Wellbeing

Community Champions – help to tackle misinformation

Kirklees Council

Can you make a difference in your community by tackling misinformation? Can you help encourage people in your local community to take part in the vaccination programme?

Through the Community Champions scheme voluntary organisations will deliver a wide range of measures to protect those most at risk – building trust, communicating accurate health information and ultimately helping to save lives. The Community Champions will tap into their local networks to provide advice about COVID-19 and the vaccines.

Funding is available now for community groups to apply to the Community Champions fund.

Community organisations have until Monday 1st March 2021 to submit their application to round 1 of the grant scheme.

You can download the Community Champions application form online. See the Kirklees Together blog for more information:

Applications open for round 1 of the Community Champions scheme – Kirklees Together

*Please return your form to candc.projectteam@kirklees.gov.uk before the deadline.

Round 2 of the grant scheme, which is due to go live in the coming weeks, will be open for smaller grants of up to £1000. Community groups can apply for this money to develop their own targeted campaigns to help reach communities in all of our local places.

The Great Winter Get Together – helping each other tackle loneliness

Kirklees Council

The Great Winter Get Together is a month long series of activities run by the Jo Cox Foundation, lasting from 14th December 2020 to 18th January 2021. Taking forward Jo Cox’s vision of a “less lonely, more connected world”, the series of five themes are all about tackling loneliness one connection at a time.

The Great Winter Get Together

 

Say Thanks – 14th December to 20th December

Say Thanks is about shining a light on local heroes who have helped people throughout the coronavirus pandemic. There are postcards you can download, print and send to let those people know just how much they are appreciated, and images for sharing on social media.

Say Thanks

Reach Out – 21st December to 27th December

More than ever before we need to support one another. This week is about encouraging people to connect with someone they’ve lost touch with, whether it’s an old friend or ex-colleague. If you’re not sure where to start, there’s a toolkit to help you with ideas.

Reach Out

Reaching Out Toolkit (PDF)

Show you care – 28th December to 3rd January

Acts of kindness go a long way to showing someone you care. This is about bringing a smile to someone’s face, which can also make us feel good about ourselves. There’s a downloadable Kindness Calendar for each day of the week, with suggestions on things you can do to give someone a lift or contribute to making a kinder, more giving society.

Show you care

Kindness Calendar (PDF)

Understand Loneliness – 4th January to 10th January

The changes many of us have experienced during the last year have been difficult, resulting in increased loneliness for many people in our communities. Loneliness has had an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. In partnership with the Marmalade Trust, a charity dedicated to raising awareness about loneliness, the foundation have produced a toolkit to help improve our understanding.

Understand Loneliness

Understanding Loneliness Toolkit (PDF)

Help Out – 11th January to 17th January

Volunteering is a great way to help support the most vulnerable in our community. Help Out is about finding out what you can give, whether that’s an hour, an evening or more, it all helps. Help Out is supported by the Royal Voluntary Service and there’s a toolkit to help you figure out how you can help this winter.

Help Out

Helping Others Toolkit (PDF)

 

The Great Winter Get Together

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.

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.

Being a carer in lockdown – what you can and can’t do

Kirklees Council

Image show a man holding Kirklees Think Carers sign

This guide is a reminder of some of the important things that carers are still allowed to do during the national lockdown.

Unpaid carers have always performed a vital role and that network of support around a person is more important now than ever. But, with a changing situation it can be difficult for carers to feel confident about what they are (and are not) allowed to do.

If you’re a carer or know someone who is, this guide could be very useful. Key things to know are:

  • You can be a carer and provide support to a vulnerable person, even if they live in a different household or you are not in a support bubble together. You can still go to the home of the person you provide care for, to support them.
  • Where you can, maintain social distancing.
  • Often, it isn’t possible to maintain social distancing when providing care support. You should still do what you can to limit close contact as much as possible and take other precautions such as washing hands and opening windows for ventilation.

The guide explains everything that carers need to know:

Being a carer in lockdown (PDF)

 

Further information and support

If you’re not able to connect with people due to social isolation, or are feeling lonely or worried about yourself, the person you care for, your work, or anything else, please do contact Carers Count.

Telephone: 0300 012 0231

Carers Count

 

Wellness Service – helping people live healthier, happier lives

Kirklees Council

The Wellness Service at Kirklees Council helps people to live healthier, happier lives and supports people to feel more able to look after themselves. They have a range of support services, all free of charge.

Get support with:

  • Improving mental wellbeing
  • Improving physical wellbeing
  • Steps for life and active for life
  • Stop smoking
  • Support for carers
  • Healthy weight
  • Connect to local groups

If you or someone you know might benefit from one of these services, now is the time to act.

As with many services the Wellness Service is currently restricted from providing the usual support sessions, but they are still open and ready to support adults 18 years+.

They are holding one to one consultations by phone appointment and these can be arranged by telephone or by completing the referral form.

To make an appointment:

Telephone – 01484 234 095

Online: Refer yourself (or someone else) to the Wellness Service

Find out more about the Wellness Service

 

Auntie Pam’s – support is still available for mums-to-be

Kirklees Council

Being able to provide help, guidance and information for mums-to-be is at the very heart of what volunteers at Auntie Pam’s do. They believe that the health and happiness of pregnant women is just as important as the baby’s, which is why they are here to help every step of the way.

Of course, during lockdown appropriate safety measures need to be in place, which means that the usual Auntie Pam’s venues in Dewsbury and Huddersfield can’t open at this time.

Help and support is still available though and local women can contact the amazing Auntie Pam’s volunteers via telephone, email and social media.

If you know anyone who might need support, a kindly ear or guidance, Auntie Pam’s is a good place to start.

Contact:

Email – auntiepams@kirklees.gov.uk

Facebook – Auntie Pam’s Supporting Mums to be (use messenger)

Telephone a volunteer between 11am and 2pm Monday to Friday:

  • Dewsbury – 07716 843 440
  • Dewsbury – 07716 843 492
  • Huddersfield – 07817 579 995
  • Huddersfield – 07779 993 764

Find out more about Auntie Pam’s

 

Befriending Partnership – Can you help?

Kirklees Council

Lady talking on a mobile phone sitting at home.

Could you make time for a 30 minute conversation that can make a huge difference to someone’s life?

The Befriending Partnership are continuing to help tackle isolation through their telephone befriending service. Set up part of the amazing response from community organisations in Kirklees during the coronavirus lockdown, this vital service is supporting older people and vulnerable adults.

The partnership is led by the Yorkshire Children’s Centre and Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees. They are still receiving daily referrals for people who are at home and feeling lonely. This is a key time when we’re once again more isolated from each other and when we’re heading towards the colder winter months. They really need more volunteers.

Could you give up a small amount of your time to have a conversation with someone in need?

Full training (via Zoom) and support will be provided to help more people take up this important role. Not sure how to use Zoom? Support will be provided to help you.

How to get involved

Register your interest in being a telephone befriender

Anyone can call the telephone befriending phone line on 01422 252 040
or email enquiries@ageukck.org.uk

Find out more

 

Read our blog about the Befriending Partnership

How the Befriending Partnership are connecting people during lockdown and beyond

 

Your Health and Wellbeing – find support for you or someone you know

Kirklees Council

Our health and wellbeing is important during our everyday life, but during times of stress and upheaval it is even more important we take care of ourselves and look out for one another.

In the Your Health & Wellbeing leaflet there are contact details for a range of services offering support to keep us safe. The services are free to access, providing you meet the criteria.

If you need support or know someone who does, then there could be something here that helps get you through. Contact details for these services and a whole lot more can be found in the leaflet:

  • Kirklees Wellness Service – Supports local people (18+ years) who have or are at risk of long-term conditions to live healthier, happier lives.
  • NHS Better Health – An online range of tools and support to help kick-start a healthier lifestyle.
  • Kirklees Social Prescribing Service – Work in our communities to support people who are, for example, lonely or isolated, who would benefit from support with their mental health.
  • Peer Support Service – Is a confidential mental health support service delivered by people with lived experience of mental health issues for anyone living in Kirklees.
  • CHART Kirklees drug and alcohol service – Provide a range of treatment, recovery and related support for local people who are 18+ years.
  • Grief and Loss Support Service – Practical and emotional support and advice for anyone in West Yorkshire and Harrogate suffering from any form of grief and loss, or those worried about losing someone.
  • Kooth.com online counselling and support service – Confidential and anonymous service for local 10-19 year olds to gain advice, support and guidance from qualified counsellors through their mobile, tablet and desktop.
  • Relationship Matters – For parents (in the Yorkshire and Humber region) who are together or separated and share responsibility for a child or children who are having relationship difficulties.

Health and Wellbeing Support leaflet (PDF)

 

If you would like to order printed versions of the leaflet, you can email Luc Bride – luc.bride@kirklees.gov.uk. Please include the following the details in your email:

Email title: ‘Your Health and Wellbeing Leaflets’

Tell us which group you are part of, contact details, delivery address and how many leaflets you would like. Resources are limited so please only order as many as you will be able to use.

 

Art-based Wellbeing sessions online

Kirklees Council

PJ Arts Hub logo

Like many organisations delivering learning during the coronavirus lockdown, PJ Arts Hub have taken to delivering their weekly arts based wellbeing sessions online.

In between Motivational Monday and Feel Good Friday sessions, PJ Arts Hub have guest speakers to motivate you on such things as gaining employment and skill development, to skills swap sessions to either learn new skills or share your own skills to help others.

Everyone needs a bit of encouragement and mental stimulation sometimes, and everyone is welcome to join the sessions.

For more details you can visit:

Proper Job Theatre Co website

 

If you think this is for you, or might benefit someone you know, all you need to do is get in touch with Cheryl for more information.

You can email: cheryl@properjob.org.uk or telephone 01484 514687.