1 TSL is grateful to Kirklees Council, in particular the Third Sector Team, for the support and opportunity 2 to create this report. This report recognises and shares examples of what works. Third Sector Leaders is keen to build on our sector’s diversity, strengths and know-how Third Sector Leaders helps charities and not-for- to collaborate successfully profit groups that support people, families and and achieve more. communities in Kirklees to develop and do more. We work with communities, individuals and families to find Our diverse membership includes larger agencies better solutions delivering multimillion- Working with people not doing to them is pound contracts alongside part of our DNA. Most third sector services small grassroots and organisations are rooted in ideas of community groups. Our people coming together, finding resources members work in health, and making things change for themselves and social care, economic resilience, environment people around them. and learning and skills. We value working together Our network provides free events, training, Scarce resources mean we are natural workshops, mentoring collaborators and networkers. Working with and one-to-one advice. We partners creates capacity and adds value to open doors to new projects what we deliver. We believe in mutual support and strategic partnerships and know that sharing knowledge skills and and give our sector a voice. resources often sparks innovative solutions.

We start where people are at Our members address issues at a neighbourhood level; issues such as social isolation, unavailable childcare or inadequate support services. Our practical place-based working uses local knowledge to take action and strengthen communities.

I’m delighted to introduce you to this report.

Hilary Thompson Chair of Third Sector Leaders 3 OVERview What is the third sector? • Ability to deliver outcomes that the It’s a general term for organisations that are public sector finds it hard to deliver on neither public nor private sector. It includes its own voluntary and community organisations • Innovation in developing solutions (both registered charities and other • Performance in delivering services organisations, such as associations, self- • Additional funds and resources help groups and community groups), social enterprises, faith organisations, mutuals and co-operatives. How is the sector funded? National figures show that: What about all the other names for • half of all third sector organisations the sector? receive most of their funding from individuals There are quite a few: the voluntary sector (or the voluntary and community • one in ten organisations rely on statutory sector/VCS), the social economy, non- bodies for most their income (this tends governmental organisations/NGOs, non- to be larger organisations) profit organisations, civil society…and they ◉ about half of this comes from local all mean pretty much the same thing. authorities ◉ 45% is from central government and Third sector organisations are: the NHS • Independent – although often working ◉ European Union money accounts for with or alongside government agencies the rest • Values-driven – measuring success in Public sector cuts have made the last ten terms of our social goals years hard for everybody and there have • Non-profit making - any surpluses are been casualties in our sector. Our research reinvested (the term 'profit with purpose' shows that can be helpful when organisations need to make profits to be financially sustainable). Medium-sized, locally Organisations big enough to be running rooted organisations significant services but not big enough to spread risk and income across operations Third sector organisations can be: are losing ground – a are more vulnerable. They are likely to be • simple associations of people with shared ‘squeezed middle’ particularly exposed to the decisions of a values and objectives small number of commissioners. • registered charities or community interest companies (CICs) Many small Smaller groups are most vulnerable • registered companies with a not-for- community groups are to reduced grants. personal-profit approach proving resilient Many local groups are proving resilient, • industrial and provident societies or small amounts of funding can keep them co-operatives going, but they need stability in the longer term. Third sector organisations offer many positives to the public sector, Better off areas are Inequality is likely to grow if better off areas such as: better served are better able to respond to fill gaps left by reduced public funding. • Understanding the needs of service users and communities that the public sector needs to address • Closeness to the people that the public 4 sector wants to reach Local organisations attract a wide range of support This includes the National Lottery, Children in Need, charitable trusts and issue-based funding partnerships. Many services are funded by public sector commissioned contracts. And there are new routes to funding such as social investment bonds, crowd-sourced and community funding. We are resourceful and determined to deliver. Social value Social value describes the collective benefit an organisation or project creates. We want every pound that is spent by or donated to the third sector in Kirklees to lead to the widest possible social benefits. For this report we have used the seven ‘shared outcomes’ created by Kirklees Council as a framework to present the social value of what we do. The seven shared outcomes create a picture of what a better and fairer Kirklees would look like. They are:

1. Best start 2. Well 3. Independent 4. Aspire and achieve 5. Sustainable economy 6. Safe and cohesive 7. Clean and green

5 Executive 1. Best start 2. Well Supporting parents and Helping people to be Summary children to be the best well together. they can be. Our sector gives people support and understanding. It creates opportunities Our sector provides important services for people to contribute and feel part of including playgroups, contact centres and something. Much of what we do reduces parent support groups. Our work includes: the need for more specialist and costly services, for example we: 1. Providing non-profit nurseries We deliver high-quality early years 1. Provide the community- childcare in neighbourhoods that need the based activities that make social most help. Examples include: prescribing possible • Ravensthorpe Community Childcare About a fifth of visits to GPs are for a social • Greenfields Childcare, Dalton rather than a medical problem. Third • Chestnut Nursery, Deighton sector organisations provide the supportive opportunities that can help people to be 2. Being vital partners in Kirklees’ well. Streetbikes, Carers Count and Hoot new approach to children and Creative Arts are just three examples. young people’s mental health needs 2. Connect people with nature Four of the five partners delivering Support 2 Recovery (S2R) and the Hamm Thriving Kirklees are third sector Damm Foundation help people to get in organisations. They’re working in new touch with nature to improve how they feel. ways to provide earlier and better support Both projects use co-production to design to help children, young people and their and develop what they do. families to cope with everyday stresses and negative feelings 3. Support volunteers and create 3. Giving parents and children new and better opportunities quality time to help their Volunteering improves mental health, relationships grow particularly for older people. Local third sector organisations support thousands Forest school sessions are just one of the of volunteers. We are working to remove ways that third sector organisations create barriers to make volunteering even more quality time for children and families. accessible.

4. Provide self-help and peer-support People with the same condition or experiences can create powerful support for themselves. Honeyzz, the Basement Recovery Project and PCAN have all done that and are also valuable resources for local services.

6 3. Independent 4. Aspire and 5. Sustainable Our sector creates caring achieve economy local communities and We help the most We are inclusive social empowers service-users. challenged and least entrepreneurs. We want to find new ways to put local qualified to gain better We enable social and economic people’s needs at the heart of social care. participation and bring funds into the Current activities include: skills and experience. district. We find new ways to deliver Third sector organisations step in and help services and constantly re-invest in 1. Community transport that young learners at risk of failing to progress Kirklees. Highlights include: stitches communities together and adults who are far from the job It’s a challenge to provide flexible, caring market, we: 1. Nurturing inclusive growth and responsive community transport at a neighbourhood level services. The Denby Dale Centre have a 1. Help people to overcome Local Services 2 You provide high strong track record of success. barriers and get into work quality employment, good services and The Step by Step programme run by opportunities for people in Ashbrow. 2. A new way to deliver affordable Paddock Community Trust offers 15 local social care walk-in sessions a week (across Kirklees). 2. Pioneering Social Impact Bonds Valley Care Co-op is launching innovative Skilled group leaders help people to make that have brought over £9 million local social care in the Colne Valley, the changes that will help them find to Kirklees inspired by Dutch and Italian projects. employment. The local knowledge created by Fusion Housing’s work with a social investor, that 3. Activities that are worth leaving 2. Provide accessible community- brought £2.5 million into the area, then the house for based learning helped to bring £6.6million of Life Chances The Howland Centre encourages Community Learning Works (CLW) funding into Kirklees (the largest Social independence and creates community by provides new routes to learning for people Impact Bond in Europe). giving people an enriching experience that who are furthest from the job market. Fun can anchor their lives. and engaging activities in familiar, local 3. Enabling local giving spaces have given 1,620 people a positive Organised, collective place-based giving experience of learning since September by One Community and Loose Change 2017 (over half had no recent experience provides a route for local people to give of learning). back to their areas and strengthen the communities they live in. 3. Help Year 10 and 11 students who leave mainstream schools to 4. Delivering community festivals make a fresh start Between them the Marsden Jazz Festival, Brian Jackson College (part of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Yorkshire Children’s Centre) helps and Cleckheaton Folk Festival generate an teenage students to overcome and manage impressive £2.25 million of local spending emotional and behavioural issues. It and investment. provides a high quality education alongside this specialist service and is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. It is expanding to a second site and doubling its capacity to 80.

7 6. Safe and 7. Clean and green cohesive Third sector We bring communities organisations get stuck together and provide in, we look after parks, expert services that woods, public spaces, create safety. rivers and canals.

Many of our groups and services act as We care about where we live and want the social glue that holds communities green and pleasant spaces to share with together. We also work specifically on family, friends and nature. Our work community safety issues such as: includes:

1. More in common 1. Taking pride in the neighbourhood Jo Cox’s legacy continues to bring people together to find common ground. Pride in Linthwaite CIC grew out of a Facebook post about dog mess. Three 2. Providing better support for sub-groups now keep the local area tidy, victims of domestic violence in bloom and celebrating together at the annual Leadboilers Festival. Pennine Domestic Violence Group’s IDVA service helps statutory services to prioritise 2. Community ‘team challenges’ the needs of victims (IDVA stands for for local businesses Independent Domestic Violence Advisor). Volunteering Kirklees enables local 3. Changing the story on businesses to help out for the day. Green knife crime ‘team challenges’ are a great way for employees to bond while they make Thornton Lodge Action Group’s ‘Beyond a difference for a local community the Blade’ project uses free gym time as organisation. a route to changing hearts, minds and demystifying the appeal of street crime. 3. Networking for nature Natural Kirklees helps local people to care for their natural environment. They connect established groups and help individuals to find a route to nature.

8 1. Best start

9 Best start Non-profit nurseries

Community based non-profit nurseries the best route to high-quality early years childcare in disadvantaged areas National figures show a widening gap between childcare availability and quality in the wealthiest and most deprived areas. Third sector organisations are delivering in the neighbourhoods that need the most help.

“We can Ravensthorpe from being part of the communities they serve. This is place-based working in action afford high Community Childcare and a good example of the third sector as a primary service provider. staff ratios and Outstanding not-for-profit nursery training costs in a significantly deprived area. Ravensthorpe has been rated because we are OUTSTANDING by Ofsted “Our strength comes down to three things: • 116 nursery places (58 in the morning non-profit.” • We have a high ratio of staff to children and 58 in the afternoon) • Many of our staff are from the local • Supports school readiness community Has a motivation room – supports extra • Everybody involved is well trained language skills and motivated. Lending library of books and toys We can afford high staff ratios and training • Active parent partnerships - staff costs because we are non-profit, that is demonstrate play and learning activities literally where our profits go. We invest in on Wednesdays our staff, supporting and helping to keeps • Most places are funded, but fees are kept motivation levels high. I know for me at affordable levels for those that pay. personally, if I lost my enthusiasm it would be time to go. A widening gap We set quality improvements every year. • Only 19 per cent of nursery settings in We’ve got to outstanding and now we want the most deprived areas were rated as to stay there.” "outstanding" by Ofsted, compared Karen Ecclestone, Nursery Manager, with 25 per cent in the least deprived (March 2018). Ravensthorpe Community Childcare • Similarly, 10 per cent of childminders in the most disadvantaged areas were Local examples of community-based, rated outstanding, half the rate of the not-for-profit childcare delivering for local richest areas. communities also include: • Across the UK children from the • Greenfields Childcare, Dalton poorest 30% of neighbourhoods are 11 • Chestnut Nursery, Deighton percentage points less likely than their peers to reach the expected level in They all have a can-do approach that comes 10 communication and language. Best start Thriving Kirklees

Thriving Kirklees meeting children and Five complementary young people’s mental partners working health needs in a together to: new way Offer a clear pathway One point of contact opens the door to the to help families thrive advice and services that families need. This holistic approach means families don’t have to endlessly retell their story as they contact multiple services. It also helps people to access mental health support earlier. Four of the five partners delivering this See the bigger picture service are third sector organisations.

Growing demand – a need for change Half of mental health conditions start before the age of 14, and 75% by age 24. The five partners: Eleven services One in eight young people in England • Locala Community • 0-19 Team (health visiting and school have a diagnosable mental health Partnerships CIC nursing) condition, that’s roughly four young people • Home-Start Kirklees • Child and Adolescent Mental Health in every classroom (with children from • Northorpe Hall Child and Services (CaMHS) low income families three times more Family Trust • Children’s Emotional Health and likely to be affected). • South West Yorkshire Wellbeing Service (ChEWS) Demand is growing and services are Partnership Foundation • National Child Measurement Programme overwhelmed (only a fifth of young people Trust (SWYPT) in need can access treatment). • Assessment and diagnosis of autistic • Yorkshire Children’s spectrum conditions (through referrals Mental health services for children and Centre made by a Speech and Language young people are changing across the Using a common Therapist, Paediatrician, SENCO or country. Thriving Kirklees is pioneering Educational Psychologist) a shift to: language: • Support for children and young people It's support not treatment • earlier and better support to help with learning disabilities children, young people and their families and end of service rather to cope with everyday stresses and than discharge • Home-Start Family Support negative feelings • Safety in the Home • holistic help to meet the needs of a child Thriving Kirklees is a • Safety Rangers or young person rather than a focus on five-year contract that • Healthy child vitamins started in April 2017. diagnosis • Child Accident Prevention

11 Best start Thriving Kirklees

Northorpe Hall’s view risks and ask for consent to talk to others who may be involved, such as the school, Kirklees has ChEWS the Children’s youth offending team or a social worker. been selected It’s about scoping out what’s going on so Emotional Wellbeing we can suggest positive ways forward and as one of 25 Service involve people in decisions. Trailblazer areas in the UK to The core concept for Thriving Kirklees Committed to making it work is to focus on what families need and to trial new ways work with them as partners. Different We’re working hard to join-up across of working with organisations provide advice and help in organisations with different structures and the best way to help children get to and cultures in the context of changing and young people in stay ‘thriving’. reducing public services. education. Our staff have been flexible and responsive. Waiting times for mental health support They’ve taken on weekend working and are already too long. Thriving Kirklees The government is paying now literally sit alongside staff from Locala is putting more resources in to reduce the Trust to train and manage eight new mental and CAMHS, making it easier to learn them. Support to parents through learning health workers to give from and support each other. sessions and phone calls help while families wait.” early support to vulnerable This also makes a joined-up response young people in over 40 easier: people can immediately ask for ideas local schools and colleges. and collaboration from the other services. Tom Taylor Sometimes a family can get advice from Director, different specialisms in one phone call. Northorpe Hall Child & Family Trust The Trust is supporting around 500 children every month. Many are now supported in groups, which enables ChEWS is the Children’s effective peer support to happen. We know Emotional Wellbeing Service. that eight out of ten young people accessing It helps young people aged 5-19 services show improved mental health. whose emotional and mental health We’re also helping staff in schools and difficulties are impacting on their community hubs to identify young people’s day to day lives, helping them back needs and respond quickly. to health. ChEWS helps over 400 Kirklees children every month. Quicker support, better decisions Experienced workers provide short term mental and emotional health “In the past, people seeking help had to support including counselling wait many weeks to speak to someone, and therapeutic activities, one to usually at a CAMHS assessment one support and help accessing appointment. Now, within a shorter time services. ChEWS does not provide of contacting Thriving Kirklees, our staff an immediate response service. call them and get a good picture of what is ChEWS is provided by Northorpe going on for everyone involved. They listen, Hall Child and Family Trust assess and respond. Some people now have a series of phone appointments helping them overcome their challenges. Sometimes a good ‘listen’ is what people need, especially at the start. This support can also prevent further problems from developing. We can identify 12 Home-Start’s view 117 families Home-Start helps families with young supported in a children to deal with the challenges they face. We support parents to improve their year. That’s 171 confidence and self-esteem as they learn to adults and 239 cope. We offer families one-to-one support at home from trained volunteers. We also children. have paid family support workers and Figures from 2017-2018 weekly support groups for parents aged 14- 24 years. The groups are partly facilitated by trained peer educators - former service users who benefited from group support Quality is 100% assured themselves. • Home-Start Kirklees achieved the highest possible mark in its most Being part of Thriving Kirklees is very recent Home-Start UK Quality positive. More people are getting our Assurance Review. support and it’s good to know our way of working is valued and respected. Our • This means Kirklees Home-Start is one of the best in the UK. model works, it’s not time-limited because if a family is stuck in a rut, short-term help • Its Board of Trustees were placed - with a limited number of interventions - second in the national NCVO isn’t going to work. We invest in building governance award, the Winifred Tumin Prize trusting relationships with parents to help make change happen.

Agile decision making We value having an equal role in managing how Thriving Kirklees does things. The operational group (known as TOG) meets monthly to review what’s working well and make any changes needed to enhance innovation. We can adjust the whole apparatus to allow systems to work better for families, avoiding duplications and creating efficiencies, rather than staying stuck in disjointed silos. Being part of a larger contract has helped Home-Start Kirklees to become more robust and sustainable. We’re able to offer 96% of parents 97% of parents 98% of parents 94% of 100% of support to many more vulnerable families felt less felt they reported an parents felt parents in need.”. isolated after could manage improvement more able to reported support their child's in their own access services improved self Kerri Flanagan behaviour mental health themselves esteem Director, Home-Start Kirklees better

13 Best start Strengthening families

Time together Nature’s Footprints outdoor learning and strengthens forest school sessions

families. “We create a space for children, families and groups to really be themselves,” Third sector explains Jo Liversedge a teacher and organisations give founder of Nature’s Footprints CIC. parents and children That space can be in a park, woodland or any green patch. “In Crosland Moor we ran quality time, space sessions that gave parents of children with and focus to help their additional needs and challenging behaviour time to be with their kids without outside relationships grow. pressures getting in the way.” Nature’s Footprints runs regular sessions Play groups give across Kirklees, encouraging everyone to parents and children get into the outdoors to learn new skills and have fun. time together in their naturesfootprints.co.uk early days but playing together doesn’t have Research shows that… In a recent review, qualitative studies to stop. showed that when taking part in outdoor recreation families showed: • Improved self-competence, learning and identity • Improved wellbeing via escapism, relaxation and sensory experience • Improved social bonding as a family Review available at: whatworkswellbeing.org

14 2. Well

Third sector groups and organisations can help individuals to make healthier choices, but perhaps more importantly we help people to be well together: to feel understood and supported, to contribute and to feel part of something. Much of what we offer reduces the need for more specialist and costly services.

15 Well Social prescribing

2. Well Here are a few of the groups and Making ourselves activities ‘prescribed’ for people with long term health conditions: feel better Hoot Creative Arts Safe and happy cycling “This is what it is all about, being creative, taking notice of one another and making Streetbikes ourselves feel better by being creative and connected.” ‘David’ was referred to Tmara is totally blind, she cycles with a Hoot’s Out of the Blue programme by sighted person on Streetbikes’ tandem: a community psychiatric nurse. Being What the doctor “Cycling has made me feel physically able to make music in group sessions and stronger and has also given me more trying creative writing helped him to feel ordered - social confidence in myself. It has made me feel less anxious and more confident in social less anxious because I tend to worry a lot.” situations. prescribing Streetbikes is good at getting people who Out of the Blue offers a varied selection of would not normally ride a bike to have a arts activities to improve mental health, go and then carry on cycling, this includes wellbeing and build personal resilience. • About a fifth of visits people with disabilities, older people and to GPs are for a social women from BME communities. As well as a tandem Streetbikes has a wheelchair rather than a medical bike and an adult tricycle. People can ride problem in safety around a track and, when their confidence increases, on the Greenway. • Primary care services can use the Better in Time and space Kirklees scheme to for myself ‘prescribe’ community- Carers Count based activities for Carers Count helped Lisa to understand their patients more about what being a carer for two elderly relatives means for her own health and wellbeing. Lisa is 68 and her caring • Community Mental role makes it increasingly difficult for Health Teams often her to get out of the house. Carers Count organised respite care so Lisa can now suggest clients attend a regular meditation and contact third sector relaxation group. organisations Carers Count offer invaluable support, advice and social activity/interest groups for people in Kirklees who have become carers for friends and family.

16 Well Belonging and purpose

Creating a sense of belonging and purpose transforming a ‘grot spot’ into a community asset. Since 2013, the Manor Gardens site in Batley has changed from a neglected eyesore, complete with fly-tipped fridges, to a thriving community garden. Along the way Rachel Oldroyd from the Hamm-Damm Foundation has Plant It, Grow It, Eat It been born. Hamm-Damm means ‘we breathe the same air’, it’s a poetic version of Jo Cox’s statement that “we have more in common than that which divides us”. The project brings people with different needs and backgrounds together to learn new skills and exchange experiences. “We recognise difference in an honest way and our goal is acceptance", explains Feroze Syed from the group. The garden has polytunnels for growing veg and salad, a herb garden and fruit trees. There are separate plots for women, older people and disabled people as well as for schools and faith groups and a workshop for DIY skills. “We have created a community garden rather than allotments, because this way the benefits are spread more widely.” There are plans for a community kitchen and a couple of residential pods to rent out to people attending activity holidays and seminars. “Our biggest challenge is becoming financially viable and sustainable,” concludes Feroze. The Foundation are determined to ensure this shared green space will enrich and improve community wellbeing and contribute towards better understanding between religious and ethnic groups. Volunteers and community members are already benefiting from its work. 17 Well Co-producing wellbeing

Starting where people are at co-producing wellbeing Support to Recovery (S2R) help people to feel better. Their warm and welcoming sessions give participants the chance to be creative, get outdoors or directly build on self-care skills such as mindfulness.

• Some sessions are at S2R HQ in Huddersfield others are out in community settings • Many are open-access, people don’t need to tick a box to attend • S2R tailors sessions for specific groups such as teenagers, people with dementia or maybe a hidden disability such as autism.

“We improve people’s emotional and We’re a team and we get a huge physical wellbeing by connecting them “I feel fitter and I’ve satisfaction when we complete Work with nature as part of a group. This could got more confidence Day tasks because we know we’ve given be hands-on growing tasks at the allotment, something back to the community. The a sociable, mindful walk in a park or time and self-belief. I’m in best thing is going home on the bus at a table-top exploring how aromatherapy a place I never thought yawning my head off, filthy, sweaty and can help mood and health. shattered, ready for a shower and my tea. There’s nothing more rewarding. Our service users are an amazing asset. I could reach.” I’m now fitter, more confident and less They are fully involved in designing Charlotte left residential rehab with scared about meeting new people. I and delivering what we do. We get good new coping skills and strategies, would not be where I am if it wasn’t outcomes because we co-produce our but needed routine, purpose and for the patience, encouragement and services with the people who use them. structure to give her the best chance of support from staff and friends I’ve And we love to see people gain confidence, succeeding. made at S2R. learning and progressing from peer “I signed up for S2R’s Growing Group Classes at Huddersfield Leisure Centre supporters to group facilitators and beyond. and Work Day. My fears about whether have also helped my self-belief and We’re alongside people as they cope and other people would like me meant it fitness. I’m in a place I never thought I learn and develop and we’d love to bring took three attempts for me to walk in could reach. I’m going onto a course in the door. I’m a regular at both groups that insight to strategic planning and volunteering skills, with Recovery College, now and enjoy learning and doing on service design with statutory partners.” and hopefully those skills will help me 18 my own and with others. to support new starters with S2R.” Paula Wood, Senior Manager S2R Well Volunteering

Older people are most likely to be: Volunteering Evidence strongest • motivated by care about the cause for older volunteers a flexible, easy-to-access • keen to contribute skills Research shows that • after a sense of purpose and achievement volunteering lowers way to improve mental depression for older health people. This positive It’s important to: effect seems to be There is good evidence • Trust younger people to do more as linked to having a role volunteers and feeling useful. that volunteering • See older people as assets who can make a This is significant as we improves mental meaningful contribution. know that retirement can increase the risk of health. We are working • Offer high quality opportunities where depression. volunteers can shape their own projects to understand and and opportunities. remove barriers to make volunteering even more Finding out what gets in the way TSL, Communities United Project and accessible so more council officers are carrying out research to people can benefit get a better understanding of how to make volunteering easier for: Volunteering • Refugees Kirklees Network Volunteering and mental health • People with physical health conditions (VKN) Volunteering is a good thing: it gets things • People with poor mental health TSL coordinates the VKN done and benefits individuals in many peer support network • People with learning difficulties ways. Research shows that we can now say to raise the quality of volunteering is more than simply linked • Ex-offenders how volunteers are to better mental health, it causes improved • Non-working, low income parents managed in Kirklees. mental health. Volunteering can: We will use the findings to help VKN holds bi-monthly • Increase self-esteem organisations to redesign volunteering meetings and an annual conference. • Reduce symptoms of depression opportunities and support. • Increase life satisfaction • Reduce brain-shrinkage • Improve feelings of wellbeing Formal volunteering as part of a group improves wellbeing significantly more than informal, irregular volunteering.

Who volunteers? Highest rates of monthly volunteering are 16 to 25-year olds (32%) and 65 to 74 year olds (31%). In general younger people want: • tangible, practical benefits from volunteering.

• To be able to put substantial skill-based 19 experience and learning on their CVs. Well Self-help and peer support

Self-help and peer The Basement PCAN is a voice for support play a vital Recovery Project parents of children with The Basement Recovery Project helps additional needs people with drug and alcohol problems. It role in wellbeing Information is vital to families when initially filled gaps in treatment services in children have additional needs. Having Kirklees, but now delivers a full treatment Knowledge is power. specialist information about grants and and recovery service. Most people who services makes a big difference, but so When people with work there are in recovery and able to can the everyday such as when there’s a use their lived experience alongside their the same condition group of similar families going swimming professional skills to help others. or experiences come or a chance to talk to have a coffee with together they create The Project is at the cutting edge of a someone who understands. significant change in treatment services. PCAN (Parents of Children with something very powerful They use a ‘recovery oriented’ approach Additional Needs) is an independent, for themselves and a to help clients develop their own recovery local parent-led forum. They share vital ‘toolbox’ of strategies to prevent relapse. information amongst themselves, but valuable resource for Recovery is a process and the goal is a crucially also tell it like it is to the people health and social care healthy, drug and alcohol free, better who make decisions that affect their way of being. Treatment focuses on day-to day lives. services. personal relationships, health, wellbeing, PCAN’s views have helped to redesign the employment and participation in the local wheelchairs service. community. Excitingly the programme Honeyzz Diabetes Better understanding of need makes joined has success rates of more than double the up health and social care more likely. Support Group national average. The third sector can help to co-design Honeyzz provides regular meet-ups and local health and care goals and ways to tons of know-how for people in the African meet them. Caribbean and emerging communities. For almost 20 years Honeyzz have been spreading the word about taking control and living better with diabetes. “We’re all about helping people to understand what’s good for them,” explains Denzil Nurse from the group. “We boost individuals’ confidence and knowledge, helping them to take ownership, build resilience and manage their condition.” Honeyzz target group is up to five times more affected by diabetes than the host (white) community and is often regarded as ‘hard-to-reach’. Over six months 92 people regularly visited their weekly Hyve sessions at St John's Resource Centre in Huddersfield. Visitors got blood sugar and blood pressure readings and learnt more about how to manage their condition. Honeyzz is about to receive Quality for Health Assurance accreditation. This is their next step in integrating what they do 20 into local health services. Honeyzzz member 3. Independent

.

Innovation, social capital and service user- involvement will give people independence and control over their own lives.

21 Independent Community transport

3. Independent Community People-focused logistics ”I’ve got “On Wednesday mornings a group of transport twelve to fourteen people who are mobile somewhere and living independently, but not able to is caring transport stand and wait at a bus stop, use our Ring and Ride service. The main purpose of to go now” Our Shopper Bus picks up the first six or seven people and drops them off as a group community transport at Morrisons, then goes back for the rest. is to help people to be Carlie, a blind When the second group arrive, they go independent. As Paul woman in her early straight to the café where they meet up thirties, rang up to with the first group who are having a cuppa from Denby Dale Centre find out more about after doing their shopping. The driver has a the Denby Dale break too, then takes the first group explains, “We’re able to Centre’s Volunteer Car Service. She back while the second group get their give people that extra didn’t know where shopping done." bit of time and to really she wanted to go, but a week later Social value is built in get to know what help rang back and said, they need.” ‘I’ve got somewhere "There are benefits at every stage of this to go now,’ as she’d process. Socialising on the bus and in the “Success to us is making everything work discovered Yorkshire café, creating connections that can grow so that we can sustainably deliver that Visually Impaired and develop into friendships outside of Cricket Club. caring, socially valuable service that really this weekly meet up. Living independently, changes people’s lives. Carlie is now playing making decisions, shopping locally and getting exercise while you’re out and about." We operate under the same laws and cricket for Yorkshire and England. To get conditions as bus companies, but provide Paul Jones her to cricket practise Chief Officer, The Denby Dale Centre much more to customers (and whole on time a volunteer locations) that would otherwise be driver picks her up at neglected. 6.30am, takes her to Overall, we need community buy-in the railway station The Denby Dale Centre to succeed. We want to be part of the and waits on the – practical action against fabric. We need advocates to tell people platform until the loneliness who need our services that we exist, but train arrives and the guard can help with Bringing people together runs also for people to step up and volunteer. the next stage in her through the Centre’s activities like the Community transport can really stitch journey. The Centre is writing through a stick of rock. communities together. proud to be part of her The centre runs over 20 projects We’re interested in sharing what we know route to success and including: enjoyment. about need and how to meet it. Our car • Time together – coffee mornings, scheme is our only project that can’t be self- film club, Kirklees-wide dementia sustaining. We want to co-design services activity groups and more and find ways to get as much out of every • Valleys Community Transport pound as possible.” • Valleys Volunteer Car Service • The Kirkburton Hub • DDC Training – discounted essential training courses for local community organisations 22 Independent Valley Care Co-op

Valley Care Co-op a chance to do things differently A new group in the Colne Valley is exploring how to deliver social care to local people in an affordable way. Good social care is about people, relationships and communities rather than competition and profits, so creating a way for local people to own their own service makes sense.

“If you get enough people together you can In Italy a recent study of elderly care “We’ve got controlling make things happen” says Graham Mitchell showed that social co-ops provided a bureaucrats on the one one of the founders of Valley Care Co-op. superior service at 50 per cent of the cost hand and competitive “We had over 70 people come to a public of state programmes. This is mainly due providers on the meeting about this in November 2018, to co-ops offering more flexible working other. The result is the which was a great start.” conditions, having lower labour costs opposite of efficiency Graham is an expert in co-operatives and and greater commitment among workers. and responsiveness, helped to set up the Green Valley Grocer Closer to home Wales is seeing a mini- with public money in Slaithwaite. He believes that mutual boom in co-ops as the result of a more being wasted on badly ownership will also work for social care. A supportive regulatory framework. designed services run by agencies trying to big source of inspiration is the Buurtzog squeeze out profits at approach used in the Netherlands and So, what could happen in the the expense of their the well-established network of care co- Colne Valley? users and workers.” operatives in Northern Italy. As Graham explains, “Co-operatives Co-ops provide a Buurtzog means “neighbourhood care”, the give people control over things that structure for users model involves teams off up to 12 nurses matter to them. We want to do things on and workers to caring for between 40 and 60 people in a human scale, to be efficient and respond exercise power, and a particular area. The golden rule is that to be efficient and well to need. nurses must spend more than half their responsive in their own time in direct contact with the people they There are lots of bureaucratic barriers interests.” to get over, but the good news is that we support, meeting their immediate health Adrian Roper, and care needs and coaching them to make have secured £50,000 to get us to a launch Chief Executive broader changes rather than watching position and will have a community share Cartrefi Cymru the clock and rushing off to the next offer to raise more funds. We have a small Co-operative appointment. team of care professionals and service users working on service design and hope to be up and running at the end of 2019.” Reduced care needs Clients are significantly happier with the service and over time their care needs reduce. From a team of four nurses in 2006, there are now around 900 Buurtzog teams in the Netherlands, supported by no more than 50 administrators and 20 trainers (because the nurses are self-managing). 23 Independent Social centres

Howlands a centre for everyone Arts, creativity, discovery and friendship all add up to a good reason to get out of the house in Dewsbury.

"We’re a social centre that’s all about creativity. There are no set activities, members are encouraged to explore ideas and think independently about what they’d like to do. People get to the centre under their own steam and that can be a great measure of how we’re helping people to live active, independent lives. For example, one gentleman with learning disabilities started coming one afternoon a week, door to door in a taxi. Now he comes three days a week, getting the bus by himself. Doing his art projects really improved his confidence, he knows he can do something just as well as the next person. The friendships that people make here help them to want to do more. Many of our members have physical disabilities but we really are a centre for everyone whatever your circumstances and we’re proud to be a place where independence blossoms." Deborah Hall, Howlands Manager

Howlands is run by the Dewsbury and District League of Friendship - a small independent charity formed over 60 years ago. The organisation is run by the members for the members, with the help of volunteers and paid staff.

24 4. Aspire and achieve

People of all ages need help to navigate and connect with local opportunities. Third sector organisations step in and help young learners at risk of failing to progress and adults who are far from the job market.

25 Aspire and achieve Employment support

4. Aspire and achieve Step by Step friendly and Where are you at? responsive employment "We regularly review where people are at. I can help them to see what they’ve support achieved and what they’ve got to offer. I point out people’s good bits until they Helping people to believe it themselves and then help them to think about the next thing. It's a constant overcome barriers and conversation." get a job takes a lot of skills and know-how. Tackling barriers Paddock Community "Barriers can be physical or mental health problems, drug or alcohol dependencies, Trust are Kirklees home- being an ex-offender or waiting for grown experts on how to sentencing. I can help people to write a strong personal statement, for example do this well. saying ‘yes I did commit a crime, I’m not proud of it, but let me tell you about the positive things I’ve done in the meantime.” Step by Step offers: • walk-in support for people who are out of work and on benefits Please give her a chance • sessions led by qualified advisers at "I’m happy to speak up for people, for 15 different locations across example I’ve been advising a woman who Kirklees every week. hasn’t worked for 27 years (she has had lots • a mixture of one-to-one and small of barriers stopping her). We managed to group support get her some work experience in retail. I rang and said “please give her a chance, I know her and I know she wants this.” She’s been in work for over three months now." Relaxed and chatty "I run up to six advice sessions every week. It's a warm welcome - everybody is in Flexibility works the same boat so there is a strong sense "People can contact us on WhatsApp, by of belonging. We keep things relaxed and text, email, phone or meet us. We will go chatty and talk about all sorts, including to them (I have a travel kettle!). It's easy jobs training and progression." to keep track of people if you’ve built a relationship, they want to tell you and you don't have to chase them down." First things first "When people first come we start with what’s most important to them. If they've Steffi Ackroyd, Step by Step Advisor had their money stopped we need to sort that out and establish whether they need food or heating. You’ve got to prioritise what they need, they might also need a CV, but food and heating come first."

26 Aspire and achieve Employment support

I manage all the training and contracts that we deliver. My focus is winning contracts and making sure we perform well – we’ve not lost one yet! In fact for the Talk English programme we are now managing other suppliers’ contracts as well as delivering our own.

Step by step - evolving design A new route - payment by results "We designed the original Step by Step "We’re delivering the Right Steps to Work scheme with tenants and residents’ Project on a payment by results basis. It’s associations and it has evolved from there. a new route, but I’m confident we’ll go From the beginning, which was 2011, beyond our targets and be able to recoup we’ve provided something engaging but the the full cost of the service, including things service now helps people in a more holistic like management time and the cost of way. Yes, it’s job search support, but it’s premises, which are often overlooked." also looking at what else is going on in people’s lives and helping them to get the right help at the best pace for them. Christina Simpkin, That’s what people who are far from Contracts and Training Manager employment need."

Quality control "The first contract we ever had was for Kirklees Council Adult and Community Learning in 2005. That relationship has grown – along with the council and our other partners we were rated outstanding by Ofsted at the last inspection. We invest in our staff. This is specialist work and we support and encourage their development. A nice story is that one of our teachers first came to us as a volunteer, they got experience then got their PGCE and now a job. In 2018 we achieved a National Investing in Volunteers Award - the UK quality standard in involving volunteers."

27 Aspire and achieve Community based learning

Community Learning Works new routes to learning for people who CLW enables small are furthest away from community groups the job market to deliver fun and Helping disadvantaged engaging activities in people to develop their familiar spaces skills is an essential part of tackling inequality. Barriers to learning are real and fewer adults are participating in learning and training.

Government funding of adult skills fell by 34% in real terms between 2010/11 and 2015/16

Since September 2017 CLW has 30% have gone onto 28% have involved over 1,620 local people further learning with progressed to in learning activities CLW. formal courses with other providers 9% are now volunteering 3% have gone into work

28 Aspire and achieve Community based learning

Learners' needs are well understood Most delivery organisations already know learners' circumstances

A realistic route New to support and Feels partnerships information accessible Friendly contact with careers service and learning providers Sessions are not labelled as 'learning' or 'courses'

Bringing people together Familiar venues help people from different backgrounds to feel comfortable CLW has proudly outperformed the A tailored targets set for the offer project. Organisations skilled in tailoring to meet needs CLW is a partnership of seven community organisations: Fusion Housing Paddock Community Trust Crosland Moor Learning Centre Proper Job Theatre Company Ravensthorpe Community Centre Workers Educational Association C&K Careers 29 Aspire and achieve Community based learning

A flexible approach that builds on For example, the Hillhouse Centre runs grassroot strengths accredited courses in health and social care, but we could see that the leap from a CLW We help neighbourhood and specialist taster course on wellbeing to Level 1 was organisations to offer interesting tasters daunting. The centre developed a ‘bridging or short courses. Ice-breaking learning course’ that gave new CLW learners a peek sessions on things like confidence building, into a Level 1 course (explaining concepts cooking and henna art are helpful for and giving a flavour of what they’d learn.) finding out what other learning people At least 70% of the group have progressed might be interested in. We’ve attracted over on to the Level 1 course. 1,600 learners of which over half have not been in learning in the last 3 years. Every CLW learner is contacted by C&K Careers to talk through what might help them. Almost 500 participants have Friendly and familiar taken up further CLW opportunities Sessions in familiar places (run by friendly whilst 459 have moved on to more formal faces) are less intimidating. Creating a learning with other providers. positive first experience is vital: CLW funded some fun and relaxed sessions Making the most of community in how to use smartphones, tablets and skills and resources apps for Batley 50 Plus, a lively group of older people who meet up for activities, CLW has helped groups to share skills, speakers and outings. The sessions looked premises and learners; we’re finding ways at apps that keep people in touch, such as to offer more with limited resources. Skype and WhatsApp, as they are especially For example, Support 2 Recovery (S2R) useful for people with long term health have been able to take their sessions to a conditions and mobility problems. The wider group of learners including young sessions also showed people what they parents, asylum seekers and parents of could gain from longer IT courses. children with additional needs. On Love Huddersfield’s Platform 1 project works Your Park Day they ran a bushcraft session with men with a range of needs and issues: (with the Friends of Scholes Recreation homelessness, mental health problems, Ground) for families in Cleckheaton. One unemployment and substance misuse participant said, “This is in my top ten are all in the mix. CLW funded cooking moments. No top five.”. classes that have helped group members to feel more confident about caring Three years of successful learning for themselves as well as providing an CLW has learnt a lot about how to create a enjoyable activity to share at the project. A culture of adult learning for people facing gentle and positive experience of learning disadvantage and difficulties. We’ve valued has led to sessions on confidence building being able to make quick decisions about (with the LAB project) and IT (delivered what can be funded (rather than going by Crosland Moor). through a lengthy panel process) and are proud of our many success stories. We’ll Bridging the gap be producing a full evaluation of the Once we’ve engaged learners the challenge project in 2020. is not to lose them. We have found new ways to bridge the gap to more formal Bridget Hughes learning. TSL Community Learning Manager

30 Aspire and achieve Additional provision

A fresh start that • Brian Jackson College is owned and managed by the Yorkshire Children’s Kirklees schools have a higher than average works for Year 10 and Centre fixed period exclusion 11 students who leave • Most pupils join the school following rate. periods of non-attendance at other mainstream schools. • 2,929 fixed period schools exclusions in Kirklees • Rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, inspection secondary schools in Brian Jackson College comments include: 2016/17. helps 15- and 16-year ◉◉Pupils’ behaviour is good overall and • That's a rate of 11.1% olds to change their shows marked improvements. Pupils per pupil enrolments comment that they feel safe and that compared to 9.4% behaviour and get bullying is very rare. Relationships across England. back to learning. It’s are good. • However, that’s ◉◉Leaders and managers and governors better than the rate an independent school know their school well and have for Yorkshire and the Humber, 15.99%, the implemented effective strategies that (rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted) highest in England. have helped improve the quality of that grew out of a youth teaching, achievement, behaviour club – a great example and attendance. of the third sector responding to need and coming up with the goods.

“In 2019 we are more than doubling our capacity to 80 places. We are proud of the service we offer and the results we achieve. We teach lessons and support students to achieve academically. But we also spend time on social, emotional and behavioural issues. We help students to identify what “Thank you for getting me through the needs to change and support them to make rest of my school life I spent with you. Even progress. In a nutshell we offer a fresh start. though I was rude and didn’t like staying at We teach as wide a range of subjects as we can given that some of our teaching time is college, thank you for always supporting me spent helping students to overcome social, and giving me all the advice. This has made emotional and behavioural problems. Our strategy is to help students to gain a strong me realise how immature I was and has now core set of qualifications that will enable made me change into a different person them to enter college, further education or apprenticeships.” ready for my future. Keep in touch please.”

Jacqui Green, Head Teacher A card from a pupil

31 5. Sustainable economy

Our services help to build social inclusion. We enable social and economic participation and bring funds into the district. We find new ways to deliver services and constantly re-invest in Kirklees.

32 Sustainable economy Local Services 2 You (LS2Y)

Local Services 2 You "LS2Y is evolving to meet needs in Ashbrow, filling in gaps as services reduce Bee2gether (LS2Y) Inclusive growth and connecting with people in ways that directly in action remotely run services don't tend to. We aim to provide high quality responding "Running many employment, excellent services and to need create opportunities for local people. The community businesses challenge we have as a social enterprise LS2Y like to spot a in one area means is getting the right balance between need, trial something rewarding and investing in staff and and see what happens. we get to understand services, keeping services affordable for our The Bee2gether’ local relationships and community and generating a profit to meet sessions started as social needs and keep us sustainable. a friendly space for networks. We can see anyone feeling isolated Our exact model is unique to us, but we to have a chat, read links and opportunities believe it can work in other communities. a book, or do some and do something Place-based working looks different in each activities - whatever place and responds to the strengths, assets they wanted. about them." and needs of each community. We are keen From a trickle there are to share what we know and co-produce now at least a dozen LS2Y provides: further services. We want to have the people coming each honest, strategic conversations that can set week. They have made Community services the ball rolling." friends, learnt new • Chestnut Centre and Business Units Andy Petrie, Chief Executive LS2Y things and had fun. • Chestnut Library The group is reducing isolation and is • Deighton Carnival developing in response • Bee2gether Just on the off chance to what people would • Conflict Resolution sessions like to do. It’s funded A woman who’d just had a baby by LS2Y and they’re • Cowersley Community Centre called into reception to ask if we hoping to start a ‘Baby • Community House (Town Avenue) knew how she might be able to get Bee2gether’ group to • Ingfield Enterprise Centre a pram (she had no way of paying support parents. for one). We sorted out some newborn outfits from our Children’s Nurseries Centre Clothes Swap and took her • Chestnut Nursery number. A member of staff sent the ‘Huddersfield Baby Bank’ a Facebook • Community House Pre-School message. Incredibly a beautiful • Aspire Nursery, Golcar nearly-new pram, along with nappies and more clothes were delivered to our door. When we called the woman Local ownership she was almost speechless. She • Two commercial properties and two couldn’t thank us enough and said residential properties she just thought she would ask at reception on the off chance we may • The Top Club - Social club in Sheepridge be able to help. She is now a fully- fledged member of our library and took some books for her baby.

33 Sustainable economy Bringing funds to Kirklees

5. Sustainable economy Fusion housing social Keeping local giving local investment pioneers One Community and Loose Change The local knowledge created by Fusion’s work Organised, place-based with a social investor giving helps local people has helped to bring to contribute to the £6.6million Life Chances communities they live funding into Kirklees, in. Local donors want to creating the largest make a local difference. Social Impact Bond in One Community, the Kirklees Europe. Community Foundation Since 2010 One Community has supported In 2015 Fusion Housing secured £2.5M to over 300 local voluntary groups and fund its Fair Chance support scheme. This projects. The Foundation encourages local helped over 350 of the most vulnerable giving from individuals and organisations local homeless young people into and uses the funds to make grants to local accommodation, education, training and charities. One Community has developed employment. After securing the funding understanding both of what is needed in Fusion found a social investment partner Kirklees and what works. It is in a unique to make the Fair Chance scheme happen. position to help create a link between those It was a great success, with Fusion creating who are able to give and those in need. half a million pounds more in outcomes than the £2.5 million target. Sitting on the Fair Chance Steering The Loose Change Charity Group helped to give council officers the Started as a ‘back of the envelope’ response confidence to look at outcome-based to help out small organisations struggling commissioning and apply for the Life with the impact of austerity cuts, Loose Chances Fund. They were successful Change is a beautifully simple idea that and have commissioned the same social could have a huge local impact. Founded investment company, Bridges Fund by Ian Lawson, the idea is simply that if Management, to manage the £22M enough people regularly give their ‘loose payments by results scheme. This will fund change’ of £1 a week, many small local an alliance of third sector organisations to organisations could be helped to keep support vulnerable people to secure a home doing the good things that they do. Ian was and address their underlying issues to live previously the Corporate Responsibility independently and well. leader for Cummins in Huddersfield. A little bit of money can make a big difference to smaller charities in the local area. Helping out with room hire or running costs. The gaps between grants or the essentials that aren’t covered by other funds.

34 Sustainable economy Delivering community festivals

Grants so far include: Local celebrations • £100 a month to fund staffing costs at Platform 1 and festivals building • £500 single payment to help with room identity, creating rental for Colne Valley Addiction Support weekly group sessions community and boosting • £240 single payment to help older people the economy get to and from Worth Unlimited’s lunch club over the winter months (Longley and Kirklees is a diverse, Lowerhouses area of Huddersfield). culturally rich place. Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) Third sector organisations are a form of outcome based contract help to celebrate this in where social investment is used to finance delivery and take the many ways. risk of outcome success. Similar to other outcome based contracts, Three local music festivals boost the commissioner only pays for the the local economy by £2.25 million intervention if successful. Investors every year. provide upfront working capital Between them the Marsden Jazz Festival, for services and are only repaid if Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival outcomes are achieved. and Cleckheaton Folk Festival bring in thousands of visitors and generate an impressive £2.25 million of local spending and investment. This figure comes from an update to the Kirklees Economic Impact Study that analysed the festivals over two years (2015-2017). The festivals also support around 88 full-time jobs in the area.

There are many more local events that celebrate places and people. Local festivals give people a chance to get together to share an experience. They strengthen relationships and help to create a sense of belonging, examples include:

• Marsden Cuckoo Festival and Imbolc • Slaithwaite Moonraker • Linthwaite Leadboilers • Birstall in Bloom • The Mirfield Show • Honley Show • Deighton Carnival

35 6. Safe and cohesive

36 Safe and cohesive More in common

Faith groups and community organisations "More in common help to organise the annual Big Batley Iftar when hundreds of people come together than that which to learn about what Ramadan means and divides us" Jo Cox's share in a meal at sunset. Many more community organisations bring legacy continues neighbours and strangers together over food, spreading the word on social media to grow using #greatgettogether. #moreincommon and at Christmas, #mincepiemoments. It’s a simple recipe: get people together Bringing More in Common to life with some food and More in Common Batley and Spen held a celebration evening in November 2018 they will soon put their highlighting local individuals and groups differences aside. The who strengthen communities. Kumon Y’all were nominated – a growing Great Get Together is youth group based in Saville Town who a national campaign, put community service and inclusion at the heart of everything they do. From but it has particular offering pamper manicures to sheltered significance here in housing residents, raising funds for Kirkwood Hospice to planting bulbs in Kirklees. Dewsbury country Park or cleaning up the cemetery they promote belonging and are helping a generation to feel ownership and connection to the place where they live. Kumon Y’all have record numbers of young people enrolled for the Duke of Edinburgh award for 2019

37 6. Safe and cohesive Pennine Domestic “We’re doing some really good work alongside the police and social services. We Domestic abuse damages lives Violence Group currently have five independent domestic building strong violence advisors (IDVAs) providing • its effects are often specialist support to victims of domestic long-term for relationships with abuse. IDVAs make victims and their victims and children statutory services means families as safe as possible, dealing with • it’s not always everything from getting an injunction, physical - any better support for to sorting out money or changing the behaviour that victims. locks. They prioritise the needs of the allows a person to victim, making sure they don’t get lost or exercise control and power over another overlooked by the bigger systems. PDVG works hard to person can be abuse • Last year we had 2,280 referrals for • it usually affects never make victims of support women, but anyone domestic abuse feel • Our IDVAs are currently working at can be affected double the national recommendations for exposed or vulnerable. an effective, manageable case load That can be difficult • 87% of our IDVA clients reported a when many agencies are significant reduction in risk at the end of support involved but new ways We can be flexible about how we work, of working are helping to that’s the benefit of not being a statutory service, we can step out of our box and make this the norm. work round things to find solutions.” Helen Lee PDVG Quality and Business Development Manager

Making sure those at highest risk get the fastest help The ideas behind this approach were pioneered by a handful of small charities in the early 2000s. Their ideas for multi- agency working and advocacy for victims produced astonishing results which have (through hard work by third sector organisations) been widely adopted - every area in England and Wales now has a MARAC which stands for multi-agency risk assessment conference. In Kirklees the MARAC meets fortnightly to work out how to help people who are at high risk of murder or serious harm. The IDVAs, police, children's social services, health and other relevant agencies at the meeting write an action plan for each survivor of domestic abuse. The IDVA advocates for the survivor and holds the 38 other agencies to account on their behalf, Safe and cohesive Better support for victims of domestic abuse

ensuring that everyone understands what is being agreed. “Building relationships with other agencies Research shows that following support and raising awareness from an IDVA of issues victims face • Incidents of high severity harm reduced has led to better by over 75% support for victims. I have noticed an • 54% of victims said they felt much safer increase in willingness • 83% of victims said their quality of life from services to had improved support each other. By PDVG has set up the Kirklees IDVA service understanding each in line with best practice guidelines (set other’s remits there is by the national charity SafeLives). PDVG less frustration.” has achieved ‘Leading Lights’ quality A PDVG IDVA accreditation from SafeLives for its other services. Many third sector organisations have achieved specialist quality accreditation or are experts by experience. “The IDVAs think about the whole family and the impact Help with DIY injunctions – PDVG’s speedy response to victims’ needs of a situation on the children. I Over-run with requests for help with find them very quick to respond DIY court orders PDVG applied to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer and support. They are always Communities Fund. A grant of just £5,000 means they can now offer practical help available to advise professionals, and advice to people who are concerned about ongoing threats and harassment and this is extremely important from an abuser. A new service to meet victims’ emerging needs was created in a to me. Overall, I feel the service matter of weeks. Legal aid is less available, so more victims really supports victim safety.’ of domestic violence now need to use the civil courts to apply for injunctions. This A statutory service professional involves a more DIY approach to the law, with people filling forms in online rather than going to solicitors. The technical term for the DIY injunction is a ‘non- molestation order’, it can help protect victims and their children from being harmed or threatened by the person who’s abused them. PDVG want to support and encourage people to use this route to protect themselves. Third sector organisations are responsive and agile. Small pilot schemes like this enable organisations to test ideas and design effective new services. 39 Safe and cohesive Changing the story for young people

A safe place to skate Research shows that: Changing the story in Marsden – teenage • When the location for on knife crime campaigners succeed a skate park is chosen by young people it’s Feeling unsafe, peer more likely to be used After four years of • Providing a positive pressure and street campaigning, Colne space for young culture can all contribute people helps to Valley Skate Group have prevent anti-social to young people carrying achieved their dream of a behaviour knives. Thornton Lodge • The culture new skate park in the old that surrounds Action Group’s ‘Beyond skateboarding and the Blade’ project uses goods yard in Marsden. BMX is based on Young people from a local youth group respect. Participants free gym time as a route wait in line, or formed a committee in 2015 and threw applaud and reward to changing hearts, minds themselves into fundraising and building skill. Skate parks and behaviour. local alliances to make their case. are places that both They helped out at the Cuckoo Festival, require and teach “Free gym time is the carrot that gets 13 held collections at Christmas events and mutual respect, to 19 year-olds to engage. We hire a gym learned a lot about the place they lived in: discipline and out for two hours on a Saturday and give togetherness. • Taking part in community litter picks participants exclusive access to the space made them realise how their litter was and the equipment. Within that session we affecting other residents’ feelings about deliver the ‘Streetwise’ gang and knife crime safety and belonging. prevention programme. It uses interactive • Getting to know residents in sheltered media including arts, music, role play, and accommodation helped them to realise group work to demystify the appeal of street how difficult it is to get out and about crime, develop young people’s self-esteem when you have limited mobility. and confidence and build skills in effective decision-making. Along with campaigning skills and knowledge about how local decisions are We started in October 2018 with six months made they have developed empathy and of Home Office funding; additional council understanding and an ongoing desire funding has enabled us to extend the project to contribute. to October 2019 and we’re looking for support to keep it going into 2020. The offer of free Young people need a local identity. The gym time really works. So far 95 young workers and volunteers who guided and people have increased their knowledge of the supported them plus the small grants that consequences of knife crime, and there has helped them to explore and engage have all been a 3% reduction in the number of knife contributed to this success. crime incidents in our community." Ibrar Hussain, Thornton Lodge Action Group

40 7. Clean and green

41 Clean and green Caring about where we live

7. Clean and green It started with a Community ‘team Facebook post…how challenges’ – often a Pride in Linthwaite CIC valuable first (green) step was created into Employer Supported Malcolm Coton had found himself Volunteering (ESV) picking up litter as he walked his new Clearing litter from puppy. His Facebook post asking if a park or painting a anyone would like to do something community centre make about it led to 30 people who didn’t excellent team-building know each other turning up in the pub. experiences.

“We started with what we’d like to do, what Ten members of staff from local was frustrating us and what skills we had,” manufacturer Lubrizol spent a sunny explains Liz Atherton from the group. August day trimming grasslands with “There was a dormant litter pick group, so the Trans-Pennine Trail Conservation we revived that and it soon expanded to Volunteers in 2018. Working on the rural include planting flowers. One group started trail helped the Lubrizol team to develop in looking at local resources and what’s in the ways that benefited them in their day jobs. planning pipeline as there are lots of new Other employees from the firm have homes being built.” completed a team challenge day with Pride In Linthwaite now has three sub Uniform Exchange, helping to sort donated groups - Keeping Linthwaite Tidy which school uniforms for families in need. focuses on litter and pruning; Linthwaite This hands-on experience inspired the Leadboilers Festival and Linthwaite In employees to put collection bins (for school Bloom which plants bulbs, bedding plants uniform) in their workplace and maintain and hanging baskets around the village. a link with the charity. The firm is keen “The sub groups have worked really well,” to do more community team challenges, says Liz. “And we’re not too proud to hopefully tidying up the riverside with say when we’ve bitten off more than we River Holme Connections is next. can chew. For example we wanted to do Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) something for local young people but can take many forms. Volunteering realised that we didn’t have the skills – Kirklees can broker opportunities for local that’s changed as more people have employers (as they did for Lubrizol). got involved.” Find out more at: Now registered as a Community Interest www.volunteeringkirklees.org.uk Company, Pride in Linthwaite fund a community room in the mill in the village that provides mental health support as well as a general space to meet. 2019 will see their second Leadboilers Festival and they have many plans to celebrate local heritage and build a stronger community. “It’s always as powerful as the number of people who get involved,” concludes Liz. 42 Clean and green Caring about where we live

Natural Kirklees been so good to see the delight when they realise that yes this is a place for them. the specialist network We’ve got permission to redevelop the that helps local people bowling green, so we’re finding out what local young people want to do with connect with Nature that space.” Natural Kirklees is the River Holme Connections do much more free-to-join umbrella than pull shopping trolleys out of the water. organisation for all Their two-year programme to regenerate the Duck Feeding Area in Holmfirth gives the local ‘Friends of’ a good insight into their expertise. The groups and greenspace much-loved area (one of the few places you can get close to the river in Holmfirth town management groups. centre) was eroded and prone to flooding. It has traditionally been difficult for The group made structural improvements community groups to find affordable to the bridge and rebuilt the banks. A insurance that will cover them for new, all-weather path was created and physical work outdoors. Natural Kirklees the area was planted with duck-proof, has solved this by offering low-cost shade-resistant native plants that provide insurance for members. Want to remove food and shelter for mammals, birds and large items of rubbish from a river using minibeasts, and help prevent the soil being grappling hooks? No problem. Want to washed away during flooding and bad use strimmers or hedge cutters? Or pull up weather. They also thinned the tree canopy Himalayan Balsam? It’s all covered by the along the riverbank to create the optimum insurance scheme. balance of shade and light for river- dwelling animals. Natural Kirklees is an enabler. When groups join, they can also borrow tools The finishing touch? An information board from tool stores in Beaumont Park and two metal benches, designed by a local (Huddersfield) and Wilton Park (Batley). sculptor, all in place to greet visitors. Both stores have a wide range of hand tools ready to help keep Kirklees’ looking gorgeous. It’s a practical network that keeps members in the know and tells the wider public which groups are doing what and when, so they can join in and help out.

Members include: Friends of Wilton Park, Batley who have achieved a Green Flag Award for the last seven years. The award recognises that the park is welcoming and well looked after with high environmental standards. David Flint, who chairs the friends group, is passionate about offering activities to local children from all communities, “We’ve been running sports taster sessions and arts and crafts with local kids and it’s 43 Third Sector Leaders What we do

What does Third New funds and resources Helping organisations to come We are changing the story that Kirklees has together to do more Sector Leaders not traditionally received its fair share of Partnerships that combine local skills, grants from sources such as the National strengths and know-how are an important Kirklees do? Lottery and Children in Need. way to make change happen. We seek, secure and administer funds In 2018 – 2019 we worked with ten Brings funding and directly, such as the £200k Ready to partnerships on subjects such as hate resources into Kirklees Learn lottery partnership, which crime, help for refugees and asylum has already benefitted thirty smaller seekers, holiday activities for disadvantaged Develops new strategic community groups. children and healthcare for people who We also help organisations to develop are homeless. approaches and manages and write bids, for example the lottery projects grant that funds Denby Dale’s volunteer Partnerships are important because: car service and the European Social They help smaller organisations Helps local third sector Fund money that has gone to Hillhouse access larger funds £200k Lottery Community Skills Centre. grant that has funded community organisations to develop learning for thirty smaller and do more New strategic approaches organisations. and projects Some government and other funds are only available to partnerships We work to maximise what the sector Kirklees third sector organisations can do. TSL is developing the Kirklees need to come together to access this Youth Alliance (in partnership with the money. council). In the wake of cuts we need to They speed up strategic planning stimulate new third sector youth provision. Even where bids are not successful the In its first year KYA has built a network partnership and strategic plans are in of over 130 local youth organisations and place to seek other funds. raised £250,000 for third sector youth They develop ambitions They enable organisations. organisations to think bigger and We are also leading on a £162,000 project be bolder. to increase the number of people learning English and progressing through ESOL provision in Kirklees. TSL also manages projects such as Words in Mind, Community Learning works and Volunteering Kirklees.

Helping individual organisations to develop We support organisations to develop good governance and strong business development plans. Our network enables access to the right skills and knowledge.

44 Third Sector Leaders What we do

We create the Talk to us environment for third Let’s find out what we could achieve together. sector organisations to flourish in Kirklees. Join us Large or small we’re here for all third We are part of the sector sector organisations in Kirklees. Please - our resources are our come on board, details of the benefits of membership are at www.tslkirklees.org.uk. members and together we find the skills and Work with us strategies to succeed. Public or private sector organisation? We want to hear your ideas as early as possible. Include us at the drawing board stage and we can help you to achieve your goals.

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