Sowerby Residents Association Planting Day
The Sowerby Residents Association will be hosting a planting day on Saturday 31st March starting at 10am on the banking at the bottom of Rooley Lane. In conjunction with Together Housing, Calderdale Council and Kew Gardens we are working to bring colour and beauty to our little patch of the world. Aware of the need to increase pollinating flowers and wanting to improve the lot of our resident wildlife the residents we are starting with 3 small sites and some planters with the aim to grow the sites in coming years. This project has the added benefit of making Sowerby an even nicer place to live for the human residents. Anyone who would like to come along and give some assistance for however long you can spare is more than welcome - any age welcome.
Both Sowerby Village and Sacred Heart Schools have signed up to take part with sites in the school grounds and taking a planter. The Sowerby Village Store has also agreed to 'sponsor' the planters over the summer i.e. keep them watered.
Free Photography Project for Over 60's
Active people are an important resource for their families, their communities and the economy but as we get older, we need our surroundings and communities to allow for our changing requirements so that we can continue to be active and involved.
Mytholmroyd Arts, in collaboration with MICRA and the Centre for Ageing Better, are running a free photographic project open to anyone over 60 years old living in the Upper Calder Valley (from Todmorden to Sowerby Bridge including hilltop villages).
Participants will capture the ways in which they think their area is (or isn’t) ‘Age Friendly’. All meetings will be local and you don’t need any previous experience or photographic skills.
Refreshments and travel expenses will be provided. If you would like to find out more, phone Annie Harrison on 07896 225992 or email annie.harrison@manchester.ac.uk
Overnight road closures - A646
Burnley Road between Mytholmroyd and Luddendenfoot.
Calderdale Council is carrying out essential maintenance works on the A646, from the junction with Ewood Drive in Mytholmroyd to the junction with Danny Lane in Luddendenfoot.
The work commenced on Monday 12 March and involves the planing and resurfacing of the carriageway surface. It is due to be completed by Friday 30 March
To ensure the safety of road users and the workforce it will be necessary to close the road to traffic from 10.30pm to 5.30am Monday to Friday nights for the duration of the works. Access for emergency vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times. Through traffic will be diverted via Cragg Vale, Ripponden and Sowerby Bridge.
Todmorden Town Hall welcomes Friends
On Friday 9 March 2018 Todmorden Town Hall hosted the North West regional get together for the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM- http://www.bafm.co.uk/). The day started with a welcome from the Mayor of Todmorden, Cllr Christine Potter followed by tour led by the Todmorden Town Hall Volunteers. Over lunch & afternoon workshops Friends from different ‘Friends of’ groups shared stories, knowledge and skills in the splendour of the Grade 1 Listed Building. The delegation of 50 visitors from 16 Friends groups left inspired by the Grade 1 Listed Building commenting: “A Town Hall so impressive it puts others to shame”.
The next Total Tour of Todmorden Town Hall is on Sunday 15 April 2018 at 2pm, tickets cost £6.50 and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/todmordentownhall the Total Tour includes the Caretaker’s Flat & holding cell in the cellar. (N.B there is no free taster tour on Sunday 1 April due to it falling on Easter Sunday).
Publicise your Organisation's Activities via the Easter Monday Duck Race!
We’re now only a few weeks away from one of the ‘big crowd’ days in the Hebden calendar: the Easter Monday (2nd April) Duck Race on the Hebden Water. It’s a principal fundraiser for its organisers Hebden Bridge Rotary and their communications officer made a generous offer to provide often much-needed publicity to the town's many other organisations: send him a brief outline of your organisation and what you might need - e.g more volunteers or publicity for a future event - together with a picture relevant to your organisation including that all-important yellow plastic duck, and Rotary will be put it up on the Duck Race Facebook page. You can already see some interesting pictures there: www.facebook.com/hebdenbridgeduckrace
All that Rotary ask in return is that your organisation considers buying a Business Duck in the Business Duck Race. You can now buy both Business and Ordinary tickets online at www.hebdenbridgerotary.org.uk/duck_race.html
Tell a Tourist: Cultural Destinations
Come along to Cultural Destinations II’s ideas session at Todmorden Town Hall on Thursday March 22nd, 6pm-8pm, all welcome, light supper included. We’ll explore the feedback and look in more detail at what makes Todmorden distinctive, and a great visitor destination. The session will be facilitated by Susan Briggs. Susan has thirty years of experience in the tourism industry and has supported destinations in: product development & capitalising on new trends, celebrating local distinctiveness, helping businesses create new and authentic cultural tourism experiences, and increasing profitability. Please register your place by emailing tell@tourist@gmail.com giving your name (and organisation, if applicable)
Alternatively, Write the three words that you would use to describe Todmorden to a tourist on the notice board in the Todmorden Tourist Information Centre, opposite the Town Hall, or in the Todmorden Library on Rochdale Road before the 20 March or Email your ideas to: tellatourist@gmail.com
Hebden Royd's Big Spring Clean
Hebden Royd is carrying out its annual Big Spring Clean in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd on Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th March.
Every local group of six people or more who pledge to spend six hours or more on cleaning up an area of Hebden Royd will receive £60 towards their chosen community project. More information from info@hebdenroyd.org.uk or telephone 01422 843181.
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival Presents: Café Culture
MURPHY'S MONOLOGUES
Local Stories & Local Speakers - 1st Thursday each month at 2pm
MURPHY'S MONOLOGUES
George writes & performs original monologues, stories and songs based on life in Calderdale
Thursday 5th April 2018 @ 2.30pm
Join us at The Waterfront Hall, Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Doors open 2pm for tea & cake
£5 (£3 concessions) - All Welcome - Pay on the door
For enquiries telephone Helen Meller on 01422 417373
Warden's Update
The Upper Valley Community Wardens took part in the Days of Action in Sowerby Bridge recently. Held over four days, this was a multi-agency approach to making Sowerby Bridge a safer and cleaner place to live. As well as litter picks and several sessions monitoring traffic speeds using SID, the wardens worked alongside the Police on a number of initiatives (Community Warden Simon Bokowiec is pictured here welcoming the Police Mounted Section to the scheme).
Luddenden Foot Academy Junior Wardens were visited by Dave Manning from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service along with the Upper Valley Neighbourhood team. During the session the children were shown what to do if they came across the scene of an accident and how to give basic first aid. As one of the passengers wasn’t wearing their seatbelt, the Junior Wardens were shown how to put the injured party into the recovery position.
Continuing with partnership work, the Upper Valley Neighbourhood team along with PCSO Ruth Freely conducted a SID session on Burnley Road in Hebden Bridge and at Pecket Well. Despite the recent weather, a number of vehicles were still travelling over the 20mph speed limit. As these are known ‘hot spot’ areas for speeding, we will be conducting more SID sessions in the near future.
Dineley Play Area gets a Community spruce up! Upper Valley Community Wardens Zoe and Simon were joined by community members from the Ashenhurst estate in Todmorden to clean up their walkways and play area. Many bags were filled and lots of chatting about ways to improve the local environment.
Dog fouling is something we take very seriously and will issue an £80 fixed penalty notice when we catch people not clearing up after themselves HOWEVER we would rather educate people to clean up after their dogs than penalise them. Here the Wardens are erecting notices to remind owners at Scout Road to clean up or risk being cleaned out!
We’re finally on Track!
Good news for Mytholmroyd; Network Rail’s contractors have taken possession of the near-derelict listed grade ll station building on New Road, and work has commenced on the first stage of restoring this 1874 building back into useful life for the benefit of our community.
A projected finish date for this part of the restoration work is estimated to be six months when Arriva Northern will take over with their plans for refurbishment of the building; a probable finish date, realistically, is 12-18months.
The Feasibility Study was published on the 5th of February 2018. At the public meeting the consultants outlined various interests that were indicated as a result of the study. The outcome results comprised a possible mix of small trading outlets centred on a ‘landscape theme’ together with flexible community use. Northern has indicated an interest in using some of the building but future plans are still being formulated.
The trustees of the newly formed charitable incorporated organisation are to work in conjunction with Northern and other bodies to reflect the needs of our community.
The next steps are being formulated.
Interested businesses or individuals should contact myt.station@btinternet.com
Grateful thanks to Network Rail, Northern, Bearder Trust, The Railway Heritage Trust, Historic England, Architectural Heritage, Calderdale MBC, Hebden Royd Town Council, ACoRP.
Northern Rail has arranged an extra stop in one the evening train - to speed folk coming home and avoiding the roadworks traffic lights that seem to be sprouting up all along the A646 for the flood defences.
Daisy's Café - Dementia Friendly Todmorden
DFT will be holding the their usual Daisy’s Café on Saturday April 7th at Todmorden Health Centre from 11am until 1.30pm. The café offers support, advice and information for people affected by dementia and their families and carers but it is also open to everyone. It serves soup and sandwiches, along with tea, coffee or juice for £2.50, or drinks and biscuits for £1.50.
If you would like help or advice the group can be contacted via their Facebook page, Dementia Friendly Todmorden (DFT).
Library Service Delivery Review
Local people are being asked to have their say on the future of community libraries in Calderdale. We are holding a public consultation to drive a review of our 15 community libraries from Monday 5th March until 30th April 2018. The way that people use libraries is changing. We are looking at what is best for each individual library and community now and in the future. This is to ensure a modern, relevant service which is able to thrive in the 21st century. Find out more here. http://ow.ly/Pc1Q30iHn83
Help & support for people living in cold homes
Low income households with long term or chronic health conditions are at greater risk of secondary illness as result of living in a cold home, putting additional pressure on health and care related services. Living in a cold home over a long period can also raise blood pressure and cause stiffness in joints, increasing the risks of trips & falls, respiratory illness, cardio-vascular and stroke events. Research carried out for the Council suggests that treating the ill health caused by living in a cold home costs almost £1m per year in Calderdale. It’s not just older people who are affected. Children growing up in cold homes can suffer from frequent respiratory infections and are also at higher risk of both physical and mental ill health in later life.
Did you know the Council has a range of services to help lower income owner occupiers and private tenants make their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat?
- Small heating repair grants to fix heating and hot water boilers
- Replacement central heating boilers and new heating systems
- Warmth on prescription for low income households with chronic or terminal health conditions (health professional referral needed)
- Insulation to reduce heat loss
- Draught proofing and radiator reflector panels to improve thermal comfort
- Supplier switching through White Rose Energy to reduce energy costs
- A range of grant assistance and interest free loans to help qualifying households cover the cost of the works
For more information contact the Housing Energy Action Team at heat@calderdale.gov.uk
Purple Flag
Halifax has been awarded Purple Flag status for the seventh consecutive year for being a safe, vibrant and welcoming night out. Purple Flag, like Green Flag for parks, recognises excellence in the management of the evening and night time economy. Assessors visited Halifax before Christmas where they commented on the outstanding work of the Partnership and continued work with groups including the Street Angels, Bus Oasis, White Ribbon campaign and venues in the town centre. For more information visit our website or follow us on twitter #HXPurpleFlag. For additional information or to read the full press release.
Talk to The Samaritans if Things are Getting to You
Every six seconds, someone contacts Samaritans, and every 90 minutes someone takes their own life. You don’t have to be suicidal to call Samaritans.
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal.
Whatever you’re going through, you can call FREE any time, from any phone, on 116 123.
Frequently asked questions
Blue Badge scheme: consultation on eligibility
The Blue Badge scheme plays a vital role in allowing 2.4 million disabled people in England to maintain their independence through special national parking concessions. The badges are important in helping to prevent social exclusion and isolation, and they contribute to the ability of their holders to secure and maintain long term employment. Without the scheme, 75% of badge holders have said that they would go out less often. The government believes that the Blue Badge scheme should not discriminate between physical and non-physical disabilities. The current rules embrace all conditions, physical or otherwise, but it has become clear that the regulations and guidance are not clearly understood by local authorities. People with hidden disabilities may be finding it difficult to access badges, even though their condition causes them very significant difficulties when undertaking a journey. The department of health has accordingly committed to look again at how the scheme works for people with hidden disabilities, to ensure that the rules and guidance are clear and that those with the greatest needs have access to a Blue Badge. The consultation document discusses the key issues involved, and presents ideas for improving the rules. The challenge will be to ensure a scheme that is both sustainable and works for all who are eligible for it, whatever their disability. Anyone with an interest in the blue badge scheme can help to shape the ideas in the document and assist the department of health by responding constructively to this consultation. Closing date 18th March 2018 Get involved online.
And Finally...
- Funding
Community Foundation for Calderdale – Todmorden Funding
Deadline: 26th March Applications for projects that benefit the communities of Cornholme and Portsmouth, Todmorden and Walsden are welcomed.
Applications must be made online.
Staying Well Development Fund
The Staying Well project is pleased to announce a £50k Staying Well fund to develop activities that improve social opportunity and prevent loneliness and isolation in adults in Calderdale.
The funding from Calderdale Foundation for Calderdale will enable communities to strengthen existing community groups and find local solutions to ‘fill’ gaps in provision with local people holding the budget.
Key Staying Well partners North Halifax Partnership, Hebden Bridge Community Association and Halifax Opportunities Trust are working directly with communities to set up and develop representative panels in local areas who will decide how the money is to be allocated at a local level, for example by commissioning services or through the allocation of small grants.
As these conversations go on at local levels, various events will be held; amidst the snow in February some of the Elland community came together to talk about how local groups may access the monies available and what they saw as priorities for them. Similar events may be happening in your area and Staying Well urge local groups and organisations to get thinking of ideas for projects to help reduce isolation on a local level and get in touch for more information.
Staying Well have a strong history of working alongside community groups in more areas than just funding, offering support to any group looking to set up new activities in an area or those just looking to expand the good work they already do.
If you have an interest in working with Staying Well to help represent your community and take part in a local steering group, then please get in touch and they may be able to link you to local opportunities and events. Call 01422 392767.
National Lottery Small Grants Programmes - Funding Available Now!
The Heritage Lottery Fund are encouraging groups across Yorkshire and the Humber to delve into their heritage to discover the knowledge, fun, skills, and benefits our funding can unlock.
We want to hear from groups who would like funding to develop heritage projects that explore, share, and celebrate the fascinating stories and history that has shaped our communities.
HLF are offering grants of £3,000 to £10,000 to encourage everyone to take advantage of all that heritage has to offer.
From recording local memories, cultural tradition, conserving wildlife, to exploring and commemorating the First World War, our small grants can help you discover and share the heritage that matters to your community
Applying is straightforward with a short application form and a quick decision.
Contact the Yorkshire and Humber development team to get advice and find out more;
Tel: 0113 3888030 / Email y&hdevelopment@hlf.org.uk
Warburtons Financial Giving
The financial giving programme aims to support projects, activities and organisations that have charitable aims and will be of direct benefit to families.
Support is available through two schemes: Community Grants (up to £250) and Project Grants (£1,000-£10,000). More information.
#iwill Fund
Deadline: 28th March, The #iwill Fund is open for grants of up to £5,000 that will promote volunteering, fundraising and campaigning amongst young people aged between 10 and 25. This fund is part of a wider multi-agency #iwill campaign.Big Lottery Fund and Department of Culture, Media & Sport are each investing £20 million seed funding over four years to create the #iwill fund.
Community Foundation for Calderdale are acting as match funders, adding £30,000 to the fund locally and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill fund.
More information.
The Inman Charity
The Inman Charity’s grant giving policy sees them supporting charitable work across a range of areas and giving grants in total of around £300,000 each year. Whilst there is no minimum or maximum grant given, the Charity generally offers grants in the region of £3,000 to £5,000, however grants at times can be awarded at a higher amount than this.
They are interested in supporting the following areas of charitable work:
• Medical research
• Care of the elderly
• General welfare
• Hospices
• The Deaf and Blind
• Care of the physically & mentally disabled
• The Armed Forces
More information.
The Lloyds Bank Foundation
invests in charities supporting people to break out of disadvantage at critical points in their lives, and promote practical approaches to lasting change. To apply you need to be registered as a Charity or a CIO and have income between £25,000 and £1 million in your previous accounts.
Support is provided through two grants programmes: Enable and Invest, along with an optional support programme (Enhance) for successful applicants. These programmes demonstrate the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to support charities that have the greatest impact upon the lives of disadvantaged people and their communities.
Invest - The Invest programme is a flexible, long term core funding programme for organisations delivering clear, targeted outcomes for disadvantaged people. These are typically around £25k p.a. with the potential to fund for up to six years. This programme is open for applications between 9th April & 18th May 2018 with grants being made in November 2018.
Enable - A grants programme for organisations that have identified clear development needs in areas such as governance, planning, evidencing need, monitoring, communications, pilot work etc. Grants of up to £15k are available for you to develop your organisation. A rolling programme, apply anytime.
All grantees will be eligible for additional support through the Enhance programme –providing an option of tailored in-kind support to strengthen and develop charities. If you are successful in applying for an Enable or Invest grant, Lloyds will work with you to identify whether support under the Enhance programme is right for you. More information: www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk It is always wise to have an informal chat first. If you wish to do so then please contact Gary Beharrell – email: gbeharrell@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk, tel: 07734 973060.
- Opportunities
Scope Starting Line Employment Service for disabled customers
Starting Line is an employment service which supports disabled people of working age living in Calderdale to find, apply for and keep a job.
This service is tailored to the individual and each customer is supported by a specialist Employment Advisor to prepare them for work, training or for a statutory work programme plus further understand their career goals and how to achieve them.
The service aims to
• grow confidence, assertiveness and independence
• develop important employability skills
• support in making life-changing career decisions
• find paid employment
What we offer
• bespoke employment workshops
• valuable work experience
• interview preparation skills
• employment opportunities
• on-going support to both customer and employer
To register for Starting Line please complete our online application form or if you require further information, call 07850 972 391 or email startingline@scope.org.uk Referrals can also be made directly from an organisation with prior consent from the customer.
Protect Your Children Online – Be Share Aware with NSPCC
It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games. Or know how to keep them safe. NSPCC have teamed up with O2 to help parents untangle the web. And teach their children to be Share Aware.
Because, just like in real life, kids need your help to stay safe online. Talk about their online world. We talk to children about crossing the road, bullying and speaking to strangers. But what about staying safe in the digital world?
Having regular conversations about what your child is doing online - just like you would their day at school - is the best way to keep them safe. You'll be able to spot any problems, encourage them to come to you if they’re worried and make sure they know what’s ok to share online - and what’s not. You can find out more about the social networks, apps and games your child uses with the NSPCC's Net Aware tool.
A couple of tips to help start the conversation
1. Explore sites and apps together and talk about any concerns.
2. Ask your child if they know how to stay safe online.
3. Talk about personal information and what to share online.
SUGAR SMART CALDERDALE
Sugar Smart Calderdale is an exciting campaign launched in Calderdale last month. It is part of a national campaign, SUGAR SMART, led by Jamie Oliver and Sustain. In Calderdale, the campaign is inviting participants from a number of sectors to make small changes that enable the people of Calderdale to reduce the amount of sugar they’re consuming. We know that, in the UK, people consume up to five times the recommended maximum daily intake of sugar, and that this is having a huge impact on our health – and waistlines – as a nation.
Up and down the country, people are committing to small actions as a part of SUGAR SMART, and we’d like to ask you to do the same. In Calderdale, Halifax Rugby League FC is leading the way, with players committing to SUGAR SMART challenges for three weeks. They will also be promoting SUGAR SMART messages as an organisation, to show that physical activity and a sugar smart diet go hand-in-hand.
Organisations across Calderdale are joining the campaign to do their part to improve the food environment and promote positive messages. Calderdale’s Health & Wellbeing Board will no longer be serving biscuits at their meetings; Northowram Primary School are running a SUGAR SMART assembly for their 450 pupils; Calderdale Royal Hospital will be helping staff to make healthier choices. What could you or your organisation pledge to do?
From promoting drinking water, to taking a SUGAR SMART challenge as an individual or organisation, to removing sugary items from prominent display, there is an action to fit every shape and size of organisation. The SUGAR SMART CALDERDALE steering group (Food for Life; Locala PHEYS; Better Living Service; and Calderdale Council’s Public Health team) can help you with your pledge, and there is lots of inspirational material at http://www.sugarsmartuk.org.
If you’d like to be one of the organisations in Calderdale taking positive action to encourage people to reduce the amount of sugar they’re consuming, email sugarsmart@calderdale.gov.uk or call Chloe Smee on 07500 602742.
