training

Green Doctor – Fuel Poverty Awareness Course

Kirklees Council

Groundwork’s Green Doctor is a free service that helps households to stay warm, stay well, save money on their household bills and reduce carbon. Groundwork are offering free training for community groups, to help you support people where you live.

Helping people stay warm and well

Millions of households in the UK live in fuel poverty yet very few people understand the scale and severity of this complex issue. Each winter thousands of people die as a direct result of being unable to afford to heat their homes.

The Green Doctor service is completely free and provides valuable assistance to many vulnerable households. It may be an elderly person needing help switching, a young family applying for energy grants, or someone suffering from a health condition that’s made worse by the cold who is struggling to heat their home.

People who live in a housing association home or in council housing, those who rent privately and people who own their own home are welcome to participate in the Green Doctor scheme. The aim is to help people make the most of their income and to empower people to make informed decisions about energy use.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Course for community groups and frontline workers

In order to increase awareness of this free service, the Green Doctors are running a series of presentations and training sessions for community groups and frontline workers.

Presentations cover topics such as:

  • Switching supplier
  • Tariffs
  • Payment options
  • Smart Meters
  • Energy efficiency
  • Damp / Mould / Condensation advice
  • Additional support
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Green Doctor service

Register to take part

Fuel Poverty Awareness Course – 6th January 2021 from 12 noon to 4pm 
Fuel Poverty Awareness Course – 20th January 2021 from 12 noon to 4pm

Groundwork – North East and Yorkshire

24 hour mental health helpline and free training

Kirklees Council

A new 24 hour mental health helpline has been launched, offering confidential help and advice to anyone registered with a GP in Kirklees or in neighbouring councils.

We know that many of you are concerned about the wellbeing of your neighbours, friends and those who are more vulnerable in our communities. We’re also aware that you’re doing an awful lot to support each other. This helpline could be a great way to get support for those who need it.

Mental Health Helpline – 0800 183 0558

 

Mental Health training

There is also some free training available to support you with talking about mental health, delivered by the Zero Suicide Alliance and Future Learn.

Zero Suicide Alliance offer a session called ‘Stepping up’ – this covers the impact of isolation on wellbeing, dealing with our ever-changing circumstances, the impact of social connectivity, signs of poor wellbeing, how to communicate and how to look after yourself.

Future Learn offer training on Psychological First Aid and it covers:

  • What is psychological first aid?
  • How do emergencies impact mental health?
  • The psychological first aid stages: Prepare, Look, Listen, Link
  • Supporting yourself and your colleagues
  • Example scenarios

Anyone can use this approach. The following is what you will need to use Psychological First Aid:

  • Be a good listener. An important part of Psychological First Aid is identifying what help and support each person requires.
  • Be well informed about the COVID-19 pandemic, so you can give people accurate information. It is important that people can trust you.
  • Have the ability to encourage active coping by, for instance, helping people make decisions about the next steps they will take.
  • Encourage and help people to connect with their loved ones, or community and spiritual supports. Be aware of people’s cultural preferences and needs, and adopt a non-judgemental approach.
  • Know how to look after your own wellbeing and access support through friends, family, supervision or managers.

Community Voices – can your group be a voice in your community?

Kirklees Council

Community Voices is about hearing the views of residents, especially those who are seldom heard, specifically in relation to health.

Did you know that the NHS has a duty to involve local communities when health service changes are being considered? Did you know that local voluntary or community organisations can train for free to get the knowledge and skills to carry out accredited engagement and consultation work locally?

The Community Voices programme supports voluntary and community organisations with training for their staff or volunteers to become an accredited ‘Community Voice’ and then seek the views of the organisation’s members to inform health service changes. Local groups and organisations are really well placed to help residents have a voice.

Once the accredited training has been completed, groups can earn money for their local voluntary or community organisation for each survey completed. Accreditation lasts for 12 months, at which point a refresher course needs to be taken.

The free training to help groups to become Community Voices has 5 elements:

  1. Understanding how the NHS Works
  2. Legal and Statutory Duties of the NHS
  3. Methods and Approaches to Engagement and Consultation
  4. A Practical Task
  5. Equalities, safeguarding and review and evaluation

The next virtual Community Voices training runs on the following dates:

  • Session 1: Wednesday 20th January 2021
  • Session 2: Wednesday 27th January 2021
  • Session 3: Wednesday 3rd February 2021
  • Session 4: Wednesday 10th March 2021

All sessions are held online through Zoom and last from 10am to 12 noon. Participants need to be able to commit to attending all four sessions.

If you are interested or want more information please email engagement@cvac.org.uk or contact Laura Beesley on 07535 184368.

 

Mental Health Awareness – training from S2R

Kirklees Council

S2R are offering a basic Mental Health Awareness training session free of charge via Zoom on Friday 27th November 2020 from 9am to 11am. This is for anyone who is a Mutual Aid Group volunteer in Kirklees.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

  • Understand the difference between mental health and mental illness
  • Know the main signs and symptoms of the most common mental illnesses
  • Define wellbeing
  • Understand the relationship between wellbeing and emotional resilience
  • Be aware of sources of help and support

If you would like to book a place on this session please email contact@s2r.org.uk

S2R have also created 12 Wellbeing packs – these are all available for volunteers to use and share with people who may be self-isolating or who are lonely and might be struggling with depression and anxiety.

Adult Safeguarding: training to help you keep people safe

Kirklees Council

Adult Safeguarding week runs from 19th to 23rd October 2020. Third Sector Leaders Kirklees are running some important sessions for local groups and volunteers. Never before have citizens in our communities been so active in supporting vulnerable people. TSL Kirklees continue to offer new learning and awareness events to make sure we remain informed.

If you’re interested in attending a free session to learn more, or if you know a group or volunteer who might be, you can find out more and book your free place now…

Scams and Frauds Training

Delivered by the Financial Exploitation and Abuse Team at West Yorkshire Trading Standards 

Tuesday 20th October from 10am to 12 noon

This training will be relevant to staff and volunteers who are supporting vulnerable and isolated people anywhere in Kirklees. The session will provide information on Scams and Doorstep Crimes including new Covid-related scams in the local area. Illustrated with real case studies, it will also provide an overview of the role of WY Trading Standards and how you can report a concern.

The training will be hosted by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees and delivered via Zoom.

Book your free place for the scams and frauds training 

Adult Safeguarding Basics

For Community and Volunteer-led organisations anywhere in Kirklees

Thursday 22nd October from 6pm to 7pm

We all have a role to play in keeping people safe from harm and abuse. Covid has meant that more vulnerable adults are ‘invisible’ as they are unable to access their usual support services.

This short briefing for community groups and volunteer-run groups will include:

  • Measures your group can take to protect staff, volunteers and those who use your services or participate in your activities
  • Signs and indicators to look out for when you are helping ‘adults at risk’ in your community
  • What to do if you think someone may need help.

The Training will be delivered via Zoom by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees in partnership with Yorkshire Children’s Centre.

Book your free place for the safeguarding basics training

Online self-confidence courses with Crosland Moor Community Learning Centre

Kirklees Council

Hand written note above desk saying Never Stop LearningAt times of stress and change our self-confidence can easily be affected. Motivation can be hard to come by. During our time in lockdown because of coronavirus, we need opportunities to keep our minds active and focused.

Fortunately Crosland Moor Community Learning Centre are providing exactly those opportunities and over the next several weeks are providing a range of free online courses to support people’s personal development.

There are lots of opportunities for you to learn something new, including:

  • How to use Zoom effectively for communicating with friends or in work meetings
  • Work it Out – skills for confidence and positivity
  • Developing digital skills for working in an office
  • Food Hygiene training (level 2)
  • Progress yourself – Looking at next steps and how to get there

How to take part

You can find out more about these courses on the Crosland Moor Community Learning Centre website . If there is something there that takes your fancy you can sign-up using the enrolment button and complete your details using the online form:

Crosland Moor Community Learning Centre

You  can also ring Joe on 07972 929495 or email joanne.berry@croslandmoorclc.co.uk to find out more information first hand.

 

Online Volunteer Safety training through Paddock Community Trust

Kirklees Council

woman using laptop

Safeguarding in our communities has become a big talking point in recent weeks as many volunteers try to make sure the most vulnerable people in our neighbourhoods are kept safe. It is just as important that volunteers in Kirklees, whether part of a Mutual Aid Group, registered as a volunteer with Kirklees Council or volunteering in another capacity shouldn’t be forgotten when it comes to staying safe.

Paddock Community Trust are offering free online volunteer training courses and are encouraging any volunteers who might benefit from the training to get in touch. The course focuses on volunteer safety and everyone is welcome to participate.

The course covers:

  • Looking at the benefits and types of volunteering
  • Exploring ways to keep yourself safe when volunteering
  • How to keep others safe when you are volunteering

The course is a short series of one hour Zoom calls. There are two courses to choose from:

  • Fridays 12th June, 19th June and 26th June from 1pm to 2pm
  • Tuesdays 30th June, 7th July and 14th July from from 11am to 12 noon

How to take part

Enrolling is simple. Please get in touch with either Yvonne at yvonne@paddocktrust.org.uk or Sarah at sarahwk@paddocktrust.org.uk to book a place or find out more. Or you can telephone Yvonne on 07928 810 355.

These courses are funded through the Paddock Community Trust’s OFSTED-inspected Adult Community Learning programme.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might like to take part.

Paddock Community Trust