Projects
Join ACDAF and discuss inclusive Commuting and Green Spaces access
The Accessible Calderdale Disability Access Forum (ACDAF) is a user led group of people with pan disabilities and who live in Calderdale. It is a very diverse group with ages ranging from 20-92 years!
We represent learning disabilities, sensory impairment, physical disabilities and neurodiverse conditions. We listen to our members lived experiences and everyday challenges and bring partners and stakeholders together with our members to look at how access and inclusion can be improved.
We are very keen to work in co production and we work in collaboration with with the local authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), Canal and River Trust, Northern Rail and design teams/architects.
We meet online and occasionally face to face at an accessible venue in Halifax.
We have focus groups on Transport, countryside and green spaces, tourism and health and wellbeing.
Members can be as involved as they choose but everyone has an equal voice to raise awareness of issues affecting their lives in regards to access and inclusion.
If you would like a membership form or to find out more about our friendly group please contact Lorri 07596 707795 lorraine@visitsunlimited.org.uk
Co-Operatives Work! Saturday July 2nd 2022 at Hebden Bridge
Join us on Saturday 2nd July 2022, UN International Day of Co-operatives, for a multi-event day showcasing the past, present and future of co-operation in Calderdale.
Click Here For More Details, Including Booking Information
The daytime events are all free. There will be a co-operative history walk in the morning, culminating in the laying of flowers on the graves of local co-operators who helped shape the wider co-op world.This will be followed by a conference in the afternoon showcasing the past, present and future of co-operation in Calderdale. Calderdale co-operatives (you’d be surprised by how many there are) ranging from the retail, wholesale, hospitality, environmental, care and publishing sectors will give you a flavour of how co-operatives provide sustainable economic and social solutions now and into the future. In addition, keynote speakers include Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire Mayor), Councillor Jane Scullion (Deputy Leader of Calderdale Council), Rose Marley (Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK) and David Burch (Senior Researcher at the Centre for Local Economic Strategie). The Commoners’ Choir in the evening will round off the day’s events.
West Yorkshire Healthier Together – a new website for families launches (Mon 27th)
The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) has launched a new website that provides consistent, accurate and trustworthy healthcare advice to parents, carers, young people, and professionals.
West Yorkshire Healthier Together is a free website developed by local healthcare professionals to help parents and carers keep their children safe and healthy. It has a wide range of information and is available by visiting www.wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk
The WY HCP has ensured the online advice compliments local advice given across health and care services. Information has been reviewed by local paediatricians, GPs, community pharmacists, health visitors and other professionals across the region to ensure it is the most current, and up to date information available.
The Healthier Together programme first originated in Wessex and its successful approach adapted and launched in other parts of the country. The benefits of local developments mean links and information about local services and resources have been made available.
It also offers practical advice on whether a child should go to nursery or school if unwell, along with advice on keeping children safe, well and in good general health.
Victoria Hemming, Consultant Paediatrician, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and WY Healthier Together Clinical Lead said “Clinical expertise from a wide range of professionals across the area has made development of the West Yorkshire Healthier Together website possible. It’s designed to be a helpful and practical tool for parents and carers. It provides advice on common childhood illnesses, including when and where to go for help. There is also advice on keeping children safe and healthy. The website will continue to be developed with new topics added. We are particularly looking forward to working with young people to develop pages relevant for them.”
Sayma Mirza, Associate Director for Children, Young People and Families at WY HCP said “I am delighted to see the launch of our West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership ‘Healthier Together’ website which is going to be a valuable resource for children, young people, families, carers and health and care professionals. We aim to continue the development of the site in co-production with our Youth Collective and health and care professionals. This is great news for our local communities and workforce. Families across the area are very much encouraged to visit www.wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk”
Tim Ryley, Chief Executive Officer at Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group and a Senior Responsible Officer for the Children, Young People and Families Programme at WY HCP said “It is with enormous thanks to all the health and care professionals that have come together in recent months to make the launch of West Yorkshire Healthier Together possible. Please do visit and make it a go-to for local and trusted online health advice and information for your family”.
Calderdale Business Awards 2022 nominate by June 30th
The Business for Calderdale Awards 2022
Who should win one of the Calderdale Business Awards?
With several categories, the Calderdale Business Awards are a great opportunity to showcase your business and receive recognition for your achievements.
The Business Awards will take place on Thursday 13th October 2022 at The Venue, Barksisland celebrating the achievements of businesses in the borough over the last year.
Following a tough couple of years, this is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and success of businesses in our area. Categories include:
- New Business of the Year
- SME of the Year
- Manufacturer of the Year
- Employer of the Year
- Promotion of Calderdale
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Covid Resilience
- Lifetime Achievement
- Business of the Year
This award will be presented to the business which can best prove a genuine dedication to their workforce. The judges are looking for evidence of:
- Focus on employee development and creating a motivated workforce
- Keeping their workforce at the heart of their organisation, even during difficult times
- Consistently displaying excellence in leadership and management
- Regular two-way communication with employees
Eligibility:
- Based in Calderdale
- Have 5 or more employees
- Must have been trading for 2 years or more
If you know a business in Calderdale who deserves to win an award, you can nominate them online by visiting https://businessforcalderdale.co.uk/awards/
Nominate a business nowNominations must be submitted by30th June 2022
Join the Healthy Minds Volunteer Team!
Charities in the voluntary sector are facing more and more challenging times, and we need our incredible volunteers now more than ever.We have THREE different volunteering opportunities at Healthy Minds, one of them could be right up your street!💭 Befriending Volunteer for our Like Minds Peer Support Project, supporting a peer to improve their mental health.💭 Walk Leaders for our Walks for Wellbeing programme💭 Volunteers for our Time Out project for children and young people, helping to deliver mental health education workshops in schools.Interested? Please pop Cath an email or call/text:cath@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk07960 972685
Become a Volunteer for Healthy Minds!
VSI Alliance news : Local business offering voluntary help this summer
VSI Alliance wish to share that a local business has approached them and are interested in offering some time over the summer to support a local charity or not for profit group.
The company wishes to help with any aspect of manual work needed, from gardening to decorating or another project if you have one in mind, ideally over the weekends in the summer.
They could prefer to donate this time to an organisation based or operating in Sowerby Bridge or the Upper Valley area.
If you would like to know more, please email Charlie at charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk
Healthy Holidays Summer 2022 Live from Friday 24th June
The Healthy Holidays Calderdale Programme is back for the Summer! Free places are available at Summer holiday clubs across the Borough for children aged 5-16 eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
Bookings go LIVE on Friday 24th June Here:
Healthy Holidays Calderdale Summer 2022
More information on the Healthy Holidays Summer scheme (PDF)
Summer of Live music at the OSCA Foundation Bar
Live music is back on at the OSCA Foundation bar with gigs planned every two weeks for the next three months.
Unless otherwise stated, there is no entry fee.
Saturday July 9th : A & E, Duo : Albert Stott / Ewan ( See Facebook page)
Music/Songs from the past up to present day.
From 7:00pm
Admission is Free, No tickets .
Saturday July 23rd
Altered State Rock Band
AC.DC. Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy, Guns N Roses. Green Day.
From 8pm. Free Admission No tickets..
OSCA FOUNDATION
Forest Cottage
Cousin Lane
Ovenden
Halifax, HX2 8AD
Focus Fest – Focus 4 Hope July 2nd
This Saturday July 2nd come to The Cock of the North in Hipperholme for Focus Fest, an evening of outdoor live music and entertainment to support Focus 4 Hope.
There will be live bands, DJ, BBQ & Pizza as well as stalls and games for all.
The event starts at 17:30.
Visit here for tickets and information
Venue : The Cock Of the North, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8EF
VitaMinds – a free and confidential NHS service
Vita Health Group works in partnership with the NHS to provide mental wellbeing services to support local residents in various districts throughout the UK. Known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies).
VitaMinds is a talking therapy service designed to support individuals by providing the tools needed to get things back on track. It’s a free service. We offer a range of short-term psychological therapies to adults 18-years and over, who live and are registered with a GP in Calderdale.
We all experience times when we feel like we can’t cope, sometimes this can start to affect our everyday lives and prevent us from doing the things we normally do.
Depression affects around 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and over, yet it is estimated that 85% of older people with depression receive no help at all from the NHS. “This figure doubles in the presence of physical illness and trebles in hospitals and care homes”. In relation to those who don’t access support, this could also be enhanced with “People aged 65+ have an overall recovery rate of 64% following treatment, compared to 51% of adults aged 18-64.”
If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive worry or low mood, then VitaMinds can help.
VitaMinds works in partnership with the NHS to provide talking therapy services, known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and we can provide advice and guidance on the best options for you.
How we can help
We aim to help improve the mental wellbeing of people suffering from:
- Depression
- Low mood due to a physical condition (such as diabetes or pain)
- Excessive Worry or Anxiety
- Excessive worry about your health
- Panic Attacks
- Sleep Problems
- Stress
- Phobia(s)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Experience of a traumatic event
Start now by using our digital referral assistant. This will guide you through some questions and take up to 15 mins. Call us on 0333 0153 494 during these hours 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday 9am – 12.30pm Saturday.
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 