We are very excited to announce the full line up for Sound Women 2021!

Being an online gig brings different challenges, but as always we have some truly remarkable women performing and it promises to be another amazing evening. One advantage of the online format is that Lisa Luxx will join us from Beirut for her performance! We will also be sharing some heartfelt original songs from the women of WomenCentre, written during lockdown, and we’ll throw in some songs that the audience can join in with 🙂

Please share the flyer with the women you work with and also with family and friends.  

Friends and family can book and donate to WomenCentre using Eventbrite (link on the attached flyer and here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sound-women-online-gig-tickets-142211356997) 

From jeff mitchell KIRKLEES Census Team

Our Kirklees Census Support Centres at dip are here to help with general census queries, help you to fill in your census form or to discuss other ways to support you. Our Kirklees Census Support Centres are currently only offering remote support by telephone or video call.

Please contact for assistance and/or to make an appointment. Telephone calls to these two locations are through a freephone number.

Lines are open at dip (North Kirklees) and dip (South Kirklees) between 11.00am to 5.30pm Mon-Fri.

Get in touch to book an appointment.

On the phone – 0800 279 7861 or by email- mailbox@dipgroup.net

Find out more about our service on line at:-

https://census.gov.uk/help/find-a-census-support-centre

A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.

Kirklees Council’s Migration and Resettlement Team are inviting you to a virtual Q&A session for those working with Migrant Communities: 

COVID-19, the vaccination programme and importance of  GP registration

The session will be chaired by the Kirklees Council’s Head of Public Health and supported by other professionals including a GP from the Whitehouse Centre GP practice in the centre of Huddersfield.  The Whitehouse Centre specialises in supporting the health and wellbeing needs of asylum seekers and the homeless in Greater Huddersfield

The session will be taking place on Friday 5th March 2021, 1:30pm – 3pm.

Please book your ticket through the Eventbrite link. Virtual Q&A session on COVID-19 Tickets, Fri 5 Mar 2021 at 13:30 | Eventbrite

This session will:

• Give an overview of the current COVID-19 situation in Kirklees
• Overview of the vaccination programme
• Equip you with the facts and information you need to inform migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Kirklees
• Discuss how we can work together to increase the uptake of vaccine including the importance of GP registration
• Ask your questions about COVID-19 and the vaccination programme

Once booked you will receive a Zoom link to the session to join us on the day; thanks to TSL for hosting this.

The last 30 minutes of the session will involve Migration, Cohesion and Health Watch Kirklees Teams sharing with the group a new initiative that you are all invited to contribute to and develop further.

The aim of the initiative is to develop a network of community champions/connectors from our local migrant communities to work closely with so they can develop their own messages and share them with communities. Information will be provided regarding NEW funding available for communities to develop their own messages.

For further details please contact Abed Moubayed, via email: abed.moubayed@kirklees.gov.uk

Please share this widely  – the session is for all working with and connected to migrant communities across Kirklees

LAB UP flyer

For more information click here

The second #LookCloser awareness week begins on Monday 8^th February 2021.

In advance of this, we are pleased to share our latest version of the #LookCloser digital pack for you to share both internally with colleagues and with your external networks ready for the 8^th February. We’re aware that forces continuing with County Lines Intensification Week from 1^st February may want to begin using these resources prior to the 8^th February and we can confirm we are happy with this as the #LookCloser key messages assist with the Pursue week.

#LookCloser is a partnership campaign with the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and the British Transport Police, aiming to raise awareness of child exploitation and abuse, with a particular focus on public spaces.  The campaign also seeks to highlight that child exploitation can happen anywhere, and any young person can be a victim.

Despite the government lockdown and social distancing measures being in place, young people are still being groomed, exploited and abused. We’re encouraging everyone to consider focusing on the public spaces which are still open and where exploitation may be most visible to the public. This could include parks, supermarkets, transport, banks and online environments like gaming and social media platforms.

The attached digital pack includes both public awareness material as well as resources for professionals which focus on the NRM and best practice in engaging young people.

The professionals briefing within the pack, asks colleagues to do the following:  

1. Share the poster and leaflet digitally. Only circulate physically where safe to do so.
2. Use our social media assets to share our campaign online from the 8^th February.
3. Download our free professional materials. You may add these to your internal intranet sites or screensavers for colleagues to see.
4. Copy and paste our email signature to help spread the message to your network.
5. Visit our #LookCloser webpage to learn more and share our key messages. We have included some specific information for the banking sector, delivery drivers and taxis, ride shares and private hire vehicles

Thanks for your support in taking this campaign forward with us.

1. look closer briefing
2. Look closer poster
3. Look closer leaflet
4. Look closer slides
5. Look closer social media
6. Look closer screen saver
7. Look closer screen saver2
8. Look closer screen saver3
9. Look closer screen saver4
10. Look closer social asset
11. Look closer social asset2
12. Look closer social asset3
13. Look closer email signature

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that provides a snapshot of households in England and
Wales, helping to plan and fund public services.

Everyone across England and Wales will be asked to take part and the information people give will
decide how services are planned and funded. Ultimately, it ensures funds are invested in emergency
services, health care, school places and other vital services.

For the first time, the census will be run primarily online, making it easy for most people to complete
the questionnaire on any device – whether that be a computer, a mobile phone or a tablet. Local
Census support centres will be offering help, while paper questionnaires will be available for those
who need them. All census staff will operate in line with the Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance.
The 2021 Census will include a new question on veterans of the UK Armed Forces, as well as
voluntary questions, for those aged 16 and over, on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The census will be held on 21 March 2021. While results will be available the following year, all
personal records will be locked away for 100 years and kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit census.gov.uk
To reach your local census engagement manager, contact:
Liz Fox, tel: +44 (0)7452 948401 l Elizabeth.fox66@field.census.gov.uk
Jeff Mitchell, tel: +44 (0)7452 931266 | jeffrey.mitchell45@field.census.gov.uk

Click here for Q&A leaflet

Click here for Arabic engagement leaflet

click here for Kirklees Census intor release

From North Kirklees CCG: The Covid-19 vaccination rollout is well underway in Kirklees and we are currently offering appointments to people in the first priority groups. There has been a very positive response to date but we know some communities are likely to be more hesitant about having their vaccine and community engagement will play a key part in helping to build confidence and trust.

A number of short online briefing sessions are being arranged for voluntary organisations and Community Voices to support conversations with local communities. These will run through the key information on the vaccines and discuss handling approaches for common questions and concerns. Materials will be circulated beforehand to discuss at the session.

The sessions will be for small groups to enable as much discussion as possible so we are asking for representatives from organisations/teams to attend and feedback to their colleagues afterwards. It may be possible to arrange some additional sessions for full teams so please let us know if you would find this helpful.

The sessions for Kirklees are below and are being held online via Microsoft Teams:

Monday 1st February, 3pm Wednesday 3rd February 11.15am

If you would like to join the training please email nkccg.nkghengagement@nhs.net letting us know which date you would prefer to attend, your name, email address and which organisation you are attending behalf of. Please book early as places are limited.

PS: the above picture doesn’t include the all information

Click below to download full poster

We are pleased to invite you to an online event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, beginning at  11am on Wednesday 27th January:

The theme of Be the light in the darkness is particularly apt for many people who have been facing difficult circumstances during the last 10 months.

Remember from home :   http://tiny.cc/6MillionPlus

The event will include puppetry and performances from refugees and friends involved in the Collect Your Belongings project as well as candle lighting and reflections from Iby Knill, local authority and faith leaders. Many of the contributions were photographed and filmed in  homes in Kirklees, Bradford and Leeds during lockdown.  We thank everyone for helping to make the event possible. 

The event will be available to watch on youtube after 27th January . 

“I was there in the darkness of the Holocaust. Walk towards the light and take people with you.” 

Iby Knill, Auchswitz survivor

For further details please contact:

Kim Strickson
Project Coordinator
07812 782082

To download the leaflets click on the below

Solace Children and Families Wellbeing Project – Parents leaflet

Solace Children and Families Wellbeing Project – Arabic

Solace Children and Families Wellbeing Project – Partner leaflet

Solace Children and Families Wellbeing Project – School leaflet

Solace Children and families wellbeing project – school brochure

For further information please click leaflet 1 and leaflet 2

The STAGE project offers women (16 and over) support to address and overcome experiences associated with sexual exploitation and grooming.

If you have or still are experiencing sexual exploitation our case worker can support with:

• Emotional support (Outreach, phone, face to face)
• Recognising exploitation, managing risk and safety planning
• Self care, psycho education, building resilience
• Accessing housing support
• Support with your physical and mental health needs
• Support with Criminal Justice System (reporting to the police, going to court)
• Moving on (accessing training, education or employment)
• Advocacy and supporting you in meetings

We accept both self-referrals and referrals from professionals.

To find our more about this service or to make a referral for yourself or someone you are working with, please call 01484 450866 or email wmh@womencentre.org.uk.

We are pleased to inform you DASH has launched a new project, Asylum Guides. The aim of this project is to increase the legal literacy of people seeking asylum in the UK. 

Asylum Guides sees trained volunteers matched with one or a small group of people seeking asylum, to provide information about the asylum process – from initial screening through to substantive interview and onto appeals, fresh claims and post decision. Interpreters will be provided. The project is a partnership with Refugee Action. Above all, our Asylum Guides will help those seeking asylum to better navigate their asylum journey.

If you meet people through your service whom this project could help, please refer directly them to me, the Project Coordinator on 07742 282676 or email abdul.h@huddsdash.org

For more information please click here

The Community Integration Awards are open until the 30 November 2020. The Awards are aiming to spotlight community level responses to Covid-19 that bring different parts of the community together including migrants and refugees. We’re inviting nominations within three categories, Connecting Communities, Safety For All and Equality, Access and Rights.

We know it’s a challenging and busy time for lots of organisations navigating lockdown, but we hope this opportunity will be of interest to groups who are doing vital work in order to gain recognition and support for their efforts.  

We want to reach as many projects and groups in different regions of the UK as possible. Do you think you may be able to promote the Awards within the Yorkshire network? 

The attached flyer has the key details. Further information about eligibility and how to apply can be found here: www.integrationawards.uk/nominate/   

Many thanks in advance, 

For more information please click here

In Kirklees we (Solace) welcome referrals from health professionals, refugee support organisations and other services such as schools or housing teams.  We also welcome enquiries about the service, or any potential referrals if that would be helpful. 

Currently appointments are being delivered on the phone or via zoom.  We are able to provide data top ups if necessary to enable people to participate, and we also provide interpreters when required.  When we can resume face to face work again, our appointments are held at the Whitehouse Centre GP practice.

It is important that prior to making a referral all referrers discuss the potential of working with Solace with the person concerned.  For many people the idea of getting help with their psychological distress is a new concept. 

You may find it helpful to share the attached leaflet with anyone who would like to know more about the service. 

People in Kirklees can also access our two regional projects.  Connecting opportunities is a partnership project to help refugees overcome barriers to employment, and our Child and Family Wellbeing Project is for any family who is part of the resettlement scheme and for the schools who have students on the resettlement scheme. 

Further information can be found on our website www.solace-uk.org.uk including referral forms and more details about the projects. 

For more information click below to download the leaflet  

The Refugee Council has created a banking guide to help make this process easier for refugees. The guide explains how bank accounts work in the UK, the documents that banks require applicants to provide, how to make an application for a new account and tips for avoiding financial scams.

The guide is available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Pashto and Tigrinya.

For more information please click here

This is a message from DASH

Dear Friends and Supporters

I hope you’re keeping well and warm. I’m writing to let you know about DASH’s winter appeal. Our clients need winter clothes. It’s been much harder to distribute donated goods since our drop-ins had to be suspended. Whilst most of our service has continued remotely, the clothing donations stopped. But we’ve found a solution…

This innovative new scheme will benefit our clients by enabling them (from 2nd December or when rules permit) to shop for their own clothes – giving them choice, dignity and the opportunity to integrate.

An added bonus to this appeal is that a single donation will end up benefitting two local charities – DASH and Kirkwood Hospice. The latter does excellent work caring for those with life-limiting illnesses. 

The triple bonus is that the wonderful folk at One Community Kirklees have pledged to match all money raised by this appeal, pound for pound, making each donation Thrice As Nice!

Our target is £1500, which One Community would take to £3000. This would buy a substantial amount of vouchers for individuals and families living in financial hardship.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DASHclothing

Posted on 3 November 2020: Huddersfield Jobcentre will be closed due to unforeseen circumstances for the next 7 days.

Some staff will be working from home and for any urgent enquiries regarding vulnerable claimants please phone DWP Social Justice Team: 01484 228127.

For all other Universal Credit queries, please contact Universal Credit Service Centre: 0800 328 5644 and Legacy Benefits contact: 0800 1690310