We’ll be on hand to answer your questions and to share advice about running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Our online sessions include different breakout rooms where you can get the support that’s right for you. So whether you’re almost ready to get started with your project, or you’re just thinking about some ideas, we can help.
Over 30 local projects have already run successful crowdfunding campaigns through the Growing Great Places programme, raising a huge £217,657 in pledges. Take part in a free online workshop to find out how to join them.
Got a great idea for making your local place even better? Want to connect with others who can help make it happen and raise funds to get going? The Growing Great Places programme, run by Kirklees Council in partnership with Spacehive, can help you to get that great idea off the ground.
Online workshops – February and March 2022
We’re running free workshops where you can get advice and support. We’ll be on hand to answer your questions and to share advice about running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Our online sessions include different breakout rooms where you can get the support that’s right for you. So whether you’re almost ready to get started with your project, or just working on some ideas, we can help.
The deadline to have your project ready to crowdfund this Spring is 20th April 2022. Come along to one of our workshops to get all the support you need to get your project ready in time.
Shorter days and bad weather during Winter can sometimes make people feel even more isolated from their community and in need of human connections. Here are some of the organisations who run befriending schemes for people living in local places across Kirklees.
Royal Voluntary Service – Home Service
RVS provide social and emotional support to help people keep leading independent, healthy and happy lives. Support is available for everyone aged over 18 years. Under 18s will also be considered on a case by case basis. Befriending can be either face to face or over the telephone.
Age UK offer a befriending service for any older person who feels lonely or isolated and try to support them to lead a more fulfilling life. Support is available for everyone aged over 18 years. This can be either face to face or over the telephone (a joint project with Yorkshire Children’s Centre).
Our Community Connections Befriending Service is available to adults over the age of 18 who may be experiencing isolation and loneliness or a limited social life. Support can be either face to face or over the telephone (a joint project with Age UK).
MHA Communities befriending service is about getting people together to make friends. Support is available for people aged 55+ in the Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton areas. This can either be face to face or via telephone.
Luv2meetU is a friendship service for people with a learning disability or autism. We support people to make friends and share interests. Befriending support is available for everyone aged over 18 years. This can be over the telephone, by text, via email or though chaperoned face to face friendship meets.
The Kirkwood provide befriending support for people who have life-limiting illness or who are bereaved. This can be either face to face or over the telephone.
Climate Voices are a small group of local people helping anyone in Kirklees to get involved in shaping decisions and action on climate change. They are looking for local groups to get involved in one of two Climate Voices events in November. These events are part of the Global Assembly, which is an opportunity for communities all over the world to help make fair and effective action on climate change a reality. Can you help to facilitate a conversation with a group of people in your area?
Our planet is heating up, reaching dangerous levels. Pollutedair, water and land impacts on every living thing. Political and business leaders are talking about climate change and campaigners are working hard to influence decisions.
So, how can you help shape decisions and action on climate change?
Monday 29th November, from 12.30pm to 3pm or
Tuesday 30th November, from 6.30pm to 8pm
These events are part of the Global Assembly (www.globalassembly.org) providing an opportunity forcommunities all over the world to help make fair and effective action on climate change a reality–in the Kirklees area and globally.
How it will work:
At each event,small groups will meet in community centres, schools, businesses, charitiesand homes across Kirkleestotalk about climate change. Each group attends only one event.
The groups might be teams, clubs, committees, colleagues, friends or neighbours – it is up to you which group you choose. At least five people and not more than twelve in a group works best.
We hope groups from all parts of our diverse Kirklees community will take part – all ages, abilities, perspectives, cultures and faiths. Diverse perspectivescan create innovative thinking and we know citizens assemblies can produce real solutions. Groups can develop their own action plans too.
The groups taking part across Kirklees will link into one big Zoom meeting for a few minutes during the event, so each group can hear from others. Technical help will be available.
All the notes and videos from the events will be presented to the Global Assembly and the Kirklees Climate Commission, so small groups voicesbecome part of big decisions.
Training will be available for group facilitators who will help groupskeep to time, to learn, listen respectfully and share their views and ideas.
Facilitators needed for both events– please email for more details.
Kirklees Council have provided almost £500k through the Community Buildings Recovery Grants scheme this summer, to support vital community buildings in local places across Kirklees.
Supporting local organisations
Community organisations are vital for our local economy and for people’s wellbeing – creating jobs, delivering services, connecting people in our neighbourhoods and providing activities that people and communities really value. We know this continues to be a difficult time for local organisations who were unable to open community buildings as usual for long periods of time.
The Community Buildings Recovery Grants were available for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations who own or rent buildings in local places across Kirklees. They had either been legally required to close or had been significantly impacted by lockdowns and local restrictions.
What local organisations say about receiving a recovery grant
43 different local organisations have received £470,000 in total from the Community Buildings Recovery Grants fund. Here’s what a few of the organisations have told us about the difference this funding is making:
“We at Outlane Methodist church are looking forward to resuming as many of our former activities in the community as we can and making plans for going ahead with new ideas. We do not expect it to be easy but the boost given to our finances by the generous grant we have received has made such a positive difference to our situation.”
Mary Mercer, Outlane Methodist Church
“The pandemic had a devastating effect on our fundraising efforts and our income. This grant will help plug the gap in our finances so that we can resume the full services that we provide to our members and volunteers as soon as we can. As we are a base for other community groups and rent rooms to other organisations, the funding will also be of benefit to the wider community.“
Deborah Hall, Howlands (Dewsbury and District League of Friendship)
“Receiving funding from the Community Buildings Recovery grant is so helpful. After a very difficult 16 months for the charity, this funding will hasten our ability to recover, allowing us to sustain our work and services for local people in need of support. Kirklees Council have been supportive throughout the pandemic and we’re grateful to them for the information sharing, advice, ongoing support and now this funding to aid our recovery.”
John McKernaghan,The Brunswick Centre
“The pandemic had cut our income to zero, and the theatre was on the verge of closing for good. The community buildings recovery grant has changed this by giving us a much needed cash boost. Now the Show will go on!”
Bob Newton, Southgate Theatre, Honley
“OASIS values and appreciates this contribution towards the survival and reshaping of our services within our Resource Centre.”
Denzil Nurse, OASIS Care Support Services
“As we’re reliant on community groups that hire our community centre, we have had to put off work that would have greatly impacted the people who we serve through the community centre positively. The grant awarded to us by Kirklees Council will allow us to develop the community centre further, with the additional benefits that a modern, safe, accessible community centre will bring to the communities around Cleckheaton Methodist Church.’
Revd. Ray Borrett, Minister for Cleckheaton Methodist Church
Thank you from Kirklees Council
Cllr Cathy Scott, Deputy Leader of Kirklees Council & Cabinet Member for Housing and Democracy, would like to thank local organisations for supporting people’s wellbeing:
“Community organisations are incredibly important for people’s wellbeing. We wanted to make sure that community buildings can continue to be safe places for people to get together and enjoy activities as part of our recovery from Covid-19. The Community Buildings Recovery Grants have clearly mattered to the local organisations who are so fundamental for keeping people connected and safe. We’ll continue to work proudly alongside these dedicated and inspiring groups in our local places.”
Got a great idea to help people recover, reconnect and thrive? The Growing Great Places community crowdfunding programme can help you to get your idea off the ground. Successful projects could also receive a pledge of up to £5,000 from Kirklees Council.
Got an idea that will help people’s health and wellbeing in your local place? Want to reconnect people to grow friendships and tackle loneliness? Setting up new activities to support young people? If you’ve got a great idea for helping your community build back better, Growing Great Places can help you generate support from residents, businesses and Kirklees Council to make it happen.
Online workshops – June and July 2021
Spacehive and Kirklees Council are running free workshops where you can get advice and support. We’ll be on hand to answer your questions and to share advice about running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Our online sessions include different breakout rooms where you can get the support that’s right for you. So whether you’re almost ready to get started with your project, or just working on some ideas, we can help.
The deadline to have your project ready to crowdfund is 22nd September 2021. Come along to one of our workshops to get all the support you need to get your project ready in time.
Volunteers’ Week is a national event that takes place from 1st to 7th June every year. It’s a time to recognise and say thank you to volunteers who do a great job in our local communities. Over the last year even more people than ever – from all walks of life and in all our local places – have gone out of their way to help their neighbours, support each other and make a huge difference.
The coronavirus pandemic has rightly raised the profile of volunteering. More people than ever are now aware of the immense contribution that volunteers make every single day.
That is why this #VolunteersWeekKirklees is a special time to say thank you.
Be inspired
A Year Like No Other: Pandemic Volunteering Stories
Third Sector Leaders Kirklees and Kirklees Museums & Galleries are marking the role volunteers have played locally in supporting people during the Covid-19 pandemic. They’ve created an online photographic exhibition to share the stories of some of the local people who’ve volunteered and helped out during the pandemic. The stories will eventually become part of Kirklees Council’s Museums & Galleries collection.
Kirklees Virtual Volunteers’ Fair: 8th to 10th June 2021
This Virtual Volunteers’ Fair is a chance for people to meet some of the local organisations who need help from volunteers. Different community organisations are taking part each day. It’s a great way for people to find out how to start their volunteering journey. You might want to share the link with your local networks:
TSL Kirklees Volunteering will be sharing your inspirational stories on social media throughout the week – @TSLVolunteering (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
You can follow, share and join in using the hashtags #VolunteersWeekKirklees #VKW21.
Thank you from Kirklees Council and TSL Kirklees
“We’re hugely grateful to all the Mutual Aid Groups, volunteers and local organisations across Kirklees who have been supporting others in our communities – especially for keeping each other safe in a year like no other. We’ve been blown away by the kindness and creativity shown by so many. We just want to make sure you know that, whether you’re an organiser or volunteer, we recognise your efforts and are very grateful for the time you give in support of your neighbours, friends and community. We are proud to work alongside such inspiring people and organisations.”
Cllr Cathy Scott and Cllr Paul Davies
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet leads for working with
people in the voluntary sector during the pandemic
In partnership with Third Sector Leaders, Kirklees Council are lighting up Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Cleckheaton Town Halls in purple on Tuesday 1st June 2021. to mark the start of Volunteer’s Week and to say thank you to local volunteers.
The TSL Kirklees Volunteering team have given small grants to organisations in Kirklees to use to thank their volunteers and have sent out 1,000 thank you cards.
We’re sharing some advice for community groups who may be uncertain about how many people can currently attend group activities in a community room.
From 17th May 2021 larger gatherings exceeding the social contact limits may take place (up to 30 people) providing certain conditions are met. This may enable certain social gatherings such as informal classes, activities and events to go ahead. These gatherings must be organised by a business, charity, public body or similar organisation. The organiser must take reasonable steps to ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted – up to six people or two households indoors and up to 30 people outdoors – unless another exemption exists.
Here are some examples of larger gatherings and the current guidance.
Support groups
Activity or meetings can take place with up to 30 participants where officially organised to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. Support groups must be organised by a business, charity or public body and if taking place indoors, must not take place in a private home.
Examples of support groups include those that provide support to:
victims of crime (including domestic abuse)
those with, or recovering from, addictions (including alcohol, narcotics or other substance addictions) or addictive patterns of behaviour
those with, or caring for people with, any long-term illness or terminal condition or who are vulnerable (including those with a mental health condition)
those facing issues related to their sexuality or identity (including those living as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender)
those who have suffered bereavement
vulnerable young people (including to enable them to meet youth workers)
disabled people and their carers
Exercise, sport and physical activity
You can do unlimited exercise but there are limits on the number of people you can exercise with. You can exercise in a group of up to 30 people when outdoors. When indoors, you can exercise:
on your own
in a group of up to 6 people
in a larger group of any size from up to two households (and their support bubbles, if eligible)
You can also take part in formally organised indoor and outdoor teams sports or licensed physical activity with any number of people. This must be organised by a business, charity or public body and the organiser must take the required precautions, including the completion of a risk assessment. You should avoid contact in training and, for some sports, avoid contact in all activities.
Indoor activity, such as classes, is restricted to the capacity of the venue (100 square ft per person and subject to adequate ventilation). It is the building operator’s responsibility to calculate these capacities, and it is expected that activity leaders reflect this in their risk assessment, which should also incorporate social distancing.
Childcare
Up to six people from different households or a larger number of no more than two households can meet indoors without the need for a formal childcare arrangement. All children can go to registered childcare, childminders, wraparound care and other supervised children’s activities indoors and outdoors.
Gatherings above the limit of six people or two households indoors, or above 30 outdoors, can take place for the following purposes:
for education, registered childcare and supervised activities for children
for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians
to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care
to place or facilitate the placing of a child or children in the care of another by social services
Parent and child groups
These can take place indoors as well as outdoors (but not in private homes or gardens) if they are for the benefit of children aged under five and organised by a business, charity or public body. Parent and child groups must be limited to no more than 30 people. Children under five and anyone working or volunteering as part of the group, such as a group leader, are not counted in this number.
Kirklees Council are providing £500k of Recovery Grants for voluntary and community organisations who have been affected by national lockdowns and local restrictions.
Grants of up to £20k are available now to help our vital community buildings in local places across Kirklees recover from Covid-19.
Supporting community buildings that really matter to local people
Community organisations are vital for our local economy and for people’s wellbeing – creating jobs, delivering services, connecting people in our neighbourhoods and providing activities that people and communities really value. We know this continues to be a difficult time for local organisations who have been unable to open community buildings as usual.
Voluntary and community organisations in Kirklees who own or rent buildings in our local places can apply for a grant to recover lost income due to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
Who can apply?
The Community Buildings Recovery Grant is available for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations who:
work in (and are based in) Kirklees
were open as usual before the Covid-19 restrictions
own or rent a non-residential property (this could include a space within a building that you pay costs for, or a building you own and have continued to pay costs for).
have been legally required to close or have been significantly impacted by lockdowns and local restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
How to apply
You can find the full eligibility criteria and apply online via the Kirklees Council website:
National Volunteers’ Week from 1st to 7th June is an annual event to recognise the contribution that millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. It’s an opportunity for us to recognise and say ‘thank you’ to volunteers in Kirklees.
This year the TSL Kirklees Volunteering team want to help groups in Kirklees say thank you to all their volunteers, particularly those who’ve done such incredible work over the last year, supporting people through the pandemic, either in person or from home.
Apply to our ‘Thank You’ Fund
If you are a volunteer-run project or group in Kirklees, then you can apply for a small fund to help you say ‘thank you’ to your volunteers. You will also receive a pack of free Volunteers’ Week thank you cards. A maximum grant of £100 is available for each organisation, but we will be able to fund more groups if people only apply for what they need.
It’s up to you how you spend the money, as long as it’s on an event or item to say thank you to your volunteers. For example, wellbeing goody bags, book vouchers, an afternoon tea delivery or tickets for an online event (please make sure any of your events are Covid-safe).
In return, we ask that you send us a photo and a quote from your volunteer group or an individual volunteer for us to share as part of our online Volunteers’ Week celebrations.
The deadline for applications is Monday 24th May 2021
We aim to let you know within three working days if your application is successful. We will then ask you to invoice for the amount and payment will be made by bank transfer (we can provide a template for an invoice if necessary).
If you have any questions, please contact: Becky Bracey, Volunteer Development Manager
“We’re hugely grateful to all the Mutual Aid Groups, volunteers and local organisations across Kirklees who have been supporting others in our communities – especially for keeping each other safe in a year like no other. We’ve been blown away by the kindness and creativity shown by so many. We just want to make sure you know that, whether you’re an organiser or volunteer, we recognise your efforts and are very grateful for the time you give in support of your neighbours, friends and community. We are proud to work alongside such inspiring people and organisations.”
