Third Sector Leaders

People Helping People event – 13th October 2020

Kirklees Council

The next online People Helping People local network event is on Tuesday 13th October 2020 from 1pm to 2.30pm. It’s run by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees, to help small community organisations in local places across Kirklees to get together, meet each other, share what you are doing and learn what others are doing. It is another chance to share best practice and discuss how we might be able to support each other.

Coping with the ever-changing lockdown rules

Looking for advice about what your group or organisation can (or can’t) do during Covid-19? We know that it’s a confusing and worrying time for organisations who are managing community spaces and running community activities. At this meeting you can hear advice from others who are going through the same thing.

How to take part

This meeting will take place online and you will receive a link that you click to join the meeting nearer the time. You do not need any special software, or to download anything or set up an account. You should just be able to click and join.

People Helping People – register on Eventbrite

 

If you have any problems or questions about accessing the meeting, please contact comms@tslkirklees.org.uk

Cooking up ideas in the Colne Valley – recipe book

Kirklees Council

Header image

Mutual aid groups in the Colne Valley have added something a little extra to their food deliveries after local organisations got together to create a recipe book. As well as being value for money, the recipes in the book are easy to make and are nutritionally balanced.

Third Sector Leaders Kirklees supported the groups with funding from One Community and One 17 Charitable Trust have produced the book. The recipe books will now be given out with food packs in the Colne Valley.

Liz Quinn, a director of Pride in Linthwaite, has put together the recipes. She says in the book:

“I’m an NHS dietician in my day job and I felt that this was something that I could help with. I tried to keep the recipes nutritionally balanced and easy to prepare, inexpensive and accessible for everyone. Tinned, dried and frozen foods can be a fantastic source of nutrients. We hope you enjoy the recipes.”

Among the 18 recipes are the likes of Sausage and Bean Stew, Pea and Pesto Soup, Tuna Pasta Bake and Tinned Meat Hash. If you fancy a dessert there is Banana Flapjack.

Just as different ingredients come together to make a healthy meal, it is the many different groups within a community working together who can make useful projects like this happen.

Co-operative Care Colne Valley are the community anchor organisation who are working with community groups and citizens to respond to needs and priorities across the Colne Valley. Along with mutual aid and community groups, they have been at the heart of support for the community during the Covid-19 crisis, providing food supplies, supporting isolated people and developing community activities in Linthwaite, Slaithwaite, Marsden and Golcar.

Community anchor organisations such as Co-operative Care Colne Valley play a significant role in bringing local groups together to help make healthier and happier communities.

See the recipe book

Delicious! Quick and easy great value family meals to make at home (PDF)

 

Free support for local groups from TSL Kirklees

Kirklees Council

opening doors, connecting people, supporting you

Third Sector Leaders Kirklees are a local charity who support and represent charities, community and groups, and social enterprises anywhere in Kirklees. They have been working incredibly hard to support local organisations and informal groups during Covid-19 and are keen for you to know what free support is available for groups in all our local places. Groups and organisations do not need to become members in order to access this free support.

How local groups can access free support

Support with volunteering

TSL Kirklees offer a free volunteer matching service. The TSL Kirklees Volunteering team (formerly known as Volunteering Kirklees) work with organisations to develop their volunteering programmes and opportunities. They can promote volunteering opportunities from local groups via their volunteering website:

Volunteering – TSL Kirklees

Support for local projects

Organisations can get involved in various TSL Kirklees projects which are designed to fill gaps in service and delivery and support communities. TSL Kirklees have some small pots of funding that groups can access to try out new ideas and activity in their local place.

TSL Kirklees membership – free to April 2021

In addition to all the free support on offer, any group or organisation can choose to become a member in order to help lead and promote the voluntary and community sector in Kirklees.

The benefits of membership include access to a Members Area on the TSL Kirklees website where groups can:

  • Add their own news and updates (these will appear on the TSL Kirklees website and will also be shared via email updates and social media)
  • Add job vacancies to the jobs board (again, these will be shared with the network)
  • Find member offers
  • Find details of other members
  • Join a members-only Facebook group

Members can also take part in additional networking meetings and will receive extra communications.

In March 2020, TSL Kirklees offered 3 months free membership to support local organisations who might be struggling financially during Covid-19. This offer has since been extended twice. The free membership offer is now available until April 2021.

Regular membership costs are:

£12 per year for micro or start-up organisations
£36 per year for any other organisations

Third Sector Leaders Kirklees

Find out more

TSL Kirklees

People Helping People – what next for your mutual aid or voluntary group?

Kirklees Council

People Helping People

Third Sector Leaders Kirklees are hosting an  online event on Thursday 25th June 2020 for mutual aid groups and other voluntary groups in Kirklees. You can get help with information about funding, volunteering and support.

If you’ve been helping run a Mutual Aid Group or other voluntary group over the last few months, you might now be wondering about how to develop your group and keep it going for the benefit of your community. This event will help you explore what the possibilities and options are, enabling you to continue the invaluable work you have been doing.

You will no doubt have already faced operational challenges over the last few months. Third Sector Leaders Kirklees recognise this and through working in partnership with Kirklees Council’s Democracy team and other experts, will be able to support you with a considerable range of advice and insights to take your next steps.

The meeting will take place on Zoom, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Find out all the details and how to register:

People Helping People Network

 

Welcome Mentors Service – support for migrants

Kirklees Council

Welcome Mentors

Kirklees is rich in diversity when it comes to our communities, with people from many different countries making their homes in local places and enriching our community life.

It isn’t always easy for migrants coming to live in a new place. One of the ways migrants can now be supported is through the Welcome Mentors programme, provided by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees.

The Welcome Mentors programme offers a volunteer support and befriending service to help reduce some of the barriers and alleviate the feeling of isolation some migrants may feel.

The Mentors are there to help refugees, asylum seekers and migrants settle in Kirklees and help them navigate through what can be a complicated process for starting again in a new environment.

You can find out in detail just what the Mentors can help with on the Kirklees Welcomes blog:

What is the Welcome Mentors project?

In this short video Steffi Rogers, the Welcome Mentors Co-ordinator at Third Sector Leaders Kirklees, explains more about the role of the mentors:

What is a Welcome Mentor? (video)

For things like the Welcome Mentors project to work, willing volunteers are needed and it’s always nice to hear first hand the stories of those directly involved. These stories from Volunteering Kirklees say more about the practical help that Mentors provide to migrants, along with what the volunteers get out the experience as individuals. It’s heart-warming stuff.

Read Itziar’s story

Read Antida’s story

People Helping People – online event, 21st May 2020

Kirklees Council

People Helping People online meeting

People Helping People is a local network run from Third Sector Leaders for small community organisations across Kirklees.

They will be hosting a virtual meeting on Thursday 21st May 2020 from 1.30pm to 2.30pm for community groups and organisations to get together, meet each other, share what you are doing and learn what others are doing. It will be a good opportunity for you to learn about funding opportunities, share best practice and discuss how you might be able to support each other.

How to take part

The meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams. Please book a place and you will be sent details of how to join the meeting nearer the time. You don’t need a Microsoft account and you won’t need a special app or to login.

People Helping People – register on Eventbrite

People Helping People – Facebook event

People Helping People – TSL website

 

 

Open Ears for volunteers – telephone support

Kirklees Council

Telephone wires

Confidential telephone support for Covid-19 volunteers in Kirklees

Had a tough day? Feeling overwhelmed? Finding the tasks daunting? Volunteering during this time can be stressful. If you need someone to talk to, you are not alone, we are here for you.

“Open Ears” is a confidential telephone support service for all Covid-19 volunteers in Kirklees, provided by Third Sector Leaders.

What we can do

  • We offer emotional support over the phone.
  • We listen and provide help on how you can look after your wellbeing.
  • We signpost you to additional services and support where required.

What we can’t do

  • We can’t offer medical or financial advice.
  • We are not a professional counselling service.
  • We are not an ongoing befriending service.
  • We are not volunteer coordinators or a complaints service.

How to get in touch

To get in touch with us, please send a simple Hello to openears@tslkirklees.org.uk

We will respond to you immediately with a short form to fill in, and will connect you with one of the Open Ears team as soon as possible. (Please check your junk mail folder if you don’t receive it).

Open Ears – Aspire

Open Ears leaflet (PDF)

Aspire logoThird Sector Leaders Kirklees

 

 

 

 

 

ID cards for Covid-19 volunteers in Kirklees

Kirklees Council

Volunteer delivering shopping

Kirklees Council volunteers

Hundreds of new volunteers have signed up to support others using our Community Response online form or helpline. We are screening potential volunteers and where they have a DBS check we are recording this. These volunteers will be working directly for the council, with tasks allocated by one of our volunteer co-ordinators, including:

  • Collecting shopping and dropping off on the doorstep (or other items)
  • Telephone befriending – a chat which may help reduce loneliness or isolation
  • Helping to link people to what other help and support there is locally

We are not asking people to go into people’s houses or do any activities that will go against current guidance from the NHS and government about How to help safely. We are asking all volunteers to follow NHS guidelines on keeping social distancing and maintaining safe practice, so they do not put themselves or others in danger.

One of our volunteer co-ordinators will talk through the process of getting an ID badge with the people who have registered with us.

Sign up to help your community with the Covid-19 response

 

Mutual aid groups and local organisations

Kirklees Council are also providing photo ID cards for volunteers in local organisations, including our VCS anchor organisations and mutual aid groups in local neighbourhoods. All of these groups are a vital part of the co-ordinated Community Response in Kirklees.

If you’re part of one of these groups or organisations, you can apply for Covid-19 Volunteer ID online.  We’ve shared the link with groups who are already on our contact list.

To request the link, please email:

Luc.Bride@Kirklees.gov.uk 

 

Authorisation letters for local groups

Third Sector Leaders have previously provided authorisation letters and volunteer cards for local Covid-19 volunteers, and these have also been shared by councillors with local groups.

For more info about support for local groups email: Bridget@tslkirklees.org.uk