Volunteering
Local Walkers Go The Extra Mile For Mental Health
Calderdale mental health charity is lucky to have three local people ready to step up to the challenge and walk 26.2 miles in the first ever 100, 000 person Marathon: this year’s official Virgin Money Virtual London Marathon.
On Sunday 3rd October, Anneliese, Jim and Louise will take on the world’s greatest marathon ‘virtually’ and walk Healthy Minds’ own marathon route through Calderdale.
Team Healthy Minds are just three of the 50,000 participants taking part in the virtual event. Another 50,000 will run the traditional Virgin Money London Marathon from Blackheath to The Mall.
Instead of heading to London, our local team will be walking from Todmorden to Halifax, passing through the local communities that Healthy Minds work with and provide for.
Text MARATHON 5 to donate £5
Text MARATHON 10 to donate £10
Text MARATHON 15 to donate £15
Texts cost the amount of your donation plus one standard rate message.
If you need the help and support of Healthy Minds or know someone who does, please email info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Visit Healthy Minds’ website for more information about their services: www.healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Take part in Calderdale’s Big Green Litter Pick
Volunteers should meet at 1pm on Monday 20 September at the Moor, Savile Park Road, Halifax. HX3 0EG.
We are taking part in a nationwide campaign, the Great Big Green Week, which runs from 18-26 September, to draw attention to climate change, whilst also making a connection with issues in communities around the borough.
As part of the week, on Monday 20 September, our teams will demonstrate the vast amount of waste collected by Council workers in a normal weekend in Calderdale. All the waste collected will be deposited in one area to be photographed and weighed with the costings of disposing calculated – demonstrating the cost of littering.
This will be followed by a clean-up event at Manor Heath Park from 1-3pm where anyone is welcome to come along and help teams tidy up litter or support small gardening tasks. All volunteers will be issued with gloves, bags and litter pickers and will receive any help and direction required from Council workers.
Volunteers should meet at 1pm on Monday 20 September at Savile Park Road, Halifax. HX3 0EG.
This event follows a recent week of activities called ‘Let’s Clean Up Calderdale Together’ which saw community clean ups take place across the borough. This included litter picks at West View Park and the HIMMAT Centre in Halifax, Norwood Green, Oaklands play area in Rastrick, Vale Baptist Church and the Addy in Mixenden. Further events for Calderdale staff were also held at Shibden Park, People’s Park, Wellholme Park in Brighouse, Centre Vale Park in Todmorden and Heath Moor Park Road.
For further information about the Great Big Green Week, please visit www.greatbiggreenweek.com.
Get involved with the Great Big Green Week
As part of the UK’s Great Big Green Week there will be lots of localised events which aim to show how communities are taking action to tackle the climate crisis, protect green spaces and encourage others to get involved too. Visit their website to find or register a local event.
This year, the UK is hosting the United Nations climate summit, known as COP26, in Glasgow in November. This means in the run up to COP26 we have an opportunity to pressure and raise the ambition of plans to tackle climate change globally.
Volunteer with Sure Start Children’s Centres
Here are Sure Start Children’s Centres North Halifax Partnership we recognise that volunteers play an important part in helping us to provide a quality service, at the same time building a portfolio of work experience and qualifications. This can then help when applying for paid work.
If poster doesn’t display, download it here
What Sure Start Can offer you as a Volunteer:
◾A wide variety of Vacancies
◾Opportunity to develop new skills and gain experience in a work environment
◾A placement with regular supervisions, guidance and feedback
◾A professional working environment with well-developed policies and procedures
◾In house training if appropriate
◾Paid expenses if necessary
◾References for future employment
Other reasons why you might want to volunteer:
◾Advice & guidance
◾Keeping you active
◾Improving your community
◾Making friends
What we ask from you as a Volunteer:
◾Regular attendance and commitment to appointed role
◾Actively promote Children’s Centres values
◾Be respectful, honest, professional and polite
The next Volunteering course will take place:
Friday 24th September 10:00am – 12:00pm & Friday 1st October 10:00am – 12:00pm (you will need to attend both sessions)
If you would like to attend the next course please click on the link https://bc.formstack.com/forms/form_1__fsform3525422_copy to complete the application form, if you would like further information please call 01422 251090
Calderdale Community Champions – Nominate a Local Hero!
Nominations are Open for Calderdale Community Champions
The Community Foundation for Calderdale are proud to announce that nominations are open for the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards which will be held at The Venue, Barkisland on 25th November 2021 celebrating the Not-for-profit sector in our borough.
40th Anniversary Overgate Hospice Midnight Walk on September 18th
The Overgate Hospice Midnight Walk will return on Saturday 18th September, with both the 7 and 13 mile routes starting and finishing at North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax.
Many participants will walk in memory of a loved one while others do it for fun or a challenge with friends, family or even their dog!
Claire Howard, Event’s Organiser said; “As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hospice, the Midnight Walk will mark the occasion perfectly by bringing our community together for a very special night. We are so grateful to everyone that has signed up so far and cannot wait to welcome you on the night.”
Registration is just £15 and this includes your t-shirt, post walk medal and goody bag, and refreshments on the night. To register visit www.overgatehospice.org.uk or call 01422 387121.
Healthy Minds August Newsletter
This past month at Healthy Minds has been a time of growth and reflection for us. A wonderful mixture of ideas have surfaced, revealing the strength in diversity of experiences that we hold. We are all looking forward to strengthening this identity, as we continue to learn how we can best represent the people of Calderdale.
Find out about their fundraising news, the allotment developments, events with TimeOut and much more!
Listening to unpaid carers with VAC on August 24
Calling all unpaid carers!
We want to hear from you about how the health and care system can better understand your views and experience.
If you hold any regular meetings or groups for carers that might be interested in this opportunity, please contact megan.russell@cvac.org.uk
If you are not part of a regular group or network, you are invited to a focus group to help us better understand your experiences as a carer. This focus group will be an opportunity to discuss what has helped unpaid carers in the last 12 months, what has been particularly difficult, and what changes they would like to see in Calderdale. We would also like to hear carers’ thoughts on how healthcare organisations can better understand their views and experiences. We are looking to produce a set of recommendations for the health and care system in Calderdale to better listen to carers.
When?
5.30 – 7.00pm Tuesday 24th August, via Zoom.
Who?
We are… VAC (Voluntary & Community) – a charity championing, supporting and strengthening the positive impact of the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) on local lives and communities. We are part of the VSI Alliance, a partnership of organisations providing support for the voluntary and community sector. We also work closely with the NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCCG), Calderdale Council, Healthwatch and healthcare providers to make sure that all our communities in Calderdale have a voice, and that the system works together to listen.
You are… someone supporting a relative or friend who struggles to manage on their own because of a health condition or disability? Someone under 18 who is providing care for someone? We want to hear from you all!
How?
The link to join our Zoom meeting is http://www.tinyurl.com/5xch582u
Please email megan.russell@cvac.org.uk for the password.
Illingworth Post Lady will Brave the Shave!
ON August the 30th at Bradshaw Cricket Club, Illingworth Post Lady Sharon will shave off her long hair in aid of Macmillan.
Sharon wants to raise awareness of cancer and for all the wonderful services Macmillan provide.
But that’s not all there is. There will be a raffle with the chance to win prizes and coffee with lots of scrumptuous homemade cake to go with it! So come join us at
Bradshaw Cricket Club between 1-4 pm on Saturday 30th August
Any support, however small would be helpful. You can turn up on the day or you can support online at
bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk – Search for Posties Sharon and Claire
Or, why not speak to Sharon when she’s on delivery and fill in her sponsor form!
Walk with Lorraine for Yorkshire Air Ambulance on September 4th!
Loraine Greenwood was hit by a bus in Halifax town centre on January 2020. She was airlifted to Leeds with the help of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, where she received life saving treatment.
To thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who had landed into the Piece Hall in order to airlift her, Lorraine is organising a fundraising walk in their aid for her 80th birthday.
This walk is open to the public and you are invited to take part!
Set to go on Saturday the 4th of September, this 8 mile walk will begin from St Matthew’s Church in Northowram.
Event organisers are hoping to sell 100 tickets to members of the public.
Tickets for the walk cost £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s and £5 per dog. Included in the tickets are pie and peas at the church afterwards. The pie and pea meal can be pre-ordered for those not taking part on the walk for £5.
Closing date for the walk and pie and peas is 28th August 2021 and no further entries will be permitted on the day.
There will also be an opportunity to meet Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraisers at the walk to ask questions about the charity and learn all about their lifesaving work in the Halifax area.
It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”
Speaking of the incident, Loraine said: “I could have lost my leg or my life. I cannot thank the emergency services, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the doctors and nurses at the hospital enough for everything they have done for me. I’m so grateful that I have a life and I’ll do the best I can with it.”
Event organiser Linda McCormick, said: “Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such an important local charity, and they need all the support they can get to keep them flying across the region and saving lives. We’re looking forward to celebrating Loraine’s 80th birthday and raising vital funds for such a worthwhile cause.”
Read full article at the Halifax Courier:
Pensioner hit by bus in Halifax organises charity walk for Yorkshire Air Ambulance life savers
Read about the incident at Yorkshire Air Ambulance (warning: graphic description of injuries): Loraine Greenwood
Share your Orange Hearts 🧡 with St Augustine’s Centre!
St Augustines Centre invite you to join them celebrating 70 years of Standing beside the Refugees by sharing your Orange Heart 🧡!
Wednesday the 28th of July 2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and you’re invited to celebrate with us!
The Orange Heart is a symbol used by the #TogetherWithRefugees campaign and we want to flood the Calderdale Valley with orange hearts to show our support on this important anniversary.
All you have to do is take a picture holding an orange heart and tag us on social media and/or email it to us.
You can email your pictures to Charlotte at charlotte.butterick@staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk
Your heart can be made of anything you choose and we encourage you to snap a pic in front of Halifax landmarks.
Let’s show the world that this is #WhoWeAre!
